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A simcha to celebrate
Synagogues try to attract members to return after ttie High Holidays.
BAIU LAZARUS STAFF REPORTER
Kol Nidre has been chant-e<l, the fa-sting is done, the Hif^h Holidays are over. Now what? For most twice-a-year Jews, the I'lid of Yom Kippur means l)uttinf,' away synagogue outfits and going back to daily nmtines. Sukkot (the feast of the tabernacle) and Himchat Torah (celebrating tlie Torah) may bring back memories of decorating the elementary school gym or playground, but go back to s/iul?
"A lot icw(>r [X'ojjle celebrat<' Sukkot and Simchat Torah than Itosh 1 ktshanali .md Yom Kippur, that's for sure," said Rabbi David Mivasair of Or Shalom. That is reflected in the traditional decrease in the number of synagogue goers after Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Mivasair agreed it's a challenge to maintain synagogue participation for Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. "Because we're so busy with Yom Kippur, it's hard to take the time to really develop Ithe later holidays)," he said.
However, he does believe ihotc is momentum generated from having holidays like Rosh Hashaniih, Sukkot and Simchat
Torah so close together. "I think people get excited around Rosh Hiishanah and Yom Kippur and it brings them back to a Jewish connection and more of an interest in religion. Vor some of those people it cames ovt.'r."
At Richmond's Orthodox Young Israel Schaare Tzion, an announcement was made dur-
We are ctarantly in ttw intennediats days of Suiikot. The fasUval period
cutminates In Shemini Ateeret (Satimlay,Oct.S)and
Shndiat Torah (Sunday, Oct. 6).
ing High Holiday services encouraging members to come back for Sukkot and Simchat Torah, president Elan Heller said.
"I would suggest to you that across the board in all different denominations, you have your three-timcs-a-year Jews," he said. "And for some people that's all that's important; they don't know from Sukkot. They don't know from Simchat Torah. They've just been conditioned to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur."
Mr. Heller said his synagogue
tries to leave congregants with the feeling of, " 'Hey, this was meaningful to me and spiritually moving and it's something I want to maintain and continue to the Ixist of my ability.'"
Mr. Heller hopes congregation members see Sukkot and Simchat Torah as avenues to maintain that spiritual connection.
For members of the Conservative Temple Emanu-El in Victoria, services conducted by Hillel Goelman over the High Holidays might have provided tlie spark needed to increa.se interest in attending .synagogue.
"Hillel brought a new spirit into the congregation," .synagogue president Steven Feld-man said. "A lot of the people who were inspired by him and his different style of teaching will come back."
Mr. Goelman is acting as a temporary rabbi while Rabbi Victor Reinstein is away on a year's sabbatical.
Mr. Feldman added the shul is urging members to connect with the adult education program after the High Holidays are over. "Once they're in the building, maybe that'll inspire them to keep coming in," he said. The adult education program in-
Congregation adds new roots
Richmond synagogue joins international Zionist affiliation.
The annual fall holiday of Simchat Torah fills synagogues (hroughout Israel. Can it do the same here?
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BAILA LAZARUS STAFF REPORTER
After two years of planning, Richmond's second Orthodox congregation, Schaare Tzion, has become afTiliated with the National Council of Young Israel. "It is a big deal because it's welcoming us into the family of YI synagogues which are worldwide," said synagogue president Elan Heller.
Tlie afTiliation means tlie young, 20-family congregation will have access to a worldwide networking base, as well as help in finding a rabbi, bringing in scholars-in-residence, ftindraising and organizing membership drives. It will also keep the Richmond group in touch with the Orthodox world.
"You have to meet certain qualifications according to the lines of Orthodoxy," Mr. Heller explained. "What it means to anybody who's travelling, if they go to a YI synagogue, they know that certain standards are being met."
eludes an introduction to Judaism, information about keeping kosher and Hebrew literacy. For Simchat Torah, the congregation honors someone each year.
Or Shalom has a celebration to honor the new children in their school year. People bring bottles of wine and dessert and dance to a live band.
But what if you're all "shuled-
out" by the time Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the beginning of Sukkot are over?
Rabbi Mivasair emphasizes the difference in going to shul for the more sombre High Holiday, and eixjoying the lightness and eryoyment of Simchat Torah.
"The thing is to go to shul and sing and dance," he says "I think that's so great I don't know what else people would want." □
The council stands for Torah Zionism, Mr. Heller said. "It's [saying that) the State of Israel is the beginning of redemption for the building of the third Beit HaMidrash."
Mr. Heller added that joining the Young Israel affiliation was the congregation's goal since they were established in Februao' 1995.
The National Council of Young Israel, headquartered in New York, has close to 150 chapters across North America.
"We felt it would strengthen us to be able to have that type of backing." Mr. Heller said. □
Schaare Tzion of Richmond is now a Young Isiael
congregation.