Dear Friends,

We hope you have all enjoyed a restful and healthy summer. There is an excitement in the air at Etz Chaim as we begin a new year of programming and inspiration. Of course this all begins with the Yamim Noraim - the High Holidays - which we eagerly anticipate.

This has been a most excruciating and perilous year for the Jewish people, both in Israel and abroad. Now more than ever we need to join together in unified Tefillah during this High Holiday season. Together, we can uplift one another through song, inspiration and by just being together in our magnificent Shul. There will be many opportunities to gather and share in our rich traditions of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah.

We welcome Rabbi David Block who will be leading the Davening this year. He will be accompanied by the Pella group, who will be joining us as has been our custom over the last number of years to help elevate our Ruach and singing. Our rabbinic team, our lay volunteers and Gabbaim always aim to provide an atmosphere of Davening that is top notch, uplifting and inspiring.

This year Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur begin the evenings of Wednesday, October 2nd and Friday, October 11th respectively.

Please let us know if you will be at Etz Chaim for Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur, including how many adults, children, and guests you plan to have. All members and their single children age 24 and under are entitled to a ticket at no cost. Please remember to buy tickets for your older children. Additional tickets for the High Holidays are available to purchase for associate members, guests, older children of our members, and to non-members who wish to daven with us during the High Holidays.

Guest Rates and Member Children over 24:

Rosh Hashanah: $100 per adult ticket; $25 per child ticket (ages 3 to 11)

Yom Kippur: $100 per adult ticket; $25 per child ticket (ages 3 to 11)

Both Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur: $150 per adult ticket; $50 per child ticket (ages 3 to 11)

Please note that all members who joined at the $3,600 and $5,000 dues levels will receive two guest tickets and their guest's children under age 18 at no extra cost. All members who joined at the $7,200, $10,000 and $18,000 dues levels will receive four guest tickets plus their guest's children under age 18 at no extra cost.

Please CLICK HERE to complete the High Holiday Registration Form. Please complete the form as soon as possible, but no later than September 16 so that we can have an accurate count and prepare properly for the holiday. If you will be out of town and are not coming at all, please fill out the form to let us know. It is important we hear from everyone in some way.

A confirmation email will be sent to you with the details of your registration and instructions for payment. THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL WILL INCLUDE A PDF TO PRINT TO BE USED AS THE ENTRY TICKET FOR ALL WHO ARE REGISTERED. FOR SECURITY REASONS, THESE TICKETS MUST BE PRESENTED IN ORDER TO ENTER THE SHUL.

Wishing you all a Ketivah Vechatimah Tovah and a happy and healthy new year.

Sincerely,

Neil Kaplan & Ronen Samuels

Co-Presidents

HIGH HOLIDAY REGISTRATION FORM

KIDS GROUPS

We are looking forward to a meaningful Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur together with your children! There will be groups including programs, entertainment, and babysitting, with supervision available during davening from 10am - 1:30pm for both days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Please be sure to include the names and ages of your children on the High Holiday Registration Form.

HIGH HOLIDAY ALIYAH BIDDING

Dear Congregants:

This year we will be carrying forward the same policy regarding Torah aliyahs on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are asking all interested members to bid on these aliyahs. The reasons for this are twofold: first, this is a fundraiser for the shul, and second, this will allow a fair way of distributing these honors.

Enclosed are the aliyah forms. Please fill out which aliyahs/honors you would like to bid on and the amount that you are bidding. The MINIMUM bid for each Torah Aliyah is $360. All other honors such as Hagbah, Gelilah, Ark Openings and holding the 2^nd Sefer Torah will start at $180. Bids can be increased in lots of $180 up to $360, $540, $720, $900, $1080, etc. You may bid on these aliyahs for yourself or assign them to any MARRIED family member or friend.

We will also have aliyah bidding for Shabbat Shuvah. The bidding is as you please (there is no minimum). Rabbi Klibanoff will be getting the Maftir Aliyah and if you would like to make a donation in his honor please do so.

Please mark the amount you are bidding on the appropriate space next to the aliyah that you want.

The FIRM DEADLINE for receiving your responses will be TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 AT 8 PM.

A member of the ritual committee will then open all bids for review. Only bids received on the enclosed form will be accepted. In the event there is a tie in the bidding for the same aliyah, the member reviewing the bids will contact the individuals involved without revealing identities and ask if they want to increase their bid. The high bid will win. There will be no auctioning of aliyahs during the synagogue service.

On Shabbat Shuva we honor Rabbi Klibanoff with the Maftir aliya. If you would like to donate towards that honor please contact Dr. Andrew Hutter at amhutter@mac.com.

Members must be in good standing with the Shul for aliyah bids.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Andrew Hutter at (973) 615-5488 or amhutter@mac.com.

All bids should emailed to the following address:

Andrew Hutter

amhutter@mac.com

ALIYAH BID FORM