The Time of Year to Make Your Soul Bigger

The High Holy Days are the time of year when we dedicate ourselves to repentance, prayer, and charity in an effort to make our souls bigger!  Here's another music video on that topic, courtesy of our friends at the National Jewish Outreach Program, called Soul Bigger:





And here are the lyrics, which they've kindly provided over on YouTube:

Song Lyrics: 

SOUL BIGGER 

It's Rosh Hashanah, Oh, So Happy New Year

Yeah...had some triflin' days for sure

Oh, gotta make my Soul Bigger, Not much time

Till Yom Kippur

CHORUS:

(It's Rosh Hashanah)

Now I'm just tryin' to make my Soul Bigger (So happy new year)

And I ain't messin' it's no joke joke.

(It's Rosh Hashanah)

For 10 days I'll be a do-gooder (So happy new year)

And say I'm sorry to some folk folk ( I'm sorry) 

Repent boy go 'head Repent ( I'm sorry)

Repent boy go 'head Repent ( I'm sorry)

Repent boy go 'head Repent ( I'm sorry)

Repent boy go 'head

Called my Mom

At a beauty Salon

With a brand new Mahzor

Under her under arm

She said "Shana Tova"

I said "I meant you no harm...

When all my friends came over

And we totaled your car...I'm so so- rry mom

You forgive me?"

Yeah we forgive you! 

Yeah I forgive you!

awwwwwwWWWWWWWW

18 yrs, 18yrs

She'd been livin kinda greedy yo for 18yrs

This babe was payin QVC for things she don't need

But the boy in the salon, yo he planted the seed 

Now, you'll see her at the synagogue, any given Saturday

Or lookin up a charity to try to give some cash away.

Goin to the doctor got lipo with her money

Now she's building houses for the po' with her money

Walking round lookin like Michael with her money

Now she's feedin all the homeless apples with some honey, honey,honey

If you ain't no punk holla Rosh Hashana...Rosh Hashana..Yeah..

(She gives her money)

Now she longer is a gold digger (to those in need)

Cause she be givin back to folk folk

(She gives her money) 

Now she's just tryin to make her soul bigger (to those in need)

And she don't care if she go broke broke (Charity)

Bestow girl go 'head Bestow (Charity)

Bestow girl go 'head Bestow (Charity)

Bestow girl go 'head Bestow (Charity)

Bestow girl go 'head

He wanted to make his soul bigger just like me

And he wanted to give back to his community

So he rounded up his homeboys and jumped in his ride

Drove up to the synagogue ... "yo come inside"

Ooooooh, It's Rosh Hashanah

So happy new year

It's Rosh Hashanah 

So happy new year

Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Happy New Year!

It's Rosh Hashanah 

Oh, What a New Year

Hope I made the book of life for sure

Yeah, made my soul bigger

Only 8 more hours, only 8 more hours...

Till Yom Kippur!

"Gosh, I can't believe I get to do this every year...neat!"

Happy New Year!

And here are some credits:

Written and Directed by Brian Golub and Mike Kirsch of Unique New York Entertainment

http://uniquenewyorkentertainment.com

Choreographed by Mike Kirsch

Filmed and Edited by Sathya Vijayendran of Grand Illusion Films http://grandillusionfilms.com

Music Recorded and Edited by JP Rende for four40 Entertainment

Lead Vocals by Brian Golub. Additional Vocals by Noel Molinelli & Mike Kirsch

Special Thanks To:

Renee S. Erreich

Daniel Glass

Denise Rich Songs

Leyla Kuday

Congregation Orach Chaim

The Acropolis-Astoria

Dov Salon

Seymour PR

And here's more from the NJOP:

Jewish Treats and @JewishTweets want to know if you're ready to make your "Soul Bigger" for the High Holidays?

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/JewishTweets

Visit our Facebook Page! http://facebook.com/JewishTreats

A Project of the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) http://njop.org

And here is their discussion of the topic:

Learn more about the 3 T's of the High Holidays, Teshuva (Repentance), Tefilah (Prayer) and Tzedaka (Charity), with this post taken from our http://JewishTreats.org blog:

The 3 Ts

On Rosh Hashanah we declare: "But repentance, prayer and charity remove the evil of the decree!" In Hebrew, these constitute the 3 Ts: Teshuva, Tefilah and Tzedaka.

