Rosh Hashanah
Monday night, 17th September
Light the Yom Tov candles before 6.56 p.m. and recite the following two blessings:
"Barooch atah
Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam, asher kiddshanoo b'mitzvotav
v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir shel Yom Tov."
"Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam
she'hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo, vehigianoo lazman hazeh."
Prior to lighting the candles, it is important to light a twenty-five hour candle e.g. a Yahrzeit candle, so that one can transfer the flame from the twenty-five hour candle to a new candle in order to light the Yom Tov candles on the second night of Yom Tov
Services in the Synagogue commence at 6.45p.m
Following services, and your return home, make Yom Tov Kiddush, then wash hands ritually and make the blessing over the challah. The challot for Rosh Hashanah are traditionally round and represent continuity and wholeness. After eating some challah, dipped in honey, we take an apple and dip a piece in honey and say the following prior to eating it:
"Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam, Borei Peri
Haeitz"
After eating it recite the following:
"Yehi ratzon milfanecha Adonye Eloheinoo veilohei avoteinoo, she'techadesh aleinoo Shana Tova oometooko"
"May it be your will. O Lord our Gd and Gd of our forefathers that this year will be a happy and sweet year for us."
Tuesday 18th September
Shacharit services begin at 8.00a.m.
It is important for every man, woman and child to hear the blowing of the Shofar which commences at approximately 10.30a.m. It is important to hear the blessings recited by the Ba'al Tekiah (the one who actually blows), and to answer "Amein" to each of the three blessings. Then, during the course of the morning, we are obliged to hear one hundred blasts of the Shofar.
It is forbidden to talk from the time one hears the first note of
the 100, right up until the last one.
In the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we will return to the Synagogue at 5.00p.m. to walk together towards the Serpentine for the traditional Tashlich Service at 5.30 p.m. at the Peter Pan Statue. This is performed by reciting several prayers at a source of water. Afterwards, the pockets are symbolically emptied as if a person is shaking off his sins and casting them into the water. As a source for this ceremony the verses in Michah are often quoted:
"He will again have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea ...."
We then return to the Synagogue for Mincha and Ma'ariv at 7.15 p.m.
Tuesday night 18th September
We usher in the second day of Rosh Hashanah by lighting the Yom Tov candles as soon as possible after 7.55 pm. We do this by transferring the flame from the existing flame which was lit before the first night Rosh Hashanah began (see above) and then reciting the two blessings. Since there is a doubt about whether we should recite the She'hecheyanu Beracha on the second night, it is traditional to have on the table a new fruit that one has not eaten yet that year, while one makes the blessings over the candles. Alternatively one can wear a new item of clothing. However, if one does not have a new fruit or a new item of clothing, one still makes both blessings including "She'hecheyanu".
Wednesday
19th September
Shacharit services begin at 8.00a.m. The Shofar will be sounded at approximately 10.30 a.m.
Mincha and Ma'ariv will be read at 7.15 p.m. and Yom Tov ends at 7.53 p.m.
The Fast of Gedaliah
Thursday 20th September
The day after Rosh Hashanah is observed as a fast day, in memory
of Gedaliah ben Achikam. Gedaliah had been appointed Governor of
Judea by Nebuchadnezzar, after the destruction of the first
Temple in 586 BCE. He had been charged with the responsibility of
rebuilding Jewish life among the remnant of the Jews still in the
Holy Land.
As a result of internal strife among the people, Gedaliah was
assassinated and, many of those Jews who had remained in Judea,
fled to Egypt.
Since this represented the final stage of the destruction of
Jerusalem, it is observed as a fast day, when we recite special
Selichot prayers.
Shacharit will be at 6.45 am
Shabbat Shuva
Friday 21st September
Shabbat commences 6.47 p.m.
Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat will be read at 6.45 p.m.
Saturday 22nd September
Shacharit will be at 9.15 a.m.
Mincha and Ma'ariv at 6.30 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 7.46 p.m.
Yom Kippur
Wednesday 26th September
Mincha
On Erev Yom Kippur, Wednesday 26th September, at 1.30 p.m. at the
Synagogue, we will conduct the pre-Yom Kippur Mincha (afternoon)
service, which includes the first of the ten times that we recite
"Al-
cheit" prayer (confession) throughout the day.
A festival meal on Erev Yom Kippur is a mitzvah (obligation)
because one thereby reveals joy over the approach of his or her
time of forgiveness. This meal is called the "seudat
hamafseket" (meal of cessation). There is no Kiddush prior
to this meal, but we do wash our hands ritually, make the
"Hamotzi" (usually over a Challah) and say Grace after
Meals.. The meal should be concluded well before 6.35p.m.,
allowing enough time to light candles and to get to the Synagogue
in time.
The following Berachot are said over the candles:
"Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam, asher
kiddshanoo b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir shel Yom
HaKippoorim."
"Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam
she'hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo, vehigianoo lazman hazeh."
Wearing Non-leather Shoes
It is forbidden for men, women and children to wear leather shoes
on Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei
Services in the Synagogue commence at 6.45p.m.
The Yom Kippur prayers begin with the chanting of Kol Nidrei. We have to commence before sunset since this prayer is a form of the repealing of vows, and we are not permitted to repeal vows on Shabbat or Yom Tov..
Thursday 27th September
Shacharit commences at 9.00 am
Yizkor on Yom Kippur Day will be at approximately 12.45
pm
If one's parents are still alive, it is permissible, but not
essential, to leave the Synagogue during Yizkor. However, it
is our custom that we commence with a public Yizkor, which
includes Memorial Prayers for the victims of the Holocaust and
for Israel's fallen soldiers, for which everyone should remain in
the Synagogue. There will then be a short break to allow
those who wish to leave to go out before we commence the private
Yizkor.
Succot
The Building of the Succah
If you haven't built a Succah before and intend to do so this year, the Rabbi will be very happy to advise on the requirements to ensure that it is Kasher.
It is a Mitzvah to decorate the Succah. If you are able to assist
with the Shul's Succah, please contact the Synagogue office for
details of when it will be done. Also please let us know if you
are able to donate laurel branches, fruit etc.
Dwelling in the Succah
It is a great Mitzvah to eat in the Succah. The congregation is invited to join
us for a festive dinner in our Shul Succah following services on
Monday 1st October. Please make reservations at the Synagogue
office on 020 7229 2631.
Kindling of the Lights
Lights are kindled on the first Yom Tov night in the Succah (if
you have one - or else indoors) and two Berachot are said:
"Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam, asher kiddshanoo b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir shel Yom Tov."
"Barooch atah Adonye Eloheinoo melech ha'olam
she'hecheyanoo, vekiyemanoo, vehigianoo lazman hazeh."
Note that the same
requirements regarding the 25 hour candle apply as they did for
Rosh Hashanah.
Four Species - The
Lulav
The four species are taken hold of each of the seven festival
days (except Shabbat) and a Berachah is said over them daily.
Anyone who wishes to have a set of lulav and etrog, please
contact our Shammash Mr Arnold Chazen in the Shul Office. Even if
you do not have your own Lulav and Etrog there will be several
sets in the Synagogue for your use.
Simchat Torah
Please note that our annual Simchat Torah party will take place
this year on Tuesday 9th October following the evening service
which commences at 7.15 p.m.. Please bring your children
both on the Tuesday night and Wednesday morning for Hakafot.