Hollywood Temple Beth El – 1317 N. Crescent Heights Blvd

This past year we have been overwhelmed by the ferocity of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our community has experienced the hardships that have been brought to bear.  Exhausting and frustrating though this time has been, we have held our congregation together.  Despite the difficulties, our family has stood strong. We have supported each other, helped each other and prayed together.

Our family has remained intact throughout with the determination and hard work of Rabbi Weinberg and with help from Marcelo Kupferwasser, Joe Benloulou, Judy Alcalay, Douglas (Yoni) Workman, Geoff Buck and others.  We keep Shabbat with our weekly Zoom Shabbat services.  Our services have been innovative and I am excited to see our growing outreach and the participation of new and younger people who join us via Zoom and our Facebook Live broadcast.   Our gratitude to Rabbi Weinberg, Joe, Marcelo, Yoni, Geoff, Judy and everyone who participates and helps to maintain and sustain us.  You epitomize the unquestionable strength and character of our community and we are encouraged by you.

The fight against this pandemic continues however.  With that we have faced ever changing legislative restrictions.  As a result we have had to plan and replan and make changes to the replans for High Holy Days.  Because of the recent COVID surges in Los Angeles we will not hold in person congregation services for High Holy Days this year.

We are sending a special invitation to everyone to please join us for services on one of these platforms.  We will raise our voices together as joyously as we have ever done.  We will still see each other and still greet and welcome and laugh with each other.

This year we are not charging for streamed services.  If you are participating on Zoom you must pre-register through Eventbrite.com to get the Zoom ID and passcode for our meeting. 

Now we have said we are not charging for High Holy Days Services.  So how can we expect to survive this year and next?  We must depend on your generosity.

• a cell phone
• Or a tablet
• Or a computer.

• We are producing a COVID-19 specially abbreviated Machzor. This will be a version of our own HTBE High Holy Days Machzor. This will be available only as an Electronic (PDF) version.This will be available by donation only and of course will be yours to keep on your device.  You may print it to follow the services as you see fit.
• We are producing a limited number our 5781 Yizkor Memorial book in black and white printing only.We will also produce an electronic (PDF) version that will be sent everyone who has made a donation and submission for Yizkor memorial. We implore donors; please send us an email address so we can send you the electronic copy.On special request we will send a hard (paper) copy to those persons who do not have an email account.
• 10 seats (Minyan) are reserved for persons who would like to be in the shul for High Holy Days and participate in the services.These persons will be required to use the same seat throughout the High Holy Days, maintain social distance from others, wear masks, pass temperature checks to enter the building, answer health questions and have their own tallit and Kippas.They will be asked perform certain tasks assigned i.e. carrying/raising Torah, open Ark etc. We ask if you participate in this honour, please make a donation to the shul.  First come first serve availability.

Message from  Rabbi Norbert  Weinberg

There is a phrase in the Torah that is used to described troubled times: “You shall grope at noon as a blind man gropes in the dark; Deut 28:29.”

To this, one of the rabbis commented:
What does it matter to a blind person whether it is dark or light?
He cannot see in any event, so why does the verse speak about a blind man in the darkness?
I continued to ponder the matter until the following incident occurred to me. I was once walking in the absolute darkness of the night, and I saw a blind man who was walking on his way with a torch in his hands. I said to him: My son, why do you need this torch if you are blind? He said to me: As long as I have a torch in my hand, people see me and save me from the pits and the thorns and the thistles. (Megillah 24b)

There are times when we feel things are so dark, that even those who have sight are themselves in the dark as to what must be done. We have worries about the pandemic, social unrest, economic and political issues.  So, it is natural that we feel that we are groping about vainly in the darkness.

That is where our religion comes in.   As Jews, we are taught to keep a collective memory of much greater darkness, repeatedly in our history-slavery, destruction, exile, genocide. Yet, through all this, we have managed to get up on our feet, create light where there was darkness, and move forward. That is the power of our faith; that is the theme of our Jewish High Holy Days, the faith that we can pick ourselves up, together, and move forward, to a better day.  So, how can we help shed light for you, for these High Holy Days, under conditions we had not imagined in the lifetimes of most of us, certainly not in these United States.

If you cannot come to us this year, we will come to you!  We will bring the light right into your living room!

The Cantor and I will prepare a beautiful and moving service for you.  We will present a mix of the classic melodies of this sacred season and words of wisdom to brighten you up. Services will be televised live from our synagogue through Zoom.com, YouTube or Facebook. You will be able to participate on your computer screen or iPad, on your TV screen, and even on your phone! (If you don’t have the technical tools and experience, your family members or friends can help you set up for viewing. Just ask them, and they will be happy to do it for you.)

For public safety, we will be admitting only a limited number of attendees to the live service.  Only those who have the OK from their doctors may attend. You will be required to pass a temperature check at the door, wear protective face mask, and follow all the health precautions required by our health agencies. Everything that we do for this year’s High Holy Days will focus on the well-being of all our participants, whether our staff or our members.

Almost two centuries ago, when there was a similar plague in Eastern Europe, Yom Kippur services were cancelled. There was no technology then to bring people together—and no medicines either.   This year, for all the concerns, our healing skills are far greater than before, and the tools we have to come together, even at a distance, are also greater than have been before.