Teshuva (repentance) a central theme of the High Holidays, means more than just saying "sorry." Teshuva, means recognizing one's errors and making an effort not to repeat them. In many ways, teshuva is a private act because one must be introspective to recognize one's own mistakes.

Tefilah (prayer) is the acknowledgment of God as the King and Ruler of the universe. Tefilah is almost private, but not quite. It is a conversation between the person and God.

Tzedaka (charity) is a critical step necessary to reverse an evil decree simply because it constitutes an action. The performance of this mitzvah affects the person giving, the person receiving, and its benefits often extend to others as well. Tzedaka is reaching out beyond one's self, and is thus a public act.

Everything that a person does affects the world in multiple ways. It affects the person's relationship with him/herself, their relationship with the Divine and their relationship with their fellow human beings. The path to reversing the evil of the decree must therefore involve the private, the spiritual and the public spheres of our lives.

As Reform Jews, we welcome the New Year with a call for renewal, self-improvement, and the repair and healing of the world.  Shana Tova!

President Obama Sends Us Rosh Hashanah Greetings

As seen on YouTube, a message from the President of the United States:

President Obama extends his warm wishes for Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish spiritual calendar and the birth of the world.

And for a bit of fun on this New Year, for those of you hooked on videogames like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, or otherwise musically inclined, try your hand at a round of Shofar Hero!  

Celebrate the Birthday of the World!

On behalf of Congregation Adas Emuno, we wish you and yours a Happy Jewish New Year, Shana Tovah, and a Wonderful 5771!  And we join together to celebrate the Birthday of the World:









A joyous time indeed!

I Gotta' Love You Rosh Hashanah

Courtesy of Taglit-Birthright Israel, here's a marvelous music video called, "I Gotta' Love You Rosh Hashanah" starring birthright alumna Michelle Citrin as Rosh Hashanah Girl  http://michellecitrin.com, Music by Michelle Citrin and William Levin, Video Edited by Simon Weaver, Created and Directed by William Levin  http://jewishrobot.com:









Download the song, lyrics and more at  http://rhgirl.com.


For more information about Taglit-Birthright Israel, see our previous post, Registration for Taglit-Birthright Israel Program, and http://www.kesherbirthright.org.

Round Challahs for Rosh Hashanah

On Rosh Hashanah we use round a challah in our ceremonies and meals instead of the usual braided challah of Shabbat.  The round shape symbolizes the cycle of renewal that we celebrate with the new year.  


And here, courtesy of the Union for Reform Judaism, (of which, Congregation Adas Emuno is a member) is Tina Wasserman, author of the acclaimed Jewish cookbook Entree to Judaism, demonstrating two techniques for shaping a round challah:

Find more Rosh HaShanah ideas and resources at http://urj.org/holidays/highholidays/roshhashanah, and have a Shana Tovah!

High Holy Day Services Begin on September 8

High Holy Day Services at Adas Emuno will begin with Erev Rosh Hashanah at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8th. Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro will lead all services, with members of the Congregation participating by reading prayers and performing Aliyot.




Beth Robin will provide musical accompaniment for this year’s services, and will be joined by Fran Rowell for the Kol Nidre service on September 17. Here is the complete schedule for ROsh Hashanah:

09/08 - Erev Rosh Hashanah:   8:00 PM

09/09 - Rosh Hashanah Children's/Family Service:   9:00 AM

09/09 - Rosh Hashanah Regular Morning Service:   10:30 AM

09/10 - Tashlich Service and Picnic:   11:00 AM

On behalf of Congregation Adas Emuno, we wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Additional Scenes from the Cantors Concert

Looking back with fond memories of the Fourth Annual Cantors' Concert from this past June, here are a few more pictures from that marvelous event.  (For more information, see our previous posts, Fourth Annual Cantor's Concert and More Views from the 2010 Cantor's Concert.)

Concert Committee Chairperson Beth Ravit, standing.

Cellist Fran Rowell.

One of our honorees, Sam Shapiro, with his daughter Susan & son-in-law Robert Katz.

Honoree Robin Cramer with her family.