Our annual migration has begun. Once a year, in preparation for the High Holidays, AARC moves our machzorim (Holiday prayer books), our ark, Torah reading table, and many other supplies from our home at the Jewish Community Center to the Unitarian Universalists of Ann Arbor building. I wish I had a picture of Jacob Schneyer, Eli Kirschner, Brayan Zivan, Debbie Zivan, Debbie Field, Jonathan Cohn, and me measuring, sweating, lifting, and pushing the Torah reading table (and then doing it all again) before it finally slid neatly into my Honda Odyssey. But, alas, no photo, so these words will have to suffice.
Our open, ticketless High Holiday observances include opportunities for many ways to participate. In addition to the highly anticipated services led by Rabbis Michael Strassfeld and Joy Levitt, AARC members have prepared to chant Torah and lead various prayers and readings. Our teen members will be chanting haftorah and helping Rabbi Levitt lead children’s services. Everyone in the community is welcome to all observances, which in addition to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services, include tashlich/a casting of our mistakes into the Huron River at Island Park (3:30 Sept 14), a non-traditional Yizkor where each person takes a few moments to voice their remembrances (5:30 Sept 23), and, to make the most of our heightened and open state during the afternoon of the Yom Kippur fast, a guided mediation, a workshop, and a discussion (2-5pm Sept 23). The last service of Yom Kippur, Ne’ilah/Shofar/Havdalah (7pm Sept 23) will be followed by a scrumptious break-the-fast (reservations are due September 17).
No reservations are needed for anything other than break-the-fast and childcare.
Hope to see you there.
