A Message from Rabbi Bellows

September 28, 2026/17 Tishrei 5787

Dear Friends,

It was so wonderful to see so many of you over the High Holidays! We thank the many volunteers, Choir members, Tefillah Band members, ushers, security, Holiday Coordinators, and all who participated with honor, including prayer leaders, readers, and Aliyot givers!

We are grateful to our very generous donor, Mr. Jim Sulzer, who donated funds that ensured we could offer free online High Holiday worship to anyone who wanted to join us! Mr. Sulzer felt it was important that online holidays be accessible to all, and he came to us with this request. The initial data from this new offering is quite positive! We had viewers from all over the world, 5 new subscribers to our YouTube channel, and notes of thanks with donations from non-Beth Am members who were able to enjoy our Holiday worship experiences. Over 1000 views thus far!

Additionally, we had the largest number of in-person attendees at each service since pre-COVID, and I am so very grateful for your presence in our community! In the coming weeks, I’ll have more data to share about the holidays and our High Holiday Appeal.

But Wait! There’s more!

Our High Holiday Season is not yet over! We are in the midst of the holiday of Sukkot. Sukkot is called Z’man Simchateinu, the time of our rejoicing despite the fact that we are to be in fragile booths that quite often sway or collapse from the fall rain and wind! The joy of Sukkot is rooted in knowing that life is fragile, and still, we can find gratitude and comfort in the presence of friends and family. We can feel joy within the humble abode of the fragile hut!

We have several sukkot events this week, I hope to see you at some or all of them! We conclude the week with the festival of Simchat Torah, Friday, October 2nd.

Mo’adim L’Simcha-May this be a time of rejoicing!

Rabbi Bellows