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What are the AA tunes? Our rabbis hear this question yearly as the journey toward the High Holidays begins. The AA tunes are melodies that have accompanied us through countless High Holidays throughout our youth and as we grew with the congregation. Cantor after cantor, choir after choir, some melodies have followed us, embraced us, and given us a sense of the holiness of the AA prayer experience. But what are they? We embarked on a mission to “find” the AA tunes, with our community’s help. Check out the journey!
Our Meshorerim (Hebrew for “spiritual singers”) group enhances prayer through music and song. The group is open to anyone regardless of musical background, Hebrew ability, or rehearsal attendance. Even if you’ve never attended a practice before, you can join our Meshorerim anytime. All we ask is that you sit up front during the Holidays in the designated “Meshorerim” section and sing along when you can! See the full schedule of gatherings on the AA Tunes Linktree.
Questions? Please contact the Interim Director of Music and Tefillah: Bonnie Levine (music@aasynagogue.org).
The Children’s Choir, introduced for the first time during the 5784 High Holiday services, will sing again this year! The Children’s Choir currently includes young singers ages 5–15 and rehearses on Sundays during our Kesher Jewish School program and Saturdays after Rebbe’s Tish.
They say listening to a band’s album before attending their concert can help people enjoy the show. The same is true of spiritual preparation for the High Holiday services. Familiarizing yourself with the audio tracks of the AA Tunes will lead to a more meaningful High Holiday experience! While we may not have an AA Tunes album (at least not yet), we offer sheet music and audio files for some of our selections. You can find an index with links here.
Ahavath Achim has a rich musical history of over a century, from commissioned choral works to rock band tributes. In addition to the AA Tunes Campaign playlist, please enjoy inspirational musical kavanot (Hebrew for “intentions” or “sincere feelings, directions of the heart”) and some of our favorite musical memories and stories about our beloved “AA Tunes” and other resources.
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Kol Nidre—Friday, October 11 | ||
5–5:30 p.m. | Family Kol Nidre Service (up to 10 years old) | In-Person: Tent |
5:30 p.m. | Vegan Kapparot | In-Person: Breezeway |
6–6:15 p.m. | Mincha | In-Person: Sanctuary |
6:15–7:00 p.m. | Kol Nidre Service | |
7–9:00 p.m. | Ma’ariv Service | |
Yom Kippur—Saturday, October 12 | ||
7:45–10:00 a.m. | Childcare (6 months–6th grade) | Check-In at Ahava |
8:00 a.m.–2:15 p.m. | Sanctuary and Yizkor Services | In-Person: Sanctuary |
10:00 a.m.–2:15 p.m. | Child/Teen Programming (6 months–12th grade) | Check-In at Ahava |
10:15–10:50 a.m. 10:15–10:50 a.m. 10:15–10:50 a.m. 10:55–11:30 a.m. 10:55–11:30 a.m. 10:55–11:30 a.m. | Family Services: Pre-K–2nd Grade: Family Service 3rd–7th Grade: Audience Performance 8th–12th Grade: Speaker and Drum Circle Pre-K–2nd Grade: Audience Performance 3rd–7th Grade: Family Service 8th–12th Grade: Speaker and Drum Circle | In-Person: Tent In-Person: Paradies Hall In-Person: Library In-Person: Paradies Hall In-Person: Tent In-Person: Library |
10–11:00 a.m. | Torah Study (Led by Dr. Douglas Ander) | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
2–3:00 p.m. | Beit Midrash Study Hall: (Re)Engaging Differing Faith and Ethnic Communities After 10/7 Join Anat Sultan-Dadon (the Consul General of Israel to the Southeast), Victoria Raggs (Executive Director, AJOCC Atlanta Jews of Color Council), and Samuel Halpern (Senior Associate, Advocacy and Programming, AJC Atlanta/Southeast American Jewish Committee) for an important conversation moderated by Judy Marx (Operations Manager, Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta and Consultant to Interfaith Organizations), exploring the challenges that Jewish communities have had engaging with the non-Jewish world since October 7, how we might reengage and the new opportunities that have emerged. | In-Person: Sanctuary |
3–6:00 p.m. | Yom Kippur Chant and Drum Circle Join us for our annual tradition of spending the last few hours before the afternoon service of Yom Kippur together singing, chanting, drumming, and meditating to original and familiar High Holiday melodies. Come and go; bring your hand drum if you’d like to play along; feel free to bring a yoga mat, cushion, or blanket to experience this special time. Led by Rabbi Michael Rothbaum, Bonnie and Michael Levine, and friends. | In-Person: Paradies Hall |
5:15 p.m. | Mincha | In-Person: Sanctuary |
6:15 p.m. | Neilah Service | |
7:32 p.m. | Ma’ariv/Havdallah/Final Shofar Blast Service | |
7:45 p.m. | Break Fast | Gold Doors and Breezeway |
Visit our events calendar for the Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah schedules! |
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Lili Baxter, a writer and teacher, was born in a DP camp in Sweden and grew up in Paris and New York. Having witnessed the familial and social ravages of hatred and war, she has devoted her life to the study and practice of nonviolence. Lili was hired by Coretta Scott King as the King Center’s director of nonviolence education and training and served for two decades on the U.S. and international boards of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the world’s oldest interfaith peace organization. She directed the Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education at the Breman Museum and, upon her retirement, was invited to return to The King Center as NV365 Senior Educator. Lili holds a PhD from Emory University in Women’s Studies and Human Development.
Jordan Forman has been the Ba’al Korei at AA since 1998 and has been the Ritual Coordinator and one of our Shlichei Tzibbur since 2010. In his role as Ritual Coordinator, he has been the “closer” for our B’nai Mitzvah and maker of MP3s for those looking to assist with T-ah, Haftara, and tefillot. In his “spare time”, Jordan is a Partner at the law firm of Fox Rothschild LLP. Jordan has been married to native AA member Lori Tillem for nine years. His son Joshua is going into his third year at Georgia Tech, and he also has two stepchildren, Maxwell and Isabelle.
Audrey Galex is the author of the children’s picture b