Rosh Hashanah 5778 and all the info you need

Rosh Hashanah begins Wednesday evening.
This email includes all of the details and information for the High Holidays. Of course, if you have any questions, please let us know. We look forward to seeing you!
Schedule: The High Holiday Schedule is posted on our web page http://bethelaustin.wpengine.com/high-holidays/ and copied below.
Seating: We anticipate a large crowd and if requested are reserving places for our members. If you have a particular seat preference or would like seats reserved, please let us know ASAP.
Parking: Similar to years past, please reserve the places in the front of the building for the elderly and please note that parking should be only on the south side of Dominion Cove. Consider parking at Grace Church around the corner and take a short walk to the building.
Participating: We need people to help with English readings, be ushers, and more. If you would like to help, please let us know.
Costs: As always, there is not a specific charge for the High Holidays and we are not taking tickets, but please be sure to send in your dues. If you did not receive a dues statement or have any questions about your dues, please let us know. You can go to www.bethelaustin.org/donate to donate or pay dues.

Kiddush: We will have apples and honey cake on the first evening of Rosh Hashanah and kiddushes following services on Thursday, Friday and Saturday! If you would like to help sponsor or bring something to the Kiddush, please contact us.
We wish everyone a Happy and Sweet New Year. May you all have a year of good health, peace and blessing.
שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה
Some of our Chai Mitzvah Teens delivering delicious Honey Cake baked by the BERS for our community members. Fred’s grin definitely says it all! Thank you to the many bakers and to those who helped deliver the cakes.
We would all like to wish Hal Jacobs a very speedy recovery from heart surgery. Hal is going to the Heart Hospital of Austin on Erev Rosh Hashanah. His surgery will be Wednesday this week and he and Elaine would love to have visitors at the hospital during his recovery. Please call the hospital to find out when Hal can receive visitors or check with us. The Heart Hospital is 3801 N Lamar Bvld. Austin 78756. Thank you in advance for the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim.
Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Rosh Hashanah Message:
As we begin Rosh Hashanah this week, we begin a three-day period with much music. From the chanting of the prayers with their unique melodies to the reading of Parshat Ha’azinu, Moses’ last song to the People of Israel, on Shabbat, this time is filled with tunes. Music is very much a part of the High Holidays.
Music serves two main purposes at this time of year. One purpose is didactic-words are easier to learn when set to music. This is the reason for chanting the Torah. Indeed, Moses states that the reason for his song is so the People will remember his teaching. The other reason is to set a mood. There are two main musical modes for the High Holidays. One is a major mode which conveys God’s sovereignty-a maiestoso, majestic mode. The other is the minor mode of S’lihoth, prayers of penitence.
As we sit in the synagogue this year, let us try to learn the lessons which we need to learn, and to let the music transport us emotionally, even if we do not understand all of the words.
Shereen, Ilan, Cayla, Julia and Eden join me in wishing Shanah Tovah and Shabbat Shalom to the entire Beth El family.