As the New Year speedily approaches, we continuously strive to devote our wholehearted efforts to our community. We would like to express our thanks to those who have so generously supported this Synagogue throughout the years and for being a vital force in actualizing our goals. We look forward to sharing another beautiful High Holiday season with you. Rosh Hashana
 | Holiday Information
"Speak to the children of Israel and say: The first day of the seventh month shall be a day of rest for you. It is a holy holiday for remembrance [and] sounding [the shofar]. You shall not do any work and you shall bring a fire offering to HaShem." VaYikra (Leviticus) 23:24 "The first day of the seventh month shall be a sacred holiday to you when you may not do any mundane work. It shall be a day of sounding the horn." BaMidbar (Numbers) 29:1 The holiday of Rosh HaShana takes place on the first two days of the month of Tishrei. Rosh HaShana is two days long even in Israel. Rosh HaShana is the anniversary of the creation of the world and the beginning of the kingdom of HaShem. On this day we reaffirm our acceptance of HaShem as our King. HaShem judges all of His creations on this day and decides on their fate in the coming year. The holiday of Rosh HaShana is a day of intense and lengthy prayer and restrained rejoicing. We rejoice in our acceptance of HaShem's kingship but our rejoicing is subdued by our recognition of the great judgment that is taking place. The Shofar The Torah commands us to sound the shofar on the holiday of Rosh HaShana. A person should hear 100 blasts from the shofar on each day of Rosh HaShana. The Torah commands us to sound the shofar on the holiday of Rosh HaShana. The shofar is made from an animal horn, preferably from a ram. A cow's horn is not acceptable. Nor are the antlers of a deer or similar animals whose horns are a solid piece. There are three sounds made with the shofar:
Tekiah - One long blast.
Shevarim - Three shorter blasts.
Teruah - A series of quick blasts. While, of course, the reason we blow the shofar is because HaShem commanded us to do so, there are many meanings and messages which are present in the blowing. 1. The sound of the shofar serves as a "wake-up" call to arouse our souls to repentance. 2. Rosh HaShana is the anniversary of the creation of the world--the beginning of HaShem's kingdom. We blow the shofar to show that we accept HaShem as our king, as it says in Tehillim (Psalms) 98:6, "With trumpets and the sound of the shofar make a call out before the King, HaShem". 3. The sound of the shofar was present when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, as it says in Shemot (Exodus) 19:16, "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there was thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the shofar extremely loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled." When we hear the shofar we are reminded to strengthen our commitment to the Torah. 4. The sound of the shofar, which is usually made from the horn of a ram, reminds us of the Akeidat Yitzchak (the Binding of Isaac)--when our father Avraham obeyed the command of HaShem and tied his son Yitzchak to an altar as a sacrifice. HaShem stopped him at the last second and sent a ram for Avraham to sacrifice instead. From this we learn that just as our ancestors Avraham and Yitzchak were willing to make such a great sacrifice to serve HaShem, we must also be willing to make such sacrifices. Symbolic Foods It is customary to eat special foods on Rosh HaShana evening as a symbolic expression of our hopes for the coming year. Each such food is accompanied by a short prayer. 1. We dip an apple in honey and say, "May it be Your will, HaShem, that You renew for us a good and sweet year." 2. We eat a pomegranate and say, "May it be Your will, HaShem, that our merits increase as the seeds of a pomegranate." 3. We eat the head of a sheep (or fish) and say, "May it be Your will, HaShem, that we be as the head and not as the tail." 4. We eat fish and say, "May it be Your will, HaShem, that we be fruitful and multiply like fish." In general, it is customary to eat sweet foods and avoid bitter foods. It is also customary to avoid eating nuts on Rosh HaShana. This is because nuts increase salivation which can interfere with our prayers. |
High Holiday Tickets
| Reservation Information
It is our greatest pleasure to open the doors of The Sephardic Jewish Center of North Miami Beach, celebrating a milestone year – our 38th Anniversary. We warmly welcome you and your family, as members and friends and are pleased to present this opportunity to reserve your seats for the High Holidays. The best seats go very quickly and they are distributed on a first come first served basis. We are also pleased to offer our congregants this exceptional opportunity to be walking distance from the synagogue for Yom Kippur. Free hotel accommodations for members will be made available at the Holiday Inn located at . Space is limited. Please make your reservations at your earliest convenience by calling us at (786) 553-5396. |
 | Pricing Information
Our ticket prices for the Holidays are as follows: Adult Member $60.00 Child 13-21 yrs.* $30.00 Adult Non Member $75.00 Child 13-21 yrs.* $45.00 *Children under 13 -- no charge. We are also pleased to offer our congregants this exceptional opportunity to be walking distance from the synagogue for Yom Kippur. Free hotel accommodations for members will be made available at the Holiday Inn located at . Space is limited. Please make your reservations at your earliest convenience by calling us at (786) 553-5396. |
 | Holiday Service Schedule
ROSH HASHANA EVE ~ Mincha 6:45 P.M. Arvit 7:30 P.M. ROSH HASHANA 1ST DAY ~ Shaharit 8:00 A.M. Mincha and Tashlich 5:30 P.M. Arvit 7:30 P.M. ROSHA HASHANA 2ND DAY ~ Shaharit 8:00 A.M. Tekiah Shofar 11:00 A.M. Mincha/ Arbit 6:30 P.M.
