A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

High Holy Days 2024/5785

Dear Friends,

A little more than a month into the founding of our new Congregation Mishkan Or, we present our initial plans from clergy and staff for an engaging and meaningful array of first High Holy Day experiences. You'll find many details you are seeking here, the first of several communications to help us all plan.

Included in this message are links to worship service descriptions, a Q & A document, and registration link.

As your Rabbi and Executive Director, we're commonly asked whether High Holy Days are early or late. Contemporary poet Marge Piercy confesses to preferring 'late year' High Holy Days. Piercy writes: "I like Rosh Hashanah late, when the leaves are half burnt umber and scarlet, when sunset marks the horizon with slow fire and the black silhouettes of migrating birds perch on the wires davening." Her description of nature’s visible yearning are reminiscent of the penitential prayers of Selichot, this year to be held Saturday evening, Sept. 28.

But consider the latter half of Piercy's poem. There she names how Rosh Hashanah, as it falls late this year on the evening of Oct. 2 through Oct. 3 is the best time to “study the rockface of [one's] life, its granite pitted, pocked and pickaxed, eroded, discolored by sun, wind, and rain- the rock emerging from the veil of greenery to be mapped, examined and judged." Such evocative imagery!

We offer Piercy's observations as a gift to all joining us at Congregation Mishkan Or. May each of us take notice of the signs in nature guiding us on paths of change, hope, sincerity, contrition, and integrity, if only we pay attention.

May our message today be the first of many warm New Year greetings reaching you. We at Congregation Mishkan Or ("dwelling place of light") hope light and sweetness will sustain you in 5785 and beyond!

Shanah Tovah,

Robert A. Nosanchuk (he/him)

Inaugural Senior Rabbi

Will & Jan Sukenik Chair in Rabbinics

Congregation Mishkan Or

Julianna Johnston Senturia (she/her)

Executive Director

Congregation Mishkan Or

HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES AT-A-GLANCE

October 2 Erev Rosh HaShanah

6:00pm - Teen-Led Evening Worship Service (Beachwood)

7:30pm - Congregational Evening Worship Service (MPAC* AND Beachwood)

October 3 Rosh HaShanah

9:00am - Tot Morning Worship Service (Beachwood)

9:00am - Family Morning Worship Service (Beachwood)

10:00am - Congregational Worship Service (MPAC* AND Beachwood)

10:30am - Alternative Worship Service (Beachwood)

3:30pm - Tashlich Ritual (Edgewater Park)

October 11 Kol Nidre / Erev Yom Kippur

6:00pm - Teen-Led Evening Kol Nidre Worship Service (Beachwood)

7:30pm - Congregational Kol Nidre Worship Service (MPAC* AND Beachwood)

October 12 Yom Kippur

9:00am - Tot Morning Worship Service (Beachwood)

9:00am - Family Morning Worship Service (Beachwood)

10:00am - Congregational Worship Service (MPAC* AND Beachwood)

10:30am - Alternative Worship Service (Beachwood)

12:15pm - Yizkor Memorial Worship Service (Beachwood)

3:15pm - Congregational Service (MPAC*)

4:15pm - Yizkor Memorial Worship Service (MPAC*)

5:15pm - Congregational Closing Neilah Worship Service (MPAC*)

Service details including full descriptions, additional program offerings, locations and clergy participation are found by clicking the button below.

*MPAC: stands for Maltz Performing Arts Center CWRU on Ansel Rd.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Congregation Mishkan Or ("dwelling place of light") including Shabbat Services, Fridays at 6pm.

Check out our website at Mishkanor.org.

To reach us by phone: 216-831-3233. If you experience a pastoral emergency requiring attention of clergy, contact Senior Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk here or call/text him at 216-645-1860. He will respond or ask a clergy member 'on call' to reach out to you.



Congregation Mishkan Or

Jack & Lilyan Mandel Building

26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, OH 44122

Visit Mishkanor.org - Click on livestream to worship virtually!