The Jewish Congregation of Maui will continue observing the days of repentance and atonement.
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the intervening days are followed by festival days filled with rejoicing and praise. On the 15th day of the month of Tishrei, the festival begins and lasts eight days as stated in the Torah/Bible.
The first seven days are the Festival of Sukkot. The eighth day is called Hoshana Raba.
During this time, Jews build a sukkah, or temporary booth, to acknowledge and remember that through God's help, the Hebrews left slavery in Egypt and dwelt in temporary booths for 40 years before being allowed into the land of Israel.
In the sukkah, Jews eat their meals, dance, spend quality family time together and even sleep. The sukkah is also a dwelling for the Shechinah/Divine Presence.
The congregation's sukkah will remain open for those wishing to eat their meals inside, study and pray throughout the holiday.
Shmini Atzeret is a separate festival from Sukkot, otherwise known as the Eighth Day of Assembly, when Jews pray for rain.
In Israel, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are two festivals on the same day, but outside of Israel, the festivals are observed on separate days, one after the other. Simchat Torah is reserved for rejoicing over the eternal cycle of the Torah. On this day, the last portion of the Torah is read, the scroll is rewound back to the beginning where the first portion is read to restart the cycle again.
It takes an entire year to read all the portions of the Torah on their designated days. Traditionally, a feast is held and Jews rejoice, dance, sing, and praise God in honor of the Torah.
The congregation's schedule of services are as follows:
* Today; 6 p.m. Shabbat evening service with a spiritual musical prelude with Cantor Amichai Levitz accompanied by his guitar.
* Saturday; 10 a.m. Shabbat morning service.
* Sunday; 6 p.m. Erev Sukkot service with Kiddush in the Sukkah.
* Monday; Sukkot Service with Hallel and Hoshanot. (Please bring your lulav and etrog.)
* Tuesday; 9:30 am Second Day Sukkot service with Hallel and Hoshanot. (Please bring your lulav and etrog. No evening service.)
* Oct. 5; 6 p.m. Shabbat evening service.
* Oct. 6; 10 a.m. Shabbat morning service; Chol Hamoed with Kohelet and Ecclesiastes.
* Oct. 7; 6 p.m. Eve of Shmini Atzeret service.
* Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Shimini Atzeret morning service, including Geshem, the prayer for rain and Yizkor; 6 p.m. Simchat Torah/Celebration of Torah (singing, dancing, food and drink).
* Oct. 9; 10 a.m. Simchat Torah. All people called to the Torah including Children's Aliyah! Refreshment and drinks will be made available.
The services are at Beit Shalom Synagogue, 634 Alulike St., Kihei. The synagogue's phone number is 874-5397 or send email to administration@mauijews.org.
More information is available online at www.mauijews.org.