 | Tashlich
1) What is the reason for this custom? When Abraham went to take his son Isaac to the i>Akeida, the Satan appeared in the form of a river in order to prevent the performance of the mitzvah. Abraham entered the river undeterred and when the waters reached his neck, he cried out, "Save me, God, for the waters have reached my soul" (Psalms 69:2), whereupon the Satan disappeared. The recital of Tashlich by the riverside is intended to evoke the merit of the Akeida. In the olden days it was customary to crown a new king by the river as a symbol that his kingship should continue like the river. On Rosh Hashana we proclaim God to be the King and Ruler of the world. The verse says, "And they drew water and poured it before God (1-Samuel 7:6) and the commentators translate this as, "And they poured out their hearts in repentance like water before God." Rashi comments that this was a sign of submission as if to say, "We are like this poured out water before You." 2) Why is it preferable to do Tashlich by a river that has fish? a. Since fish have no eyelids, their eyes are constantly open. This symbolizes God's constant protective watch over the Jewish people. b. Just as fish are suddenly caught in nets, so too we are caught in the net of judgment for life or death. Such thoughts should arouse a person to repentance. c. This symbolizes our hope to be fruitful and multiply like fish. d. In order that the evil eye shall not affect us, just as it cannot affect the fish that are hidden under the water. 3) Is one permitted to throw breadcrumbs to the fish? No, it is forbidden to feed the fish on Yom Tov. 4) If Tashlich was not said on the first day, may it be said on the second day? Yes, in fact Tashlich can be said on any day until Yom Kippur. Some opinions permit its recital until Shemini Atzeret. 5) What is the text of Tashlich? Who is like You, God, who removes iniquity and overlooks transgression of the remainder of His inheritance. He doesn't remain angry forever because He desires kindness. He will return and He will be merciful to us, and He will conquer our iniquities, and He will cast them into the depths of the seas. Give truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham like that you swore to our ancestors from long ago. From the straits I called upon God, God answered me with expansiveness. God is with me, I will not be afraid, what can man do to me? God is with me to help me, and I will see my foes (annihilated). It is better to take refuge in God than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in God, that to rely on nobles. Many people also read Psalms 33 and 130 Excerpted from "Guidelines - Yomim Noraim" - 300 commonly asked questions about Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (Targum/Feldheim).
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 | Yom Kippur
The tenth of the seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement for you. It is a holy holiday when you must fast and bring a fire offering to HaShem. Do not do any work on this day; it is a day of atonement, when you gain atonement before HaShem your God." VaYikra 23:27-28 Kaparot
It is an ancient custom to perform Kaparot before Yom Kippur. Kaparot can be performed any time between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur but the preferred time is just after dawn on the day before Yom Kippur. The Kaparot ritual involves taking a chicken (a rooster for a man and a hen for a woman) or money in your right hand and revolving it over your head while reciting a prayer. The prayer finishes with the following declaration: "This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement. This chicken will go to its death (or, if using money, "this money will go to charity") while I will enter and proceed to a good long life, and peace." The chicken is then slaughtered and it (or it's cash value) is given to the poor. This ritual is meant to symbolically express our recognition that we have sinned and are no longer deserving of life. By killing the chicken we are stating that, in truth, this should be our fate but that HaShem has given us the opportunity to return to Him through teshuva and Yom Kippur. (This is the same as the intent we are supposed to have when making a sacrifice for atonement in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.) Erev Yom Kippur - The Day Before Yom Kippur There is a mitzvah to eat on the day before Yom Kippur. It is customary to have two festive meals, one at midday and one in the afternoon in preparation for the fast. You should be careful not to overeat and to bear in mind the importance of the coming day. Forgiveness Teshuva can only help for sins between man and HaShem. If, however, you have wronged another person then teshuva cannot function until one has received forgiveness from that person. It is therefore customary to seek out the forgiveness of anyone whom you may have sinned against before Yom Kippur begins. It is also customary to recite the Tefila Zaka prayer in which you state that you forgive anyone who may have sinned against you in any way. The Fast The Yom Kippur fast is the strictest of the entire year. The fast lasts for the entirety of the day, from sundown on the eve of Yom Kippur till nightfall the following night, over twenty four hours. The fast involves five prohibitions: 1. Eating and drinking. 2. Washing one's body. This includes even washing a minute part of the body or even simply dipping one's finger into water. However, you may wash your hand's upon rising in the morning and after using the bathroom but only the absolute minimum, the fingers only. (One is also permitted to wash off actual dirt from one's hands.) 3. Anointing oneself. 4. Wearing leather shoes. 5. Marital relations. Prayer The day of Yom Kippur is devoted entirely to prayer. While concentration on one's prayers and their meaning is important throughout the year, on Yom Kippur it carries even more significance. White Garments It is customary for men to wear a white during the prayers of Yom Kippur. The white is reminiscent of the angels and symbolizes purity. Furthermore, it resembles burial shrouds and thus reminds us that we will die someday and thus humbles us to do teshuva.
