High Holidays

We want to thank the 250 people who responded to our High Holiday survey. Your reactions were beyond our expectation and we look forward to continuing to offer you the best quality of everything a synagogue has to offer. Here are a few of your comments. Thank YOU for making 5783 a great success.

Main Service

• This was our first year as members and I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome we received. The service was meaningful and spiritual. The Rabbi’s words were so relevant to our current my times and Adam and the choir moved me beyond words! I look forward to many years of celebration within the Synagogue walls!
• It was wonderful to be back! We enjoyed Chazan Adam and Rev Asher as always - and the choir was excellent once again. We also enjoyed Rabbi Leff a leading and his sermons were intelligent and thought provoking. Yasher Koach to all.
• Beautiful service! Cantor Adam was very inspiring and choir was a pleasure to hear. Rabbi’s comments were interesting, relevant and meaningful.
• Very enjoyable. All three members of the clergy -- Adam, Asher and the Rabbi did an outstanding job.

Auxiliary Service

• The service was beautiful done. I look for traditions, and even though it was far from my traditions, it was one of my favourite services I’ve participated in. Rabbi Lewittes made the entire service easy to follow, compelling and so enjoyable. I really hope she returns!
• Rabbi Lewittes was very welcoming and inclusive. in my +65 years of attending High Holiday Services I had never heard the Shofar blown so loudly and so well! Absolutely Stirring.
• Rabbi Lewittes was brilliant, engaging and inspiring. She completely changed my perspective about Yom Kippur. Never in a million years did I expect to dance the Hora during Neila services! Having the opportunity to go up to the open ark privately was a very moving experience for me as well. I found Lisa to be very warm and engaging as well.
• I’m so glad our family attended the auxiliary services this year! The rabbi and vocalist led a beautiful, engaging service. We were so pleased our kids (age 15 and 12) were even engaged.

Overall Experience

• The Choir was outstanding, and the play between Chazan & choir was just right.
• We greatly appreciate the online Service. We are not in a position to attend in person and we were able to attend meaningfully. Thank you to each and every person at SZBE who made it possible for us.
• You are doing a great job, I have no complaints. Living so far away from Montreal, high holidays with Shaare Zion Beth-El are the best. Even if I have to do it 3 hours earlier on eastern time. There is nowhere I would rather be than with Shaare Zion Beth-El.

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Wishing everyone a Shanah Tova U’Metukah