I hope everyone had a magnificent summer. It’s now time to get ready for the High Holy Days . . . a time of reflection and introspection. The Yamim Noraim are to be used as a time when we search our souls to see if we can make ourselves better people. We start by asking forgiveness from those we might have wronged during the past year. Then, on Yom Kippur, we ask G-d to forgive us in the prayer V’al Kulam. It’s written in the plural, “For the sin that we have sinned . . . .”  It’s also a time when we can change our ways – being good to each other and looking for the good in others.

The music of the High Holy Days is especially uplifting and spiritual. We don’t sing the prayers on the   Yamim Noraim quite the same as we do at any other time of the year.

Rabbi Blazer and I, along with our wonderful choir under the direction of Eileen Weiser, are working hard to make this year’s services a most musically spiritual experience. Beautiful harmony will be filling our “Grand Ballroom Sanctuary” at the Hyatt Valencia. I hope all of you will join us, sing along with us, and pray together with us.

Laura, Adam, Aaron and I wish you all a Shana Tova U’metuka - a Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year!

B’Shalom,

Cantor Kenny Ellis

For many years every August I attended a conference which was located on a different university campus each year called “CAJE - The Conference for the Advancement of Jewish Education.” The conference drew close to 2,000 Jewish educators, principals, rabbis, cantors and lay people annually from all over the globe who come to discuss ways to teach Judaism, Hebrew and Israel.  We studied together, prayed together, ate together, sang together, and shared our ideas. My role for 15 years at these conferences was being the M.C. at opening or closing ceremonies, performing at comedy night, and lecturing about Jewish music during the day.

Unfortunately, CAJE went bankrupt in 2009. However, the NewCAJE started a few years ago and this year it will be at UCLA and Sinai Temple in Westwood. NewCAJE draws about 500 attendees. I will be the M.C. and will be doing my Listen, Laugh & Learn class there as well (similar to the class I teach every month at the AJU). It should be very exciting. I will let you know how it goes at services.

Speaking of the High Holidays, choir rehearsals begin this month. Eileen Weiser has been working hard on some exciting arrangements for the services. I can’t wait to share them with all of you at the Valencia Hyatt.  The first rehearsal will be after the Open House on Sunday, August 17th at 1:30 p.m. at TBA. By the way, there’s always room for more if you’re interested in joining us!

B’Shalom

Cantor Kenny Ellis