Dear Hevre, 

As we prepare to close the book on 5783, we do so while looking at head to the promise of the new year, 5784, and all hope it carries. I am grateful that we will be back together these High Holidays as we reflect upon what is most meaningful in our lives. 

This year, we are offering:
·       The usual in-person seating options in the Cohen Sanctuary and Lainof Auditorium.
·       Livestreaming services for congregants not joining in person.
·       Optional mask wearing for all congregants attending in person.

Please note: There are separate forms to complete for those interested in Youth Services and Holiday Programs both days of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur for children (5 and up) and teens; and Young Families services and activities for both days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur day. We are again offering babysitting this year for children ages 1-4 years old. We ask that all children (ages 1-12) and teens pre-register for High Holiday programming.

To enhance your observance of the Holidays, Agudas Achim is offering:
·       Annual Reflections, Memorial, and Greetings Books with your submissions.
·       Men’s Club and Sisterhood membership, and a reminder to support the Torah Fund (which is separate from Agudas Achim).
·       Lulav and Etrog sets to order for Sukkot (please see the High Holiday page for details).

Please login to your account prior to completing this form, especially if you wish to pay by check. Complete all sections of this registration form by August 30, 2023, so we can assist you in having a fulfilling and meaningful High Holiday season and a vibrant covenantal relationship with the Agudas Achim community. For any sections that don’t apply to you, please answer with “No, thanks.” 

Please DO NOT forward this form to anyone else. It is unique to you. For assistance or a temporary password, email me (bnove@agudasachim-va.org) or Glenn Mays (gmays@agudasachim-va.org). YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS OF THE REGISTRATION FORM TO REGISTER.

Should you have any questions regarding the High Holidays, Community Commitment or this registration form, please contact me at bnove@agudasachim-va.org or call me through the synagogue office, (703) 998-6460, and leave a message in my voicemail. 

May you have a fulfilling High Holiday season; may you be sealed in the Book of Life.  

L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu,  

Barry Nove, Executive Director  

Click this link for our schedule of services, including Selichot, Tashlich, and memorial services at the cemetery. 

Please do not complete this form for anyone other than the individual who is logged in. Any change made here will change your ShulCloud account. However, you are encouraged to update your information here if you have a new phone number, home address, or email address, but again, only for the individual who is logged in.

All congregants will be required to present a ticket for seating in the Cohen Sanctuary and Lainof Auditorium. 

Guests will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the number of seats available, the date the reservation is made, and when payment is received in the office. If you are interested in bringing guest(s), please complete the following and a staff member will be in touch with you: 

Congregants are invited to dedicate permanent seats in the Cohen Sanctuary. Dedicated permanent seats will be noted with metal nameplates affixed to the selected seats. Each individual congregant in good standing, including associate members, may dedicate seats for $2,100 per seat, payable over three years.
Please indicate here your interest in permanent seats and Agudas Achim staff will contact you to select a specific seat, order a nameplate, and set up payments.

If you intend to use a new permanent seat these High Holy Days, please make this selection in the "seat location" space in the "Congregant Tickets" section above.

PLEASE NOTE: PLEASE BE IN YOUR SEATS IN THE COHEN SANCTUARY BY 10:30 A.M. RABBI REIN WILL BE ENCOURAGING THOSE SEATED IN THE LAINOF AUDITORIUM TO MOVE UP INTO AVAILABLE SEATS AT 10:45 A.M.]

Agudas Achim is committed to being a truly inclusive spiritual community. At the High Holy Days and throughout the year we welcome the participation, leadership and friendship of all individuals, without regard to physical, emotional, cognitive, sensory or communicative ability.

If your family has been blessed with the arrival of a child(ren) this year (5783), our congregation would like to welcome your child(ren) and the clergy would like to offer blessings on Shabbat Bereishit, Saturday, October 14, 2023. Please let us know so we can include your child(ren) at that time. 

In the box below, please write your child’s (children’s) English and Hebrew names.

If you would like to have an honor during High Holy Day services, please contact Executive Admin Assistant Ashley Williams at Execadmin@agudasachim-va.org by August 30. We will do our best to honor requests. Instructions will be sent to participants closer to the holidays.

All congregants are welcome to submit an original reflection to the annual Reflections Book focusing on this year’s theme: “Hinei Mah Tov U’ma Nayim Shevet Achim Gam Yachad – How Good and How Pleasing It Is When We All Live In Relationship Together.” 

Please send your original writing of a maximum 300 words by Wednesday, August 2023 to HHDReflections@gmail.com.

