The following is a message from Temple Emanu-el-Beth Shalom

Temple Emanu-el-Beth Shalom in Westmount has announced  that  they will be opening up their online Kol Nidre service to the wider community. The service will be livestreamed for all, beginning 7:45 PM, on Sunday September 27  from their website: http://www.templemontreal.ca/live/

As we grapple with how to create community at a distance – coupled with new citywide, COVID-19 alerts – we want to provide a community service to those outside of our congregation who have been impacted suddenly by the COVID-19 Level-3 Alert recently issued by the Quebec government and are no longer able to attend in-person services.  Additionally, we have taken steps to ensure our elders are not cut off from community; we have taken a small first step by making this Kol Nidre service available to residences this year, and providing tablets too, when possible.

We are excited to be able to offer our Temple members and the entire community-at-large the opportunity to share this meaningful service with us online. Rabbi Lisa Gruschow will be leading the sermon, along with Musical Director Rona Nadler.

Kol Nidre is an Aramaic declaration recited in the synagogue before the beginning of the evening service on every Yom Kippur.  The Reform Judaism organization explains, “For most North American Jews, Kol Nidrei surely is the single piece of liturgy that best represents Yom Kippur. This haunting melody, often played by a cellist then chanted by the cantor and choir in front of the open ark, causes all who are present to delve deeply into their heart and soul, looking for forgiveness. We are so appreciative to the cantorial soloist is Joseph Kaiser, and to our soloist, choir members, organists for their moving performances.  We are especially grateful that our cellist Denis Brott will be playing Kol Nidre after months of illness with COVID-19 and a long recovery. All the music has been prerecorded to ensure everyone’s safety, and will be incorporated into the live-streamed service. We invite you to watch a preview here: https://vimeo.com/461395390

Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom is Montreal’s only Reform synagogue. With more than eight hundred member families, Temple is a caring, supportive and inclusive congregation built on Jewish tradition, education, celebration and community. Temple offers worship, learning and social opportunities for all ages, including programming for teenagers and 20 – 30 years old group and social action initiatives. For more information, please visit www.templemontreal.ca or contact Marci Stepak at marci@templemontreal.ca.