Dear Friends,
The past 18 months have been filled with unimaginable trials and tribulations, and we are so grateful for the ingenuity and dedication the Congregation has maintained during this time. As we approach the New Year, we're excited to reconnect in our physical space and welcome you home to Beth Emet. Our clergy, senior staff and lay leadership have been developing a creative, meaningful and sensible approach to the High Holy Days to accomodate the ever-changing needs of our congregation.
We enter 5782 with a commitment to:
Reconnect with our Community. Renew our Judaism. Refresh our Ruach (Spirit)!
Beth Emet has a variety of worship options and programming to ensure that everyone- whether in-person or virtually - can renew their spirit, connect with the community and friends new and old, and build upon Beth Emet's foundation of strength. Many of these details were reviewed in Beth Emet Town Hall on July 12;
you can view it here.
Here's how this year's High Holy Days will work:
Services, Worship, Study and Community
We will be offering the full range of in-person services, attendance will be limited based on prevailing guidance and conditions. Livestreaming will be available for all services.
The service schedule is here.
- Substantially improved technology has been installed in the sanctuary, which brings higher quality video and sound to those online.
- Only fully vaccinated members will be permitted to attend the Traditional adult services. There will be no vaccination requirement for attendance at Chavurah services or services for young families.
- Congregants will be asked to achnowledge a brit, or covenant, which describes our mutual responsibility about safety protocols, including vaccinations, if applicable.
- While some elements of the services will be pre-recorded due to health and safety protocols, all services will be available to view online live during the High Holy Days and shortly after, on-demand.
- Continuing the success of last year's community connections, on Rosh Hashanah we are arranging for neighborhood shofar calls and for tashlich, an opportunity to symbolically cast away our sins in several locations. Watch for details in August!
- There will also be online and in-person opportunities to gather for study sessions throughout the High Holy Days.
- As conditions may chance, we will remain flexible and continue to evaluate the guidance form the CDC and the State of Illinois. We appreciate your patience as we navigate this together.
Logistics, Registration, Tickets, and Materials
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Please complete and submit the attached online form no later than July 30. You will find the registration form is easier to complete on a computer versus a phone. You will be asked to confirm you contact information, worship preferences and contribute to many High Holy Day-related opportunities, including remembering loved ones in the Yizkor (Memorial) Book.
- Tickets will be allocated by a fair and random process, based on your indicated preferences selected on the registration form. Only congregants in good standing with tickets may attend in person. We are hopeful that members who wish to attend in person will be able to attend at least one service on Rosh Hashanah and one service on Yom Kippur.
- In-person attendance at services will be available to congregants who are members in good standing. We will be unable to allow walk-ins, those who have not yet completed the brit (covenant) in advance, or last-minute reservations. Given capacity limits, at this time we do not forsee having non-member relatives and friends participate in-person.
- You should expect to receive your confirmed in-person service schedule and tickets for your household later in August. On your registration form, you will indicate whether you will pick up the materials at Beth Emet or wish to have them mailed.
- As we continue to offer services streaming online, we welcome everyone - long-time members, friends and family near and far and even neighbors- to usher in 5782 with us.
- You can always stay up-to-date through our website and EmetMail, where we will post current information and the latest FAQs.
If you have questions about the High Holy Days please contact Bekki Kaplan by
email or by phone 847-869-4230 x 304 and if you need assistance in navigating the registration process, please reach out to Shlomit Hoch by
email or by phone 847-869-4230 x 301.
More than ever, we are overjoyed to open our doors to celebrate and worship with each of you. We wish you and your loved ones a healthy, happy and safe 5782.
Rabbi Andrea London
Karen Isaacson, President
Ellen Feldman, High Holy Day Committee Chair
