The Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuvah, Shabbat of Return, because its special haftarah reading begins with the words Shuvah Yisrael, "Return O Israel," from the prophecy of Hosea. It is also referred to as Shabbat Shuvah because it falls during the Ten Days of Repentance (Teshuvah).

During our Shabbat Shuvah service, Rabbi Amy Eilberg and Prof. Louis Newman will speak about their recent New Israel Fund study tour to Israel. In the midst of the ongoing deep grief in response to the October 7th attacks and the hostages, the trip focused on human rights, pro-democracy and peace activism. During these Days of Awe, we will consider how the recent upheavals in Israeli society can be seen through the lens of teshuvah (repentance).

Rabbi Amy Eilberg is the first woman ordained as a Conservative rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She serves as a spiritual director, peace and justice educator, and teacher of Mussar. She serves as Chair of the Racial Justice Subcommittee of the Conservative Movement's Social Justice Commission. Her book, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom and the Pursuit of Peace, was published by Orbis Books in March 2014. 

Professor Louis Newman, a renowned scholar of Jewish ethics, taught at Carleton College for more than thirty years before serving as the Dean of Academic Advising and Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Stanford from 2016-2022. He is the author of Repentance: The Meaning and Practice of Teshuvah (Jewish Lights, 2010). His most recent book is Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success (Radius Book Group, 2023)

We will also gather to dedicate the memorial plaques that have been added to the Memorial Wall, and read the names of all of those who have been memorialized during the past year.

*This service will be live video streamed. By entering the Sanctuary you give Beth Am permission to record you.

Learn more about High Holy Days 2024.