Let us shine a light for you this year so you won’t feel that you are groping in the dark.
Come, pray, meditate, expand your heart together with us this High Holy Days season.
May God bless us all with health in this New Year,
L’Shanah Tovah u’Briah- For a Good and healthy year,

Rabbi Norbert Weinberg

Message from  Cantor Andrew Erman

Dear Members and Friends of Hollywood Temple Beth El,
I appreciate the opportunity to return to Hollywood Temple Beth El this year to serve as your High Holy Day cantor.  For those of you who do not know me, I would like to introduce myself.

I was born in Los Angeles and, from a young age, I loved to sing.  I grew up singing in several school musicals and serving as a junior cantor at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks.  As a teenager, I began studying cantorial music under Hazzan Alan Michaelson (z”l) of Temple Adat Ari El, who taught many of the leading cantors in Los Angeles.  By the time I was 15 years old, I had served as guest cantor at Temple Adat Ari El and performed on the Israel Today radio and television programs.  After graduating from college, I continued to train to be a cantor with Hazzan Michaelson and Hazzan Jeremy Lipton of Temple Beth Am.

Since 1987, I have officiated as High Holy Day cantor at congregations throughout the United States.  I have also served as year-round cantor for three synagogues in the Los Angeles area – including Hollywood Temple Beth El in the 1990s with Rabbi Norbert Weinberg, officiating at Shabbat, High Holy Day, Festival, B’nai Mitzvah, wedding, and funeral services.  Over the years, I have collaborated with congregations to design services that have both traditional and modern melodies.  I have also encouraged congregants to join along with me during services to create a more meaningful experience.

Since our last High Holy Day services in 2019, our lives have significantly changed.  I believe that this year’s High Holy Day services will be very special.  Many of you will join us via computer while some of you may join in person.  Either way, we will have an opportunity to come together in song, in prayer, and in community as never before.

I look forward to sharing this unique High Holy Day experience with you and your family.
L’Shana Tova,
Cantor Andrew Erman

Other Service Participants
In addition to Rabbi Weinberg and Cantor Erman, we will be joined by:
Dr Isaac Norman
Cantor Isaac Boudaie,
accompanist Diane Brownson,  and others

We will also bring you some of the best Cantorial music from a variety of outside sources

High Holy Days Schedule

First Night. Friday Evening, September 18, 2020.   8 PM start
Rosh Hashanah. 1st and 2nd Day, September 19 and 20.   10 AM start
Yom Kippur Eve. Sunday, September 27, Candle lighting 6:30 pm.   Service 7::00 PM
Yom Kippur and Yizkor –
Torah service and Musaf 10 AM start
Martyrology and Yizkor
No Minchah service.  Open discussion on zoom.  Topic to be announced.
We will have a recorded reading of the Torah and part of Jonah for those who  want to follow at 5:45 PM.
Neilah start at 6:15, Havdalah and Shofar at 7:15

Shabbat Service
Our weekly Shabbat Services continue on Zoom every Saturday.
Join Zoom Meeting  https://zoom.us/j/92484505314
Meeting ID: 924 8450 5314
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HTB Education Series
Our current series of “Jew around the world”

Toda Raba   Thank you!

As we prepare the New Year in this time of uncertainty and disruption, our congregation is greatly appreciative of the generous donations and contributions of the organizations that continue to support us.

Special thanks to

Mt. Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries,

Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary

Groman Eden Memorial Park and Mortuary

Malinow and Silverman Mortuary

Home of Peace Memorial Park & Mortuary

Chevra Kadisha Mortuary

……for their financial support and sponsorship of our High Holy Days Services.

High Holy Days Membership Fees and Dues

ORDER INFORMATION

Memorial Plaque Appeal

Over the years and generations your loved ones names have been inscribed in our Temple’s Memorial Plaques.  We honour their life, love and commitment to our synagogue.

• the inclusion of your loved one’s name in our Memorial Book for Yizkor prayer
• turning on of yahrzeit lights for your loved one
• turning on of lights for your loved one at all Yizkor services
• any necessary repair and maintenance of your loved ones’ plaques
• email or US post reminders to you of the yahrzeit of your loved one

Book of Remembrance / Memorial Book

 Honor the memories of loved ones

It is the tradition of HTBE to publish our High Holy Days Remembrance and Memorial Book as a loving reminder of those we held close.  This book offers a source of comfort to those of us who grieve and  honors the life and memory of our loved ones.  It includes the names of those who remember, the ones being honored as well as the special prayers and meditations for use when observing Yahrzeit. Prayers and meditations are written in Hebrew, English and Russian.

Names are not automatically renewed.  To include your loved ones please complete the form below.
Suggested Donation:  $18.00 per name

PLEASE PRINT NAMES CLEARLY
Deadline:  September 15 2020

YIZKOR DONATION

 PLEDGE TO DONATE AND SUSTAIN YOUR SYNAGOGUE

Thank you for your generosity.  Be sure to include the following in your pledge form.

Your Name:
Your Phone No:
Your Email:

☐   I am making an Annual Donation $  
☐   I am making a Semi-Annual Donation $  
☐   I am making a MONTHLY  Donation Pledge of $                      .  Please bill me monthly
☐   I am making a QUARTERLY (4 BILLINGS) Donation Pledge. $                   .  Please bill me quarterly.

If you would like us to bill your credit card automatically please call us at
323-656-3150.