Rabbi's Message

Temple Sisterhood Shalom Tifereth Israel,

As we turn the calendar to the month of Elul and September, I want to welcome everyone back from what was helpfully a restful and relaxing summer. I have taken this summer to recharge my batteries after what has been an extremely challenging and stressful period for us all, and I am anxious to return to our wonderful community. The month of Elul is often experienced as an exciting time of nervous energy where we begin to prepare our mind, body, and soul for the full experience of Tishrei and the rollercoaster of emotions related with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We pray that we’ll be sealed for a healthy, safe, and prosperous year in the Book of Life.

There are countless motifs, stories, and rituals, associated with the High Holidays: prayer giving tzedakah (charity), the binding of Isaac, hearing shofar, Jonah and the whale, fasting, gefilte fish, etc. Every symbol has a special place in our hearts and while I would never dare to replace our cozy, comfortable association of the High Holidays, I would like to focus on one very central theme: teshuvah.

Over the next few weeks, we will explore the concept of teshuvah (reconciliation). How does teshuvah work for us? How do we seek/make teshuvah, and how do we learn to accept it graciously? I invite each and every one of us to think about teshuvah and how it can be used to heal us whole again. We have so much to look forward to in the new year, but we still have a lot of work to do if we’re going to learn from 5780. May we all be sealed for a big rebound in the Book of Life.

L’Shanah tovah u’metukah (Happy and sweet New Year) Student Rabbi David Joslin
603-508-1958
benyisraeldavid@gmail.com



Information for 2020 High Holidays Services

This year’s High Holy Days services at Temple Tifereth Israel will be far different from any that we have conducted in the past. Please read this carefully and make your arrangements accordingly. The schedule of the services – led by Student Rabbi David Joslin and Cantor Craig Mael – is presented on the Home Page of this web site.

Because of the Corona virus pandemic, we will simultaneoulsy be holding both on-site services at the Temple and on-line services for those not wishing to come to the live on-site services.

For those who wish to attend the on-site services, the following rules are applicable:

Reservations are required for on-site attendance and a strict limit on the number of attendees will be enforced. Family “bubbles” (adjacent seating) will be allowed but the rest of the seating will comply with social distancing rules. All reservations for attendance must be made no later than Sunday, 13 September 2020. - We reserve the right to deny attendance to anyone without a reservation.

Reservations can be:
telephoned in - 617-846-1390 ,
emailed in - ttiwinthrop@gmail.com,
mailed in - Temple Tifereth Israel, 93 Veterans Road, Winthrop, MA 02152.

There will be strict adherence to state and local rules regarding Covid 19.

For those who wish to remotely attend the services on-line, you can contact the Temple to find out how to do so:
by telephone - 617-846-1390 ,
by email - ttiwinthrop@gmail.com,

Services will be conducted using the Mahzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur edited by RABBI JULES HARLOW.
For those following the services on-line, the pages in the Mahzor will be announced and images of the pages being read will be shown on-line.
For those who choose to follow the services on-line, Mahzors can be picked up at the Temple on Sunday, 13 September between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.. They must be returned to the Temple on Sunday, 4 October, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

For anyone desiring to be called to the Torah for an Aliyah, this can be done on-site or on-line. At the Temple, you will be asked to perform the blessings from your seat. Torah scrolls will not be held or carried around the sanctuary.
ON SITE: Blessings will be made from the congregant’s seat and the congregant will remain at his/her seat during the reading of the Torah.
ON SITE: Congregants will not be called up to open or close of Ark. Congregants will not be called up to hold or carry the Torah scrolls.

Whether attending services on-site or on-line, payments for annual dues and High Holiday seats should be made as soon as possible. Costs to operate and maintain our Temple do not stop because of the pandemic. All payments should be made by check to Temple Tifereth Israel at 93 Veterans Road, Winthrop, MA 02152.

Similarly, donations should be made by check to Temple Tifereth Israel at 93 Veterans Road, Winthrop, MA 02152. If on-site congregants desire to have donations announced, they can do so at the High Holiday services. Congregants participating on-line can send their donation announcements to the Temple by Sunday, 13 September 2020. Announcements can be sent:
via telephone - 617-846-1390,
via email: - ttiwinthrop@gmail.com,
or by mail: - Temple Tifereth Israel, 93 Veterans Road, Winthrop, MA 02152.

Make sure to clearly indicate the name of the person(s) making the donation, in whose memory or in honor of whom the donation is being made, if applicable, or for what occasion the donation is being made, and - most important - how much is being donated. Please honor your pledges as soon as possible.


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