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Weekly E-News 5786
Oct 2 - Oct 8, 2026
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Kiddush
Taco Bar
Prepared by Tova Javetz & Lauren Fins
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High Holidays Events at AA
Sat, 10/3, 9:45 – 12:15pm Shabbat Shemini Atzeret Services
Sat, 10/3, 6:00 – 8:00pm Simchat Torah Services
Sun, 10/4, 9:45 – 12:15pm Simchat Torah Services
Please join us!
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We are trying again to plan a trip to Israel. If you are interested, please email mottilocker@gmail.com. Include the dates that work best for you. Thanks!
Motti
| | | The Melvyn & Eleanor Galin Disability Fund | | | | |
From the Desk of
Rabbi Cantor
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I fear that Shemini Atzeret gets swallowed up by Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Leviticus 23 sets out our sacred seasons:
On the fifteenth day of this seventh month there shall be the Feast of Booths (“Sukkot”) to GOD, [to last] seven days. The first day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations; seven days you shall bring offerings by fire to GOD. On the eighth day you shall observe a sacred occasion and bring an offering by fire to GOD; it is a solemn gathering: you shall not work at your occupations. (Leviticus 23:34-36)
This seems confusing: if the festival is to last seven days, what is this “eighth day” all about? Numbers 29 provides some additional information:
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you shall observe a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations.—Seven days you shall observe a festival of GOD.— You shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to GOD: Thirteen bulls of the herd, two rams, fourteen yearling lambs; they shall be without blemish. ... Second day: Twelve bulls of the herd, ... Third day: Eleven bulls, ... Fourth day: Ten bulls, ... Fifth day: Nine bulls, ... Sixth day: Eight bulls, ... Seventh day: Seven bulls, ... On the eighth day you shall hold a solemn gathering (“Shemini Atzeret”); you shall not work at your occupations. You shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to GOD; one bull, one ram, seven yearling lambs, without blemish; (Numbers 29:12-36)
There are two festivals here: the Feast of Booths (Sukkot)—which lasts for seven days—and the Solemn Gathering on the Eight Day (Shemini Atzeret).
So what about Simchat Torah?
Our annual cycle of reading the Torah begins and ends on the second day of Shemini Atzeret (in Israel, on the only day of Shemini Atzeret); by the Middle Ages the second day of Shemini Atzeret had gained the nickname “Simchat Torah” (the Joy of the Torah). The popularity of the nickname may have obscured the original name in the popular Jewish imagination. Just this past week I received a phone call from someone who wanted to know: what is this “Shemini Atzeret” that appears on the Jewish calendar?
But Shemini Atzeret is more than just the completion of the Torah reading cycle. It has its own significance and its own liturgical character. It is the day we begin to praise God for rain, which is so important that we add it to our prayers each and every day from Shemini Atzeret to Pesah. And, unlike Sukkot, it’s intimate: over the course of Sukkot seventy bulls are offered on the altar, which the Rabbis understood as representing the seventy nations of the world. But only one bull is offered on Shemini Atzeret, representing Israel. Our Tradition (Sukkot 55b) tells us that all the nations of the world would come to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot, and then go home, while Israel was invited to remain an extra day. The Midrash explains that this is like a ruler who holds a seven-day banquet for all of the courtiers, but then sits down for a private meal the on the following day with a favorite minister.
Perhaps this is the reason I would like us to pay more attention to Shemini Atzeret. Sukkot is over. The guests have gone home. The Torah has not yet begun again. There is simply one more day: a day to remain in God's presence, to pray for rain, and to gather as the Jewish people. In the Midrash, God asks us to prepare “a small feast so that I can derive pleasure from you alone.” (ibid.) Perhaps that is what Shemini Atzeret is asking us to do.
