High Holy Days Information Booklet

President, Michael Gross
Program Vice-President, Doris Duhigg
Community Vice-President, Gary Singer
Financial Vice-President, Geoffrey Kalmus
Secretary, Judith Shor Ning
Treasurer, Edwin Caplan
Past President, Karen Kahn

The High Holidays are a time for taking stock in ourselves as well as reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the future. We who are privileged to serve as your Clergy and professional staff want to take this opportunity to let you know how blessed we feel to be able to be part of Congregation Albert.

As we are about to enter into the year, 5762, we want to wish all of you a Shanah Tovah U’metukah – a good and sweet New Year. We also want to encourage those of you who have not been active at Temple to take advantage of our wonderful congregation. We would love to see you at services, classes, concerts, singing in the Zamir, and serving on committees.

When I went to the UAHC regional biennial earlier this year, I came away realizing that our congregation is indeed a jewel in the desert. Many congregations are trying to become what we already are! What did I see and feel that made me so proud to be a part of the Congregation Albert family?

The most significant difference is the talent and special qualities inherent in our clergy. Rabbi Black provides us with a level of leadership that teaches and inspires. Cantor Jacquie's voice and energy work in tandem to bring us to a high level of spiritual awakening. Both of our clergy provide us with inspiring, thoughtful, and beautiful music. In addition to helping us meet our spiritual needs, they have brought their gifts of music to our sanctuary, music that permeates our services, helping to wash away the stress of our daily lives. To have one talented musician is special; to have two is a blessing! We are very fortunate. Other congregations are looking for ways to refresh their services through music while we experience it fully.

We are blessed, too, to have a board of trustees and Temple administrator, Judy Weinstein, who take their fiduciary responsibilities so seriously. Many other congregations aspire to financial prudence and living within a budget. We actually do so.

Lastly, many congregations aspire to providing a great religious education. Again, we do so. Our teachers and school staff, led by Leah Schaer and Bonnie Evnetzky, do a great job of educating our children and holding high the goal of continuing education. We have one of the highest participation rates in the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah program.

The Days of Awe are a time for reflection, a time to think about the good and bad of the past year. We have a lot to be thankful for, and we need to remember just how special our congregation really is.

On behalf of my family, our clergy, professional staff and board of trustees, I want to wish you and yours a sweet and happy new year.

S'lichot - Preparing for the Days of Awe	Saturday, September 8
Havdalah	7:30pm
Oneg Follows Immediately
Program: "The Elul Project"	8:30pm
Followed by discussion
S'lichot Service	10:30pm
Erev Rosh Hashanah	Monday, September 17, 8:00pm
Rosh Hashanah	Tuesday, September 18
Meditation	8:45am
Children's Service	9:00am
Morning Service	10:30am
Doors Open for Seating at Conclusion of Children's Service (approximately 10:15am. Please be patient.)
2nd Day Service at Oak Flats Picnic Area	Wednesday, September 19, 10:00am
Shabbat Shuvah Family Service	Friday, September 21, 6:00pm
Meditation Service	Saturday, September 22, 9:15am
Morning Service	10:30am
Kol Nidre	Wednesday, September 26, 8:00pm
Yom Kippur	Thursday, September 27
Meditation	8:45am
Morning Service	10:00am
Healing Service (immediately following services)
Children's Service	2:00pm
Afternoon Service	3:00pm
Yizkor and Neilah	4:30pm
Break-the-Fast	Following Neilah
(The library and garden will be open on Yom Kippur for private reflection and study between services. Bring your Shofars to the Neilah Service on Yom Kippur.)
Sukkot & Family Service	Monday, October 1
Brown Bag Dinner	5:30pm
Family Service & Consecration	7:00pm
Morning Sukkot Service	Tuesday October 2, 10:30am
Erev Simchat Torah	Monday, October 8, 7:00pm
Yizkor Service	Tuesday, October 9, 10:30am

High Holy Day tickets are being mailed to all members in good standing as defined by our Constitution. One ticket is issued per household, so you must arrange to come together. Everyone attending services needs a ticket which will be checked at the door.

Full-time college students and non-commissioned military personnel will be given complimentary ticket upon request.

Non-affiliated relatives of our members (grandparents, parents, children or siblings) are also entitled to courtesy seating at the Temple.

