By JEFF MORRIS
This year’s Jewish High Holy Days, which began with Rosh Hashanah on Wednesday evening, and conclude with Yom Kippur on Saturday, Oct. 12, at sundown, have taken on special significance with the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel coming right in their midst.
Synagogues in the area are participating in or holding their own individual Oct. 7 commemorations on that date, which falls on Monday. In addition, some are incorporating material related to the attacks and the subsequent Gaza war into their services, while others are presenting additional programs.
Temple Shaaray Tefila on Baldwin Road, Bedford Corners, has the most extensive list of scheduled or recommended programs related to the anniversary.
The temple already participated in a virtual commemoration hosted by the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism and the organizations of the Global Education Reform Movement on Sept. 29.
On Sunday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m., the temple is hosting Café Shaaray with Rabbi Dennis Ross in a special commemoration marking the one-year anniversary of the attacks. It is described as an open conversation that will “provide an opportunity to reflect, share, and deepen your understanding of the events and their impact.”
At 1 p.m. Sunday, the temple is participating in Tekes Zikaron, joining Reform communities from around the world for a multilingual ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the events of Oct. 7, at 1 p.m., New York time, which coincides with 8 p.m. in Israel. Those who wish to join can register at https://heyor.ca/M1JqpS.
That ceremony is followed at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, by “We Remember. We Stand in Unity.” According to the Temple Shaaray Tefila website: “The Westchester Area community will join together for the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel as we remember the lives lost, along with honoring survivors and heroes.”
All temple members were asked to attend “to be part of our larger Jewish community.”
Registration is required, but in-person attendance is fully booked. Virtual attendance is possible by registering at shaaraytefila.org/october-7th-commemoration/.
A larger event Monday will include members of other local Jewish and faith-based congregations at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center for an Oct. 7 memorial program at 7:30 p.m.
Attendees are invited to listen to Nova music festival survivor, Maya Izoutcheev, and hear a message of remembrance from community member Alicia Sands, friend of the Hersh Goldberg-Polin family. The event is sponsored by the town of New Castle Holocaust and Human Rights Committee, in partnership with Antioch Baptist Church, Congregation B’nai Yisrael, Bet Torah Synagogue, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, UCC, Temple Beth El, and Temple Shaaray Tefila. Registration, which is required, is full, though it is possible to sign up for a wait list.
Chabad of Bedford, on South Bedford Road, is holding its own Oct. 7 memorial ceremony Monday at 7 p.m., with the theme, “Stand together in solidarity to support, uplift, and rebuild.” It will include special guest speakers from Israel, Shoval Roberman and Tomer Weiner, survivors of the Nova music festival massacre. The ceremony is open to all, free of charge; RSVP is required at Chabadbedford.com/Oct7.
Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties, on Peaceable Street, Ridgefield, Conn., is engaging with other congregations in the area.
“We are incorporating messages into our services for Rosh Hashanah as well as during services on Friday evening,” said Rabbi David Levy Reiner. “Our big observance will be with other congregations from around the region at the Community Synagogue in Westport, Conn., Monday at 7:30 pm.” He said to his knowledge, it was with mostly Connecticut congregations.
Though Bet Torah Synagogue, on Smith Avenue, Mount Kisco, is participating in the Chappaqua event Monday, Rabbi Aaron Brusso was reluctant to talk about it.
“Suffice it to say we will absolutely be commemorating it, and I will be addressing it in my sermons over the High Holidays. It will be a very emotional time for our community and good to be together to feel the communal support.”