Based on last year’s attendance, more than 800 people are expected to participate in Beth Abraham’s Selichos program to be held at Keter Torah (Roemer) on Motzei Shabbat, September 1, at 9:45 p.m. In its second year as a combined event, the program will begin with words of introduction by Rabbi Tanchum Cohen, assistant rabbi of Congregation Beth Abraham, followed by a kumzitz with noted Jewish singing artist Eitan Katz, whose renditions inject spirit and soul into the words of Torah and tefillah. At midnight, Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, mashpia at Congregation Beth Abraham, will address the assembled with his powerful words of hitorerut (awakening) and chizuk as we approach the Yamim Noraim. At approximately 12:50 a.m., Eitan Katz will lead the Selichos service.
According to former president of Congregation Beth Abraham Daniel Kaminetsky, who was instrumental in the merging of two programs into one, “this merger of two powerful programs that attracted so many provides our community with a perfect combination of pathways to lead us meaningfully into the mood and spirit of Tishrei.”
For many years, the Stollel Kollel brought together young YU students from the community who spent time in learning during breaks and vacations. They met in the basement of the Stokar family and became known as the Stollel Kollel. On Selichos night they assembled for a kinus teshuva in the basement of Jerry Friedman’s home to hear stirring words of Torah and mussar from YU rebbe Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, followed by a meaningful and melodious Selichos. In recent years, the kinus teshuva was moved to the social hall at Congregation Bnei Yeshurun, where it attracted over 400 participants.
For the past five years, a pre-Selichos concert was held at Congregation Beth Abraham, featuring Eitan Katz, renowned for his ability to lift his audiences to heights of religious inspiration and spirituality. The kumzitz was held in the social hall at Congregation Beth Abraham and attracted close to 300 participants.
Encouraged by the mara d’atra of Congregation Beth Abraham, Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger, who was concerned that spiritual preparations for the Days of Awe were put on hold until after Labor Day, Kaminetsky facilitated the merger of the two events. Its obvious success was attested to by the attendance of over 700 participants in its first year. Hopefully attendance will grow annually.
The community is invited to be part of this upcoming “uplifting event” to take place this coming Motzei Shabbat, September 1, 9:45 p.m., at Roemer. Admission is free for Beth Abraham members. There is a suggested fee of $10 for non-members of Beth Abraham to help defray cost of the event.
By Pearl Markovitz