Congregation Albert members in good standing who plan to be out of the area for the High Holy Days and wish to attend another Reform congregation, should contact Judy Weinstein, our administrator. A courtesy seating request will be sent to the congregation that you wish to attend. Such requests must be done well in advance. A contribution to that congregation is an appropriate gesture.

Both the main entrance and our eastside door of the Temple are wheelchair accessible. Additional handicapped parking spaces have been designated by the kitchen door. There is also a wheelchair available at the Temple. Please call the office (883-1818) by September 10th so that we can meet any special needs. We need this information in advance! Handicapped seats will only be held up to 20 minutes prior to the commencement of services.

Individuals who must use beepers during worship are requested to place them in "silent mode" so as not to disturb worshippers. There is a public phone located in the coatroom across from the Temple office. Cell phones, if brought to services, must be turned off.

The Congregation has installed a FM loop for the Sanctuary public address system. There are a limited number of receivers owned by the Congregation. Please contact the office to reserve a head set prior to services. You will be asked for a license or credit card as a deposit for your headset.

Please park in the designated spaces in the lots to the north and west of the building. There is no parking allowed in front of the building except for the handicapped spaces. Do not park in the lot to the north of the building that services Furr's and other businesses including the loading dock. You will be towed. Overflow parking is available on our undeveloped land to the South of the building. You may park for evening services and on Rosh Hashanah in the Cleveland Middle School lot. Please make sure your valuables are locked inside the trunk.

Ushers will greet you at the front (north) entrance to the building. Each family should show their tickets at the entrance to the Sanctuary. If you do not show a ticket, you will be asked to go to the temple office and be issued a ticket. Books and kippot will be available. Ushers will fill the Sanctuary from front to back. For the services following the Children's Service, the doors will open after the conclusion of the Children's Services (approximately 10:15am). For other services, the doors will open one hour prior to the service. Sanctuary doors will be closed at the start of services and seating will be only allowed at the back of the room from then on. There will be special seating for families that have placed children in childcare. This is essential so we may locate parents if the need arises. There will be no saving of seats permitted in the sanctuary except for ushers, disabled persons, and those who are participating in the service on the bimah. No one will be seated during the Shema and Kol Nidre.

The High Holy Days are special times for families and friends to be together at the Temple for prayer and observance of the holidays. Children are important to our future, and their involvement in Temple activities helps to introduce and allow them to be a part of Jewish life. We strongly encourage children to participate in all aspects of Temple activities and Services. Children's Services are special opportunities for parents and children, together, to share in prayer in a Service that is specifically designed for our younger congregants.

By nature, the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services can be quite lengthy and difficult for children to enjoy. Fidgety children interrupt prayer. For this reason we have made childcare available for younger children while their parents are in the main Sanctuary.

Please see the information sheet and reservation form contained in this mailing. Budgeting restrictions make it necessary to charge for this service. All reservations must be made and pre-paid by Wednesday, September 5th as there will be no spontaneous "drop-ins" permitted or money taken on the days of Services. We are obligated to provide the required number of care-providers dictated by New Mexico State Law. We need an exact count of the number of children who will be in childcare in advance. Snacks are not provided, so please bring your own.

Adults with children in Childcare are required to sit in a designated area in the Sanctuary so that if need arises, you can be easily located.

Meet at Oak Flats Picnic Area at 10:00am for a most meaningful second day service and beautiful experience in the mountains. To get to Oak Flats Picnic area, take I-40 East to the Tijeras the exit and go south on 337 for 9 miles. Turn left at the Oak Flats sign and go one mile to the recreation area. Oak Picnic Area is to the right as you come into the park. Bring your chairs, blankets, and picnic lunch. This year we will provide a small shade structure but bring umbrellas and hats as well. Please bring a dessert to share for the Oneg that follows the service. There is ample parking but be environmentally sensitive and carpool!

If the weather looks questionable on the day of the services, call our main number, 883-1818 to hear a recorded announcement with any change of plans.

This year we will have a very simple Break-the-Fast following Neilah sponsored by Congregation Albert's Brotherhood and Sisterhood.

We will try to arrange transportation for anyone who needs a ride to High Holy Day Services. Please call the Temple office at least 5 days before Services if you can offer a ride or need a ride to the Temple.