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Rosh Hashanah

Friday night, 29th September.

Light the Shabbat and Yom Tov candles before 6.29 p.m. and recite the following two blessings:

Prior to lighting the candles, it is important to light a twenty-five hour candle i.e. 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 Rosh Hashanah, namely Saturday night 30th September.

Services in the Synagogue commence at 6.15p.m. Our Guest Preacher for Rosh Hashanah will be Elkan Levy, the son of our former esteemed Minister Rev. Raphael Levy and the immediate Past President of the United Synagogue - the first incumbent of that position to hold a Ministerial qualification.

Following services, and your return home, make Yom Tov Kiddush, including the extra words for Shabbat, 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:

Saturday 30th September.

Shacharit services begin at 8.30a.m. The Shofar is not sounded on Shabbat.

Mincha and Ma’ariv will be read at 6.30 p.m.

Saturday night 30th September.

At the conclusion of Shabbat and of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, not earlier than 7.27 p.m., we usher in the second day of Rosh Hashanah by lighting the Yom Tov candles with the same two blessings as we did on the first night, but omitting the reference to Shabbat. 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. It is traditional to have a new fruit that one has not eaten yet that year on the table 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 can still make both blessings including the "She'hecheyonu" blessing.

Sunday 1st October.

Shacharit services begin at 8.30a.m.

It is important for every man, woman and child to hear the blowing of the Shofar which commences at approximately 10.40a.m. It is important to hear the blessings recited by the Ba'al Tekiah and to answer "Omein" to each of the three blessings. Then, during the course of the morning, we are obliged to hear one hundred blasts of the Shofar, the last of which are heard in a series of forty blasts just prior to the end of the service.

On Rosh Hashanah afternoon, we will return to the Synagogue at 4.30p.m. to walk together towards the Serpentine for the traditional Tashlich Service at 5.00 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:

We then return to the Synagogue for Mincha and Ma'ariv at 6.30 p.m. and Yom Tov ends at 7.25 p.m.

Yom Kippur

Mincha

On Erev Yom Kippur, Sunday 8th October, at 2.00 p.m. at the Synagogue, we will conduct the pre-Yom Kippur mincha (afternoon) service which includes the "Al-chayt" prayer (admitting our mistakes) to put us in the right frame of mind prior to the fast.

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 "seudah hamafseket" (meal of cessation). There is no kiddush prior to this meal, but we do wash our hands ritually, make the "hamotzi" over challah and say Grace after Meals.. The meal should be concluded by 6.08p.m., allowing enough time to light candles and to attend at Synagogue.

The following B'rachot are said over the candles:

Kol Nidrei

Services in the Synagogue commence at 6.20p.m. Our Guest Preacher for Yom Kippur will be Rabbi Edward Jackson, former Minister at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue, Norrice Lea.

The Yom Kippur prayers begin with the chanting of Kol Nidrei before sunset, since it is a form of the repealing of vows, and vows are not repealed on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

The Chazan says Kol Nidrei three times - the first time in subdued tones, but sufficiently loud to be heard, the second time in higher tones, and the third in full voice. The prayer is said in trembling, in awe and with intense devotion, and in many communities the congregation simultaneously says Kol Nidrei in a whisper.

Yizkor on Yom Kippur Day

The Sages prescribed that children recall to memory the souls of their departed parents during every Yom Tov; at which time they are also to pledge charity to "increase the merit of the departed and to enable their souls to ascend". "Hazkarat neshamot" follows the Torah reading but precedes the return of the scrolls to the Ark. "Hazkarat neshamot" is recited on the last day of Pesach; the second day of Shavuot; and on Shemini Atzeret. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are considered as one in this matter, and "hazkarat neshamot" is said on Yom Kippur for both.

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 everyone should remain in the Synagogue for the initial Memorial Prayers for the victims of the Holocaust and for Israel’s fallen soldiers.

Sukkot

 The Building of the Sukkah

The person first erects three or four walls and then he places upon them "sechach" (a covering) consisting of branches, leaves, bamboo or wood slats. A sukkah is kosher (valid) only if the walls are made before the sechach is laid. If one makes two complete walls, a third wall which measures somewhat over a tefach (approx. five inches), and a doorway between the walls, the sukkah is kosher. Nevertheless, we seek to build a sukkah with four complete walls. The mitzvah is fulfilled in a borrowed sukkah also. One who failed to build a sukkah may therefore discharge his obligation in his friend's sukkah.

Sukkah Decoration

The Sages have said: "This is my G-d and I shall worship Him with beauty" (Exodus xv) - beautify yourself before Him in the performance of mitzvot. Make for Him a beautiful sukkah, a beautiful lulav, a beautiful shofar, beautiful tzitzit, a beautiful Sefer Torah, and write it for the sake of His Name with beautiful ink, with beautiful quill, with an expert scribe, and place it in a beautiful mantle." One should therefore decorate a sukkah with beautiful objects and utensils, and with beautiful fruit and flowers.

Please contact the Synagogue office for details of timings for decorating the Shul Sukkah this year and also if you are able to donate laurel branches, fruit etc.

Dwelling in the Sukkah

On the first night of Sukkot (and outside the land of Israel, the second night also) eating in the sukkah is obligatory. No-one may say: I will not eat and will not sit in the sukkah. One must rather enter the sukkah, recite kiddush, and utter the brachah over the sukkah and "she'hecheyonu".

The congregation is invited to join us for a festive dinner in our Shul sukkah following services on Friday 13th 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 sukkah and two brachot are said: "Boruch ... l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat v’Yom Tov", "to kindle the Shabbat and Yom Tov light", and "she'hecheyonu". Note that the same requirements regarding Yahrzeit candles apply as for Rosh Hashana

Brachot of the Festival

On entering the sukkah on the first night of the festival, one takes a cup of wine in hand and recites four brachot: the first over the wine; the second over the sanctity of the day; the third over the sukkah; and the final one, "she'hecheyonu".

Four Species

The four species are taken hold of each of the seven festival days (except Shabbat) and a brachah is said daily over them; after the first day of performing this mitzvah however, "she'hecheyonu" is not said.

"Netilat lulav" is a Torah commandment: "And you shall take to you on the first day, the fruit of the tree "hadar", and branches of palm trees, and a bough of the tree "avot", and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your G-d seven days" (Leviticus xxiii).

Fruit of the tree hadar - is the etrog.

Branches of palm trees - is the lulav.

A bough of the tree avot - is the hadas (myrtle).

Willows of the brook - is the aravah which usually grows at the river edge.

Anyone who wishes to have a set of lulav and etrog, please contact 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 Sunday 22nrd October at approximately 12.30p.m. following the morning service which commences at 9.15a.m.. Please bring your children both on the Saturday night and Sunday morning for Hakafot.