Following an uplifting, history-making Yom Kippur weekend—both in impact and scale—this afternoon from 5.30 pm, we are keen to get creative with all the little ones joining us for the family sukkah decoration. We will have supplies and snacks ready for your arrival and by the time Erev Sukkot service is starting, our sukkah will be blindingly beautiful from all the lovingly made adornments.
Tomorrow morning, we will have first-day Sukkot services, including a dedicated one for children aged 5-12—please register your little ones here. On Friday morning, we welcome everyone back for second-day Sukkot services. On Sunday afternoon, we invite families to join us for Shakshukah in the Sukkah, presented in collaboration with Netzer Sydney—please register here to join us. Find the full program in our High Holy Days section below.
On Friday evening, Shabbat Live on campus is on hiatus for one more week, but you can catch the stream on emanuelplus or join us in person for our combined Shabbat service. The Saturday morning program is unaffected and we welcome you to our Masorti or Progressive services as usual.
Shabbat Live will return next week (25 October) as we welcome the remarkable Jillian Segal AO, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, for our sold-out Shabbat dinner. Seats have been in high demand and we are working hard to make a few extra spots available. Please join the waitlist here to snap up any final tickets when they are released, and keep an eye out for an announcement of our exciting final communal Shabbat dinner for 2024.
We're focused on High Holy Days at the moment, but we have a few other important dates for your diary and we're already busy making big plans for next year. If you've enjoyed our spiritual, educational and cultural programs this year, please consider donating to our annual Kol Nidrei Appeal so we can continue to present the diverse and inclusive range of engaging programs that have become our signature. Your support helps us bring our vision to life and allows our clergy to continue their important work. Please give generously here.
With November just around the corner, here are some important dates for your diary—
• Lior Live in Concert [SELLING FAST] – Sat 23 November, 8 pm • Mitzvah Day – Sun 24 November, 10 am to noon (details coming soon) • People of the Books – Tue 26 November, 7 pm (author to be announced soon)
Believe it or not, we still have a few more exciting events up our sleeve. Stay tuned.
Thank you for choosing to spend this most sacred season with us. May your Sukkot be filled with joy, love, and good company. Wishing you a bountiful harvest of blessings.
Chag sameach.
WELCOMING IN SUKKOT
The High Holy Days continue withSukkotsukkah decoration, services, and a collaboration with Netzer Sydney: Shakshuka in the Sukkah. Click the button below to download the full program and join us on campus or online.
Read Rabbi Kaiserblueth's Sukkot drash here and Rabbi Orna Triguboff's here.
Thank you to everyone who has been dropping off bags full of non-perishable food items for our drive to compat food insecurity in our wider community. There's still time to participate; please bring your donation to campus at times that serives are running, noting our office closures over the High Holy Days.
HIGH HOLY DAYS OFFICE CLOSURES
There will be friendly staff and volunteers on campus to help guide you to services and programs, however, our offices will be closed as follows.
Sukkot – Thu 17 and Fri 18 October
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah – Thu 24 and Fri 25 October
Weekends throughout (as normal)
While we will be making every effort to check messages periodically, in the unfortunate event of a death in the family, please contact Sydney Chevra Kadisha for burials (9363 2488) and Walter Carter for cremations (9389 3499).
GIVE GENEROUSLY THESE HIGH HOLY DAYS
In this, the season of tzedakah (righteous giving), we invite you to donate to our Kol Nidrei Appeal. Your support empowers our clergy to continue their important work in unting our community with engaging, diverse and inclusive spiritual, educational and cultural programs, and safeguarding our progressive Jewish values. We have big plans for the future—you can help us realise them.
An Israeli man lights a memorial candle to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 attack at a cultural center in the northern city of Katzrin, October 7, 2024. (Michael Giladi)
Masorti Shabbat Service 9.00 am | Millie Phillips Sanctuary Bar Mitzvah of Kai Flekser
Progressive Shabbat Service 10.00 am | Heritage Sanctuary Bar Mitzvah of Harry Retief
Bar Mitzvah of Kai Flekser Bar Mitzvah of Harry Retief
CHOL HAMO'ED SUKKOT RABBI RAFI KAISERBLUETH
Sukkot is a holiday which, according to our tradition, is meant to teach about joy and celebration. It comes at a time when we have just survived a gruelling section of the calendar when we have fasted and put our souls through an extended cleansing ritual. Finally, there is a time to step back and rejoice. It was a time when the farmers would be at their wealthiest, as they would have just concluded the harvest.
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to those in our community who are mourning the death of their loved ones and we grieve the loss of so many lives in the current war in the land of Israel. This week, we mourn the tragic loss of the six hostages whose bodies were discovered at the weekend.
SHIVA
Nusia Koslowski
PASSED AWAY IN THE PAST 30 DAYS
Noah Brieger, Mark Kanevsky, Milly Goldman, John Goodman, Claire Markov, David Wilson.
YAHRZEIT On the anniversary of the death of a loved one, Yahrzeit (annual remembrance) is observed by their relatives. Every year, in the lead up to this day, we will contact you to advise that your loved one's name will be read on the Shabbat before the Yahrzeit.
We invite you to arrange a call up to the Torah in memory of your loved one by completing the form at the link provided in the reminder email.
SELLING FAST: LIOR LIVE IN CONCERT Saturday 23 November | Doors open 8.00 pm
Appearing for one night only, we present critically acclaimed and ARIA Award-winning singer/songwriter Lior, exclusively at Emanuel Synagogue. Join us for an extraordinary evening as Lior performs some of our most beloved favourites from his extensive back catalogue and be among the first in the world to hear new songs from his highly anticipated album 'Blue Parade', created with Melbourne-based guitarist/composer Cameron Deyell and produced by Lachlan Carrick.
Please note that during the High Holy Days season, Conversations About Israel will not be available on 11 November and will be online only on 21 and 28 October, and 4 November.
To join us online, Click hereand use the following details to access the stream: Meeting ID: 863 4677 4488, Passcode: 887067.
Emanuel Woollahra Preschool is a pluralistic community open to all, providing an inclusive environment enriched with Jewish heritage for preschool children. Activities include Hebrew language learning, celebrations of Jewish festivals, Shabbat, and Israeli dancing throughout the year.
ENROLMENTS OPEN FOR 2025
Emanuel Woollahra Preschool is accepting enrolments for 2025 and Emanuel Synagogue members save 5% on fees. Learn more and sign up today to give your precious little ones the best possible start to their education.
Emanuel Synagogue members have free access to our streaming platform, emanuelplus. Please contact info@emanuel.org.au or call us on (02) 9389 6444 if you need help getting started.
REVISIT THIS YEAR'S UPLIFTING HIGH HOLY DAYS SERVICES
Thousands joined us on campus for services, and thanks to the magic of emanuelplus, thousands more joined us in real time online. Claim your front-row seat to revisit the services below and experience the beautiful music, poetry, and prayer—no matter which corner of the world you find yourself in.
