Chabad Offers Services Geared for Jews of All Backgrounds
Vero Beach, FL — With just a few weeks before the outset of the Jewish New Year, the question of where to attend services is high on the list for many Jewish families and singles. Recognizing the often high price tag attached to the experience, Chabad of Vero Beach is offering their friendly and welcoming services for free for individuals of all ages in the Vero Beach Jewish community.
While some may not be affiliated with a synagogue, others may find the cost to attend unaffordable, particularly in light of today’s economy. Chabad of Vero Beach is dedicated to removing entry barriers and ensuring that all who wish to participate in a meaningful celebration of the Jewish New Year may do so. Chabad’s services will be held this year at the Ocean Breeze Hotel, in Vero Beach.
By providing free Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in a warm and inclusive setting, Chabad of Vero Beach hopes to accommodate those who may otherwise not be celebrating the holiday. Chabad’s “user-friendly” services make for an enjoyable and meaningful experience for both the beginner and the advanced. Song, commentary and the use of English-Hebrew prayer-books invite individuals of all levels to become active participants in the service.
“According to Jewish tradition, the gates of Heaven are open on the New Year, and G‑d accepts prayers from everyone,” said Rabbi Motty Rosenfeld of Chabad of Vero Beach, “That serves as our inspiration to keep our doors open as well to the entire community.”
Rabbi Rosenfeld continued, “The Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, — insisted that Judaism be made accessible to all Jews. During the High Holidays, accessibility can translate into different factors for different people, such as a nonjudgmental atmosphere, affordability of the services or the ability for a beginner to follow along. Our goal is to lower the barriers of entry, and encourage each and every Jew to actively participate in these most holy and introspective days.”
For decades, Chabad-Lubavitch — an international Jewish organization that firmly believes Jewish traditions and customs are the birthright of every Jew, and that every Jew should have access to them — has made High Holiday services available free of charge, a model other synagogues and organizations around the world are aiming to replicate.
Additionally with the blowing of the Shofar, Rabbi Rosenfeld will herald the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The shofar is the central symbol of the holiday and synagogues blast the shofar every day for a month leading up to the holiday, culminating with a sequence of 100 blasts during the Rosh Hashanah services.
In order to sound the shofar for Jews who cannot make it to synagogue, Rabbi Rosenfeld will blow the shofar on Sunday afternoon, on September 17th, at a short Shofar & Tashlich service at Jaycee Beach Park at 6:15 pm. All are invited to hear this powerful performance and fulfill one of Rosh Hashana’s most important observances.
“The blast of the shofar is a powerful call to repentance, and the opening act to one of the happiest times of a new year,” said Rabbi Rosenfeld, who will blow the shofar for the community. “Wherever Jews are in Vero Beach, I invite them to witness this meaningful alert to the season!”
For more information about Chabad of Vero Beach’s services or to reserve a space, visit JewishVero.com/HH23 or call 772-245-6712.
What: High Holiday Services
Where: Ocean Breeze Inn – 3384 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
When: Rosh Hashanah is observed this year beginning at sundown on Friday, September 15 through nightfall on Sunday, September 17. Yom Kippur begins Sunday, September 24 at sundown and extends until nightfall on Monday, September 25th
