Six Synagogues Join Together for Community Selichot Program

Rabbi Richard Hirsh

Set the tone for the High Holidays by joining in a community commemoration of Selichot on Saturday, Sept. 4, at 8:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Am Israel, 1301 Hagys Ford Road, Penn Valley.

Beth Am is one of six area synagogues -- Adath Israel; Beth David Reform Congregation; Har Zion Temple; Main Line Reform Temple, Beth Elohim; and Suburban Jewish Community Center-B'nai Aaron -- participating in this special evening of study, prayer and reflection. The evening is sponsored by the Kehillah of Lower Merion, a partnership initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education/Jewish Outreach Partnership.

Selichot is the Hebrew word for "forgiveness."

The Selichot service is traditionally held on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, and is designed to help worshippers begin the process of reflection, repentance and renewal associated with the High Holiday period.

The program will begin with refreshments and a Havdalah service. Two prominent scholars -- Rabbi Richard Hirsh, executive director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association; and Elsie Stern, Ph.D., assistant professor of Bible at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College -- will lead participants in a discussion of the Torah portion for the first day of Rosh Hashanah.

This portion focuses on the strife in the family of Abraham, and ends with the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael.

Then, at 10 p.m., community members can choose from three prayer services to be held concurrently -- a traditional davening service, conducted in Hebrew with English transliterations and some English readings; a contemplative service, including chanting, study and meditation; and a "Gates of Forgiveness" service, incorporating traditional prayers, contemporary readings and High Holiday music performed by a Community Choir.

At the conclusion of services, the community will join together to hear the blowing of the shofar.

Additional parking will be available at St. Justin's Church on Hagys Ford Road and at the Welsh Valley Middle School on Tower Lane. Shuttle service will be provided to Beth Am Israel.

To learn more, call Cheryl Barish Erlick, director of the Kehillah of Lower Merion, at 610-578-9000 (e-mail: cberlick@jfgp.org). Full information about Selichot and the holidays is available at: www. jewishphilly.org.