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.
Articles:
Videos:
Selichot—Saturday, September 28 | ||
6:15–7:45 p.m. | Mincha/Seudah Sheleshet Service | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
7:45–10:30 p.m. | Ma’ariv/Havdallah/Selichot Service | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
Sunday, September 29 | ||
10:30 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery | In-Person: Greenwood Cemetery and Arlington Memorial Park | |
Erev Rosh Hashanah—Wednesday, October 2 | ||
7:15–8:00 a.m. | Morning Minyan | Virtual: Zoom |
6–7:00 p.m. | Mincha/Ma’ariv Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
1st Day Rosh Hashanah—Thursday, October 3 | ||
7:45–10:00 a.m. | Childcare (6 months–6th grade) | Check-In at Ahava |
8–9:30 a.m. | Coffee and Breakfast Oneg | In-Person: Breezeway |
8:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. | Sanctuary Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
10–11:00 a.m. | Torah Study (Led by Dr. Michael Miller) Rosh Hashanah: An Origin Story—The Talmud teaches that Rosh Hashanah is on the first of Tishrei because that is when the world was created (but was it?). We will look at what the Torah and later texts say about Rosh Hashanah and how we got to where we are today. | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
10:00 a.m.–1:15 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 |
1:15–2:15 p.m. | Oneg and Light Kiddush and Committee Fair | In-Person: Srochi Auditorium |
6–7:00 p.m. | Mincha/Ma’ariv Service | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
2nd Day Rosh Hashanah—Friday, October 4 | ||
7:45–10:00 a.m. | Childcare (6 months–6th grade) | Check-In at Ahava |
8–9:30 a.m. | Coffee and Breakfast Oneg | In-Person: Breezeway |
8:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. | Sanctuary Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
10–11:00 a.m. | Torah Study (Led by Rabbi Michael Rothbaum) | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
10:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. | Child/Teen Programming (6 months–7th grade) | Check-In at Ahava |
Following End of Sanctuary Service | Tashlich | In-Person: Meet at the Tent to walk to the corner of Peachtree Battle and Woodward Way |
6–7:30 p.m. | Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv Service | Virtual: Zoom |
Shabbat Shuvah (Shabbat of Return)—Saturday, October 5 | ||
9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Shabbat Morning Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
10:30–11:30 a.m. | Torah Study | In-Person: Cavalier Room |
12:45–2:00 p.m. | Rebbe’s Tish—Meshorerim Singing | In-Person: Srochi Auditorium |
6:15–7:45 p.m. | Mincha/Seudah Sheleshet/Ma’ariv/Havdallah/Kaddish D’Lavana Service | In-Person: Ellman Chapel |
Sunday, October 6 | ||
1:45–4:00 p.m. | Reverse Tashlich | In-Person: Peachtree Creek Greenway |
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 | In-Person: Sanctuary |
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 |
Sukkot—October 16–23 | ||
Wednesday, October 16 (Erev Sukkot) | Erev Sukkot Evening Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
Thursday, October 17 (Sukkot Day 1) | Sukkot Morning Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
6–7:00 p.m. | Mincha/Ma’ariv Service | In-Person: Sukkah |
Friday, October 18 (Sukkot Day 2) | Shacharit Service | In-Person: Sanctuary |
