High Holy Day Preparations Checklist
The following is a checklist that might help you prepare. (You might want to print a copy and post it on your refrigerator.) ___Ensure that all these dates are on your calendar, and you have arranged to take off the time you (and your children) need. Erev Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Sunday, October 2. First day of Rosh Hashanah is Monday, October 3. Kol Nidre (Erev YK) begins at sundown Tuesday, October 11. Yom Kippur is Wednesday, October 12. A flyer with all the Chadeish Yameinu services can be found here. ___Consider VOLUNTEERING to help with our services in some way. (For more information on what ways you can be of service, contact: Akiva at akindele_bankole@yahoo.com or 831-331-7867. Or sign up at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a44aaa92eaa8-2016) Note the new location for CY High Holy Day SERVICES: Santa Cruz Masonic Temple, 828 N. Branciforte, Santa Cruz ___Make sure you are current on your CY MEMBERSHIP. (You can contact Leah at: chavurah.cy@gmail.com, or send your check to Chadeish Yameinu, PO Box 3578, Santa Cruz, CA 95063). ___Plan to CLEAN your house in preparation for the New Year. ___Remember to make arrangements for a nice FESTIVE MEAL before the holiday. Consider inviting someone or a family who may not otherwise have a place to be. ___Think about having HOLIDAY FOODS in your home: apples, honey, honeycake, etc. Find traditional or unusual holiday recipes. ___Support CY and ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation Through Training) by ordering HONEY at: http://www.orthoney.com/CYJ. Or, get some good Israeli or local organic honey. ___Bake or order (e.g. from Gayle's in Capitola) a traditional round CHALLAH. ___Say NO to caffeine headaches! Plan to reduce or eliminate CAFFEINE well in advance of fasting for Yom Kippur. ___If there is an apology or an "I love you" that needs to be said, NOW IS THE TIME. ___Visit the GRAVES of loved ones before or between the holidays. ___Do a tikun olam / community service / MITZVAH project. ___Choose some inspirational reading or LEARN more about the holidays. (Highly recommended: This is Real and You are Completely Unprepared, by Rabbi Alan Lew). ___Brush up on your HEBREW reading. ___Practice your SHOFAR blowing. ___Come to SHABBAT services between now and the New Year. ____Buy a nice JEWISH CALENDAR. ____Send out GREETINGS (cards, calls, etc.) for the new year. (A traditional greeting is: L'shanah Tovah Tikateivu. Or, for short: Shanah Tovah. "May you be inscribed for a good year"). L'shanah Tovah Tikateivu, R' Eli