Joining the worldwide Jewish community, Pottstown’s congregation Hesed Shel Emet is preparing to observe the high holy days. This 10 day time period known as the “Days of Awe” or the “Days of Repentance,” is the most solemn time of introspection and prayer in the Jewish faith.
Located in Pottstown, Hesed Shel Emet, also known as Congregation Mercy and Truth, will be holding services for these holidays. “Rabbi Daniel Zucker will lead services and he will be assisted by David Schachter, who serves as cantor, reading the Torah and chanting the services. David, who has a lovely voice, has joined our congregation in this position for 25 years,” explains Janet Prince, congregation president.
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Beginning with Rosh Hashanah, known as the Jewish “new year,” and ending with Yom Kippur, known as the “Day of Atonement,” these days are a time for people to consider their sins of the past year and to repent and seek reconciliation.
It is believed that the Book of Life is opened on Rosh Hashanah and G-d writes the destiny of each man/woman in the book: he determines who will have a good year and who will have a bad year, who will live and who will die during the upcoming year. However, this book and the fates written into it are not sealed in the book until 10 days later, on Yom Kippur, so during the days between these holidays, people have an opportunity to repent from their sins and seek forgiveness, both from G-d and from people they have wronged.
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Since prayer is a major part of repentance, people who will be in the area but are not members of the synagogue congregation are invited to make arrangements to attend holiday prayer services by calling Melanie in the synagogue office between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM daily at 610- 326- 1717. “We would be happy for friends who wish to attend holiday services to join us,” says Prince, who adds that inter-faith families are also welcome.
Scheduled services include “Erev Rosh Hashanah” at 7:30 PM Wed., Sept. 4, followed by first day of Rosh Hashanah services beginning at 8:30 AM the following morning. Second day Rosh Hashanah services also begin at 8:30 AM on Fri., Sept. 6.
The “Erev Yom Kippur” service called Kol Nidre, begins at 6:30 PM Fri. night, Sept. 13. Yom Kippur services resume the morning of Sat., Sept. 14 at 8: 30 AM and continue throughout the day. Yizkor, the memorial service for deceased loved ones, will be at about 11:45 AM. Services will conclude at 7:55 PM with the traditional blowing of the shofar, a traditional musical instrument made from a ram’s horn.
One significant aspect of the Yom Kippur observance is a 24-plus hour fast from the beginning of the holiday around sundown until the blowing of the shofar at the end of the holiday at sundown the next evening, Congregation Hesed Shel Emet traditionally offers a bagels and lox “Break the Fast” dairy dinner at the conclusion of the holiday services. Arrangements to attend can also be made when speaking with Melanie in the synagogue office.
“Our synagogue family is over 120 years old,” notes Prince. “With determination, pride, and hope, our founders formed a community and we have reaped the rewards of their hard work. We celebrated 50 years in our Keim St. building last year. We embrace our synagogue as a peaceful place to gather and socialize, study and worship, and we are glad to encourage newcomers to consider joining us in those endeavors,” Prince concludes.
Congregation Hesed Shel Emet is located at 575 N. Keim St. in Pottstown. Prince reminds those who are interested to please call to make arrangements before attending.
Hesed Shel Emet/ Congregation Mercy and Truth Website: http://www.hesedshelemet.org/index.html