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 | Succoth
"Speak to the children of Israel, saying, "On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the festival of Sukkot, a seven-day period for HaShem. The first day shall be a sacred holiday when you may not do any work. ...The eighth day is a sacred holiday to you... it is an atzeret, you may not do any work. ... On the first day you must take for yourself a fruit of the citron tree, an unopened palm frond, myrtle branches, and brook willows, and you shall rejoice before HaShem for seven days. ... You shall dwell in sukkot for seven days.... So that your future generations shall know that I had the children of Israel live in sukkot when I brought them out of Egypt.. VaYikra (Leviticus) 23:34-43 The Sukkah The sukkah is a temporary dwelling which is used for the entire first seven days of Sukkot. This is done in memory of the protective clouds of glory with which HaShem surrounded the Jewish people when He took us out of Egypt. Dwelling in the Sukkah The Torah requires us to dwell in the sukkah for all seven days of Sukkos just as we live in our homes the rest of the year. This means that we must eat all our meals within the sukkah and sleep there. Whenever we eat a meal in the succah we make the blessing: "Blessed are You, HaShem... who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah" The basic definition of a meal is eating at least 1.9 ounces of bread or other baked grain foods. (This is a rather complex matter and cannot be dealt with fully here.) It is preferable that even a snack should be eaten in the sukkah but in such a case one does not make the blessing. The sukkah is a holy place and must be treated with respect. For this reason we do not bring cooking utensils into the sukkah and we do not do activities like washing dishes in the sukkah. Exemptions Women, children, the ill and those who are caring for the ill are not required to eat and sleep in the sukkah. In addition, we are not required to eat in the sukkah if it is raining enough to damage the food. In the case of severe discomfort brought on by cold or heat or similar circumstances we are exempt. Travelers are not required to eat in the sukkah unless one is easily available. The Lulav and Etrog The Torah commands us to take the lulav and etrog on Sukkot. When speaking of the lulav and etrog we refer to the four species of plants mentioned in the Torah; the lulav, an unopened date-palm frond; hadassim, myrtle branches, aravot, willow branches; and an etrog, the fruit of the citron tree. The four species are very specific. Care must be taken to only use the particular varieties which are known to be acceptable. (For example, not all varieties of willow branches are acceptable as aravot.) In addition, crossbred and grafted plants are generally invalid. For these reason one should only purchase the four species from a reputable dealer. The four species must be in almost perfect condition. Even an apparently minor blemish can be a possible disqualification for use in the four species. Assembling the Lulav For the mitzvah of taking the lulav we are required to use one lulav, two aravos, three hadassim and one esrog. The lulav, aravos, and hadassim are bound together. The cut ends of the branches must be pointed towards the ground. The general custom is to bind the branches so that when the lulav is held with the spine of the lulav facing the holder, the hadassim are to the holder's right and the aravos are to the holder's left. The branches must be bound in such a manner that the holder will be gripping all of them together. The hadassim should be a little higher than the aravos. Care should be taken that the spine of the lulav should protrude at least 3.5 inches beyond the other branches. The material used to bind the lulav should be from the three species used in the lulav. In addition to binding the three species together it is customary to make an additional two bindings on the lulav itself. The upper 3.5 inches of the lulav should not be bound. Hoshanot On each day of Sukkot special prayers are recited called Hoshanot. During the recitation of Hoshanot the hazan leads all of the men who are holding a lulav and etrog around the bimah (the central podium in the synagogue) where the Torah scroll is held. On the seventh day of Sukkot, called Hoshana Rabba, all of the Torah scrolls are removed from the Aron HaKodesh (the holy ark - the cabinet at the front of the synagogue) and are held at the bimah while the congregation cicles the bimah seven times.
 | Shmini Atzeret
The eighth day of the holiday of Sukkot is actually a separate holiday called Shmini Atzeret. We are not required to live in the sukkah or to take the lulav and etrog on Shmini Atzeret. However, outside the land of Israel the general custom is to eat in the Sukkah on the first day of Shmini Atzeret without the blessing. Shmini Atzeret is one day long in Israel and two days long outside of Israel.
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 | Simchat Torah
On the second day of the Holiday we celebrate Simchat Torah. Simchat Torah, which (loosely translated) means 'Celebration of the Torah', is a day of rejoicing on the completion of the cycle of Torah readings. Every Shabbat a section from the Torah is read. The entirety of the Torah, the Five Books of Moshe (Moses), is completed and restarted on Simchat Torah. The congregation dances with the Torah scrolls and performs seven hakafot. Hakafot, or Revolutions, are performed as follows: All the Torah scrolls are removed from the Aron HaKodesh (Holy Ark) and distributed to members of the congregation. One member leads the other Torah-bearing members in a circuit around the synagogue while the congregation kisses the scrolls. The leader leads the congregation in reciting special prayers. When the circuit is completed the congregation sings and dances until it is time to start the next hakafa. This is done seven times. Hakafot are performed on both the night and the day of Simchat Torah. On the day of Simchat Torah it is customary for every man to receive an aliyah (to be called up to the Torah). |