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The best part of Rabbi Cantor's Day is when he sits down to meet with congregants. To make an appointment with Rabbi Cantor:
Call: 912-352-4727
Email: rabbi@agudath-achim.com
Use this link: Schedule a Meeting
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In Person Service Times
Tuesday: 7:30 AM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM
Friday: 8:00 AM
Shabbat: 9:45 AM
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Shmini Atzeret (on Shabbat) / שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת (בְּשַׁבָּת)
Yizkor
Saturday, 3 October 2026 / 22 Tishrei 5787
Candle lighting October 2, 2026 6:50 pm / Candle lighting October 3, 2026 7:43 pm
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17; Numbers 29:35-30:1; Ecclesiastes 1:1-12:14
1: 14:22-29 · 1074
2: 15:1-18 · 1076
3: 15:19-23 · 1080
4: 16:1-3 · 1081
5: 16:4-8 · 1082
6: 16:9-12 · 1083
7: 16:13-17 · 1084
M: Numbers 29:35-30:1 · 936
Haftarah: I Kings 8:54-66 · 1263
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Service Leader Sign Up
Are you interested in leading services? Reading Torah? You can sign up on our service leader sign up sheet!
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Birthdays
Thursday, Oct 1 - Suzanne Konter, Steve Sacks,
Henry Scheer, Margo Webb
Friday, Oct 2 - Janet Benjamin
Saturday, Oct 3 - Steve Arkin
Wednesday, Oct 7 - Murray Galin
Thursday, Oct 8 - Sidney Karp
Anniversaries
Wednesday, Oct 7 - Josepha & John DeVaro
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Sisterhood Paid Up Lunch & Craft
October 18th at 1:00
RSVP to Beth Bosman at 727-409-6394 or bethabosman1@gmail.com
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Yahrzeits
Thursday night/Friday, Oct 2 - 21 Tishrei
Harriet Jolles - mother of Marilyn Farley
Friday night/Saturday, Oct 3 -22 Tishrei
Eva Sadler - grandmother of Elise Shernoff & Kenneth Sadler
Milton Todtfeld - brother-in-law of Judy Todtfeld
Rachmill Schlafstein - father of Barry Schlafstein
Saturday night/Sunday, Oct 4 - 23 Tishrei
Gustave Kreh - grandfather of Stavie Kreh
Joan Sadowsky - mother of Elaine Weinberger
Laura Lynn Miller - wife of Martin Miller
Sunday night/Monday, Oct 5 - 24 Tishrei
none
Monday night/Tuesday, Oct 6 - 25 Tishrei
Daniel Locker - father of Motti Locker
Mae Movshin - mother of Michael Schwartz
Rabbi Hirsh Geffen - grandfather of Ted & Morris Geffen
Tuesday night/Wednesday, Oct 7 -26 Tishrei
none
Wednesday night/Thursday, Oct 8 - 27 Tishrei
Nathan Meyers - great-uncle of Linda Zoller
Bernard Sacks - father of Steve Sacks
Thursday night/Friday, Oct 9 - 28 Tishrei
none
Commemoration of the Yahrzeit begins the evening of the first noted date.
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Donations
To make a donation to the synagogue in recognition of a birth, birthday, anniversary, bereavement, or yahrzeit, you may use the button below. The message box can be used to tell us who we should notify of your donation.
