Shalom and welcome!
Greetings from Sullivan County, New York, home of Congregation Bikur Cholim B’Nai Israel.
As many of you know, operating the synagogue throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic was a challenge – especially during 2020 and 2021, when safely hosting services proved to be problematic for many synagogues. Although we reopened in 2022, our family has since begun to reevaluate many of our longstanding traditions. We have decided – with some reluctance but also with a healthy dose of optimism and renewed vision – that the rabbinic leadership of the Congregation must change to keep pace with the times and the wishes of the individual members of the Congregation.
As such, we are extremely pleased to announce that our High Holidays services for the 97th anniversary of the Congregation’s existence will be led by Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach of Rockland County, New York. Rabbi Weinbach and his wife, Yocheved, plan to join our traditions at Bikur Cholim this season. The Weinbachs eagerly anticipate meeting the entire Congregation and sharing the holidays in our traditional style in shul and under the tent at our family’s nearby home.
Rabbi Weinbach is specifically eager to assist the Congregation in implementing some long-awaited changes in our services including:
We encourage you to read some of Rabbi Weinbach’s published writings online (https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/writers/rabbi-elchanan-weinbach) or to listen to some of the teachings on his YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@rabbielchananweinbach421). We have found both to be extremely insightful and a good way to introduce oneself to his philosophies and approaches to Judaism. Of course, we would be pleased to make a more personal introduction to Rabbi Weinbach in advance of the Holidays if you wish to speak with him.
We look forward to being together once again for the Holidays this year, to share traditions and to carve out new ones together. The Congregation will conduct services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 2023 (5784), including evening Shabbat services on Friday, September 15th, and concluding with evening services on Sunday, September 17th. For Yom Kippur, we will hold Kol Nidre services on Sunday, September 24th and will conclude with the break-fast after sundown on Monday, September 25th.
The synagogue is located in Swan Lake, NY at the corner of Route 55 and Pvt. Irving Blum Road/Old White Lake Turnpike. It was originally constructed in 1926, and was recognized as a New York State and Federal Historical Landmark in 1999.
We thank you for your continued involvement and ongoing support over the years. We hope that you and your family are looking toward this year’s exciting and positive changes as much as we are.
Our family wishes yours L’Shana Tova V’Metuka - a happy and sweet New Year. Let’s keep the tradition alive!
For specific information and times of services, or to notify us of your planned attendance for the High Holidays, please call Peter Lindenbaum at (845) 634-0962 or Larry Millman at (845) 638-2512.
As many of you know, operating the synagogue throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic was a challenge – especially during 2020 and 2021, when safely hosting services proved to be problematic for many synagogues. Although we reopened in 2022, our family has since begun to reevaluate many of our longstanding traditions. We have decided – with some reluctance but also with a healthy dose of optimism and renewed vision – that the rabbinic leadership of the Congregation must change to keep pace with the times and the wishes of the individual members of the Congregation.
As such, we are extremely pleased to announce that our High Holidays services for the 97th anniversary of the Congregation’s existence will be led by Rabbi Elchanan Weinbach of Rockland County, New York. Rabbi Weinbach and his wife, Yocheved, plan to join our traditions at Bikur Cholim this season. The Weinbachs eagerly anticipate meeting the entire Congregation and sharing the holidays in our traditional style in shul and under the tent at our family’s nearby home.
Rabbi Weinbach is specifically eager to assist the Congregation in implementing some long-awaited changes in our services including:
- Explanations of certain important prayers in English
- Explaining the teachings of the Torah and other Talmudic lessons in English
- Encouraging greater involvement of women during the services
- Teaching children and seeking their active participation in the services
- Offering flexible seating arrangements for men, women and kids to be together as desired
We encourage you to read some of Rabbi Weinbach’s published writings online (https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/writers/rabbi-elchanan-weinbach) or to listen to some of the teachings on his YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@rabbielchananweinbach421). We have found both to be extremely insightful and a good way to introduce oneself to his philosophies and approaches to Judaism. Of course, we would be pleased to make a more personal introduction to Rabbi Weinbach in advance of the Holidays if you wish to speak with him.
We look forward to being together once again for the Holidays this year, to share traditions and to carve out new ones together. The Congregation will conduct services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 2023 (5784), including evening Shabbat services on Friday, September 15th, and concluding with evening services on Sunday, September 17th. For Yom Kippur, we will hold Kol Nidre services on Sunday, September 24th and will conclude with the break-fast after sundown on Monday, September 25th.
The synagogue is located in Swan Lake, NY at the corner of Route 55 and Pvt. Irving Blum Road/Old White Lake Turnpike. It was originally constructed in 1926, and was recognized as a New York State and Federal Historical Landmark in 1999.
We thank you for your continued involvement and ongoing support over the years. We hope that you and your family are looking toward this year’s exciting and positive changes as much as we are.
Our family wishes yours L’Shana Tova V’Metuka - a happy and sweet New Year. Let’s keep the tradition alive!
For specific information and times of services, or to notify us of your planned attendance for the High Holidays, please call Peter Lindenbaum at (845) 634-0962 or Larry Millman at (845) 638-2512.