·       Please submit all files in MS Word or a compatible program.

·       Submissions may be edited for length or content.

·       Remember that this is a family journal.

This year, the Reflections Booklet will be available in the synagogue for service attendees and published online for members only.

Sukkah Naming Dedication - Sold

If interested in learning about supporting these other projects…

All congregants are invited to honor the memory of those whose lives are treasured by inscribing their names in the annual Memorial Book for use during the Yizkor service on Yom Kippur and throughout 5783. This booklet will be available in the synagogue and online for members only.

A Yahrzeit Memorial Plaque, permanently displayed in our Memorial Alcove, can be a source of comfort to those who have dear departed family members. Each year, on the anniversary of the passing, the light adjacent to the plaque will be lit. New Memorial Plaques will be dedicated at Yizkor services on Yom Kippur and will be listed in our Memorial Booklet.

Shalom Women of Agudas Achim and Welcome! 

We are excited to begin a new year of Sisterhood with a variety of enjoyable and fulfilling activities and hope that you will be joining us in the next chapter of our journey. Whether you want to play a role in Sisterhood Shabbat, help out at our annual Purim Carnival, participate in our various brunches or social activities, Sisterhood has a program for you.

If you are interested in joining Sisterhood or renewing your membership for 5784 (2023-24), please complete the information below. Dues are $42 and are payable by ShulCloud or by check payable to Agudas Achim Sisterhood (please specify “Sisterhood Dues” on the memo line); if you are new to the congregation and this is your first year with us, then your dues are waived! Your membership helps sustain Sisterhood, enabling us to enrich the Agudas Achim community through the Sisterhood Ensemble, the Judaica Shop, meals of consolation for families in mourning and more.

We look forward to seeing you!

As an affiliate of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, Agudas Achim’s Sisterhood is a proud supporter of Torah Fund. Please see the next section for more information.

The Women’s League of Conservative Judaism established Torah Fund over 80 years ago to support educational opportunities for rabbis, cantors, educations, and other Jewish leaders. Agudas Achim and its Sisterhood are proud supporters of this program. Today, Torah Fund helps ensure continued excellence at Conservative/Masorti institutes of higher education by providing resources and scholarship as well as covering additional expenses associated with educating future Jewish professionals.

Please consider making a commitment to the future of Conservative Judaism by contributing to Torah Fund in 5784. When you give to Torah Fund, you join other caring individuals who recognize the importance of equipping our future leaders with the skills needed to foster engagement within a vibrant Jewish community. 

Donations can be made by check payable to Torah Fund (NOT to Agudas Achim or Sisterhood) and mailed either to the Agudas Achim Office or to Karen Maline, or online through the Torah Fund website (they are NOT made through Shulcloud). When paying online through the Torah Fund website, please be sure to fill in “Agudas Achim Sisterhood” as your affiliate. Because the campaign lasts a year, you can donate from now until the end of May 2024. Those who donate $180 (benefactor) or more in 2023-24 will receive a new Torah Fund pin.  

Questions?  Please contact Karen Maline at (703) 909-4075, kmaline25@gmail.com, or Nancy Siegal, 703-671-0957, nsiegal@comcast.net. Thank you in advance for your generous support.  Shanah Tovah!  

Dear Hevre,

Agudas Achim’s Men’s Club fosters with all adult members of our AAC community. Whether you want to join us at one of our Sunday morning bagel and lox brunches, an off-site beer tasting, schmooze at a Superbowl Party, or participate in a virtual program, Men’s Club has an activity for you.

If you are interested in joining Men’s Club or would like to renew your membership for 5784 (2023-24), then please fill out the information below. Dues for the year are $36, but please consider a higher amount, as membership dues are the only sources of our funding. (No synagogue funding.) These dues and donations from Men’s Club members are what enable most of Men’s Club’s events to be offered at no cost to its attendees.  

We strongly encourage using ShulCloud to pay your dues. If you are unable to use ShulCloud, please send a check to the Agudas Achim office, payable to “Agudas Achim Men’s Club.” If you have any questions or ideas for future events, please contact me at hms5516@gmail.com or 571-332-3359. I will always look forward to hearing from you.

Shana tovah,

Harold Salters, Agudas Achim Men’s Club President

On the next page your payment type selection (credit card, ACH, bill my account) will be highlighted in gray. If you would like to send a check, please select “Bill to my account” on the next page to finalize your registration. A check made payable to Agudas Achim Congregation should be mailed to the synagogue at 2908 Valley Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.

Thank you for completing all High Holiday information.

L'Shana Tova.