Summertime makes us lazier than usual, as the heat and the relaxation slow our pace of life.  However, a New Year is not that far away, and we have a new student Rabbi, Meredith Kahan, to welcome and get to know.

She will be here for her first Beckley Shabbat, on Friday, August 28^th at the usual time of 7:30pm, with Oneg to follow.  Don’t expect her to remember your names right away, but help her out.  This visit will give her a chance to meet us, get used to us, and find her way, before Rosh HaShanah  and Yom Kippur.  Please come and join us.

There are changes afoot: We will be using a new prayer book for High Holydays that is gender neutral, and has transliteration and translations for all Hebrew prayers.  We invite all members and visitors to give us feed back about how you feel these new “siddurs” fit your liturgical senses.

Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday, September 18^th, which is also Shabbat, thereby signifying that both are celebrated.   Yom Kippur eve (Kol Nidre) is Sunday evening September 27^th.  As of now, both services will begin at 7:30pm,  We will let you know the time of the daytime services on September 19^th and September 28^th at a later date.

We are also getting a special children’s High Holyday book, with explanations, pictures, etc, that we hope to use for a special Temple Time children’s learning.  As of now, we do not yet have Temple Time organized, and will need to have parents contact Joe Golden at 304-253-5409 about which parents and children are interested, and set goals for this year.

Expect Adult Education to begin on Saturday 9:30am on August 29^th.   We are always open to ideas about how we can develop and improve educational programs, services, and special programs.  Please let us know your ideas: either Joe or Tom Sopher: 304-253-8441.

As expected at this time of year, we ask you for your annual contribution to keep Temple Beth El running.  You can pay all at one time, or split up payments.  Let Gail Kinsey, treasurer, know how much and when you will contribute.  You can use the mailing address above.

And now, welcome back from summer idylls, daydreams, and rest, to begin another cycle in our congregational life.