Dear TBS Family,
It has been a difficult year as we approach the commemoration of October 7, and sadly, the trauma continues in Israel and for the Jewish communities around the world. We continue to stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world in solidarity and support.
As Rabbi Peltz wrote in the Community Life Book, there are two dates to commemorate the horrible attacks of last year. The first is on October 7, the secular date anniversary. We will mark this in-person with our community and also virtually with people around the world. There is also the yahrzeit, the Hebrew date anniversary of these attacks. It occurred on the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah, which this year falls on October 24-25. In synagogue we will commemorate this at Yizkor on Shemini Atzeret and then, the evening of October 24, we will have a Tekes Ma’avar, a ceremony of transition, from the sadness of Shemini Atzeret to the joy of Simhat Torah. This will be based on how each year Israel moves from the sadness of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) to the joy of Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day).
Please see below for information for all of the different ways that we can commemorate the secular anniversary and the yahrzeit of the attacks of October 7.
We are also participating in a special project to remember October 7 and its victims. We have made a donation with our Am Yisrael Hai Fund to Dancing Through Tears. This is a global project to unite the Jewish world and honor the memory of the 1,200 souls lost on October 7 and the many hundreds since.
We will be one of hundreds of synagogues worldwide that will have a special Torah cover on one of our Torahs throughout the High Holy Days. As you can see from the picture, the cover has the Israeli flag and a quote from Ecclesiastes, “A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance.” Each one of these Torah covers is also dedicated to the memory of someone who died on or after October 7. On Simhat Torah, we will dance and sing with this newly robed scroll, declaring that we will not forget what happened on Shemini Atzeret/Simhat Torah last year, but we are determined to dispel the darkness with light. Am Yisrael Hai!
We look forward to seeing our entire TBS mishpaha (family) together soon on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, where we will gather together to reflect on the year that is ending and gather strength from our traditions and each other for the year to come. May it be a better and more peaceful year for us, for Israel, and for our world.
Shalom,
Rabbi Peltz
Rabbi Wexler
Cantor Cohen
Rabbi Lindemann
TBS Commemorations
Thursday, October 24
9:30am - Festival Morning Services with Yizkor - Minha after Kiddush - In-person/Livestream
6:30pm - Tekes Ma'ava, a ceremony of Transition - In-person/Livestream
(Families will meet outdoors in the tent, and congregation will meet in the Sanctuary.)
7pm - All join together for Simhat Torah Festival Service
Local October 7 Commemorations
Israel Solidarity Day in Recognition of October 7
Sunday, October 6 from 12-3pm
Katz JCC, Cherry Hill
Join us for an afternoon of mitzvot in solidarity with Israel
- Blood Drive with Magen David Adom (separate registration required here)
- Make cards for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers
- Wrap Tefillin
- and more mitzvot opportunities
Gathering in Recognition of October 7
Monday, October 7 at 7pm
Location: Congregation Beth El
Stand shoulder to shoulder together with strength.
We are coming together as a community to unite in solace and hope through prayer and reflection on the past year. We are collecting photos from the community with 1-2 sentence captions telling us how you helped show love, solidarity and support to Israel this past year.
Please send your photos to Ronit Boyd at rboyd@jfedsnj.org by Friday, September 20.
VIRTUAL OCTOBER 7 COMMEMORATION
Shalom Hartman Institute - A Day of Learning for our Hostages
Monday, September 30 from 9am to midnight
A gathering of virtual and in-person events in partnership with educational organizations in North America and Israel. Together as a community, we will honor the shloshim* of the six hostages murdered last month, show solidarity with the 101 hostages still in captivity, and call on the Israeli government and the international community to prioritize their return.
As we reach the end of this first month of mourning, we will gather to learn in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin z”l, Ori Danino z”l, Eden Yerushalmi z”l, Almog Sarusi z”l, Alex Lobanov z”l, and Carmel Gat z”l.
Conservative Masorti Movement Commemoration
Sunday, October 6 at 12pm ET
Join the Masorti/Conservative Worldwide Community for a global online event to mark one year since the terrorist attack, honor those killed during the Hamas massacre and the fallen soldiers, and pray for the safe return of the 108 hostages still held in Gaza.
The event, hosted by MERCAZ Olami, Masorti Olami, Rabbinical Assembly, MERCAZ USA, USCJ, Cantors Assembly, and Masorti Israel, will take place on Sunday, October 6, at 12pm ET (7pm Israel time).
Event held in English and Hebrew with simultaneous translation into French, Spanish and Ukrainian.
Co-hosted by Marom, USY, Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, Jewish Educators Assembly, and Exploring Judaism.
Shalom Hartman Institute: A Year in Poetry - Marking the Anniversary of October 7
Sunday, October 6 at 8pm
Virtual Event
Since October 7, 2023, many of us have felt there are no words to describe the horrors of that day and the violence and pain of this year. And yet, Israeli poets have found words. Join us—on your own or with your community—to study the poetry coming out of Israel since October 7 with Rachel Korazim. During this virtual gathering we will reflect on the year through poetry and prayer.