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William Lapham to the Kiddush Fund & Rabbi's Discretionary Fund in appreciation of the prayers
Marilyn & Jim Farley to the Kiddush Fund for the yahrzeit of Harriet Jolles
Adelle Burnsed-Geffen & Ted Geffen to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund to celebrate the birthday of Vincente Gomez
Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund
Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddish Fund in honor of AM Goldkrand
Paul Abel to Rabbi's Discretionary Fund in memory of Israel Broder
Margaret Kaplan to the Sisterhood Fund in appreciation of Gale Hirsh
Bunny & Jim Montag to the Kiddush Fund in recognition of Kenneth Sadler's award
Adelle Burnsed-Geffen & Ted Geffen to the Kiddush Fund to celebrate Elise Shernoff's birthday
Toby Hollenberg & Michael Bonder to Backpack Buddies in honor of AM Goldkrand
Lynn Berkowitz to the Kiddish Fund in memory of Rose Rudikoff
Andrea Mathews to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund in honor of Rabbi Cantor's learning opportunities
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Benefactor
$9,999 - $5000
Melvyn & Eleanor Galin
Leader
$3,599 - $1,800
Stephen & Annette Friedman
Ed Price
Patron
$1,799 - $720
Aaron & Dayle Levy
Allan & Arlene Ratner
Sherwin & Sara Robin
Sol & Stephanie Zerden
Michael & Linda Zoller
Chai Member
$719 - $360
Michelle & Matthew Allan
Gerald Caplan
AM Goldkrand
Paul & Harriet Kulbersh
Jeffrey & Stacy Lasky
Jim & Bunny Montag
Andrew & Leslie Walcoff
Supporters
$359 - $100
Lynn Berkowitz
Joe & Linda Cooper
Adam Fins
Ted & Adelle Geffen
Doug & Lisa Goldstein
Seth Grenald
Gale Hirsh
Jonathan & Tova Javetz
Harriet Karlin
Michael & Suzanne Konter
Larry & Betsy Lehner
Steve & Linda Sacks
Victor & Elise Shernoff
Thanks to these donors for going above and beyond by participating in the Donor Dues Program this 2025-2026 fiscal year. If you would like to participate by making this additional commitment, please contact the office.
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A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America is an opportunity to learn about a significant but largely unknown chapter that connects American, Black, and Jewish history.
The exhibition is on view through November 1. The public is invited to a talk and reception with Andrew on September 17. The talk begins at 5 pm, followed by a reception. In addition, I would be happy to schedule a private tour for you and Agudath Achim members with Elizabeth Greenberg, our director of exhibitions.
The Rosenwald Schools program was a partnership between Jewish philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute. Between 1912 and 1937, this historic partnership helped fund the construction of nearly 5,000 schools for Black children in the segregated South and border states.
| | Sons of Jacob Synagogue Needs Your Help | | |
On September 20, 2026, our Jewish community gathered at Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, to observe Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days of the Jewish year.
Instead, our synagogue was attacked.
A gunman opened fire toward the synagogue, with bullets striking the building and piercing its windows as our community gathered inside.
A Belleville Police officer stationed outside bravely confronted the gunman, putting himself directly between the attacker and our community. No one inside the synagogue was physically injured, and we will forever be grateful to the police officers, Const. Jeff Smith and Const. Michael McCurdy who put his lives on the line to protect ours.
Const. Jeff Smith was seriously wounded and remains in our thoughts and prayers. A separate fundraiser has been established to support him and his family, and we wholeheartedly encourage support for that effort as well.
Const. Jeff Smith https://gofund.me/1a2736000 and
Const. Michael McCurdy https://gofund.me/f9d6ef859
Now, we are asking for your help to protect the community he helped save.
Sons of Jacob may be a small synagogue, but it has been the heart of Jewish life in the Bay of Quinte for generations. Professional estimates put the essential security work needed at approximately $90,000, and foundational work to maintain the integrity of the building itself at a minimum of 30k.
Every donation will help us get closer:
$25 helps. $100 helps. $500 helps. $1,000 helps. Every gift matters.
This is about more than repairing what was damaged. It is about ensuring our children can grow up with a Jewish community they are proud of, families can gather for Shabbat and holidays, and our elders can walk through these doors feeling safe.
We are reaching out to our Jewish community across Canada, Israel and around the world, and to everyone who believes people should be able to worship and gather without fear.
Please donate today and help us reach our $120,000 goal.
If we are fortunate enough to exceed our goal, additional funds will help Sons of Jacob continue to strengthen the synagogue and Jewish life in our community.
And if you cannot donate, please share this campaign with your family, friends, synagogue and community.
We will rebuild. We will make our synagogue safer. And we will continue to gather and celebrate Jewish life.
From all of us at Sons of Jacob, thank you for standing with our community.
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Rabbi David Cantor
Tova Javetz, President
Motti Locker, Executive Director
Congregation Agudath Achim | office@agudath-achim.com | 912-352-4737 | www.agudath-achim.com
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