Chabad Of Northbrook To Offer Outdoor High Holiday Services

Press release from Chabad of Northbrook:

Sept. 2, 2020

With the High Holidays approaching and COVID-19 creating difficulties for many in joining a traditional synagogue service, Chabad of Northbrook will hold an outdoor Rosh Hashanah experience and Shofar service Sunday, Sept. 20, at 11:00am and 12:00pm in and open Tent in the Back of Chabad. The service is open to all Jewish Northbrook residents, no membership required. Additionally, there will be Shofar sounding at outdoor locations throughout Northbrook on Sunday Afternoon.

The service, which will include prayers for the wellbeing of all humanity—a key theme of Rosh Hashanah—will also be centered around hearing the sound of the Shofar, the central observance of the holiday.

“The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, considered the most influential rabbi in modern history, insisted that the observance of hearing the Shofar— the key observance of Rosh Hashanah—be made accessible to all Jews even those not attending synagogue,” Chabad Rabbi Meir Mosocowitz explained. “Chabad of Northbrook has always prioritized making Judaism available to all. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this has taken on a whole new meaning, but our mission to serve everyone remains the same.”

While Rosh Hashanah services are generally held in a synagogue, Chabad of Northbrook creates accessibility by creating a welcoming and nonjudgmental atmosphere and affordability, with no expectation of membership or affiliation. This year, they’ve gone a step further to ensure that the very real health concerns Northbrook faces are not an impediment to holiday observance.

“Our goal is to lower the barriers of entry, and to encourage each and every Jewish person to actively participate in the observances of Rosh Hashanah,” said Moscowitz, “This year, that means bringing a Rosh Hashanah service to a location where people can safely participate and making it free of charge as many in our community are hurting financially now.”

The short service will include the sounding of the shofar as well as selected prayers from the High Holiday liturgy. While not a substitute for the complete Rosh Hashanah prayer service (which can and should be done at home if one is not able to join a congregation), the service will enable everyone to participate, hear the shofar, and bring a heightened sense of community during this difficult time.

To ensure the wellbeing of participants, those present at the event will be asked to wear masks, and stay six feet away from people not living in the same household.

Chabad of Northbrook will also be hosting their regular traditional High Holiday service, albeit with a more limited crowd and distanced. As COVID-19 has changed the way people gather to worship they will be holding most of the services in an open walled tent in the back parking lot, with limits on attendance and safety protocols to keep everyone safe while praying for the year ahead.

This press release was produced by Chabad of Northbrook. The views expressed here are the author's own.