Claim a Seat Now for the Year 5771

Though the weather hardly hints at it, the New Year is just around the corner.

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 8. The Days of Awe conclude with Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown on September 17. And, for the first time, the United Jewish Communities MetroWest are helping unaffiliated Jews find synagogues and obtain tickets for High Holy Days services. Four South Orange-Maplewood congregations are participating in the "MetroPass" program.

Tickets for services at Congregation Ahavath Zion, Congregation Beth El, Oheb Shalom Congregation and Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel are available at no charge  through the site. This is a "no strings attached" offer, according to the United Jewish Communities. Spokeswoman Stacey Brown explains the genesis of the program.

"UJC MetroWest is in the unique position to help strengthen our community through supporting our many synagogues. MetroPass is about getting first-time synagogue attendees through the door for High Holidays at no cost to them" She added that, "The barrier of high-priced seats is removed for individuals, synagogues will enjoy new people walking in for services, and UJC MetroWest is the community-wide convener and organizer across denominations."

Program participants can bring family members to services. Those who participate this year will not be permitted to do so in future years.

Rabbi Mark Cooper of Oheb Shalom Congregation is enthusiastic about the initiative. "The High Holidays are a time when many Jews intuitively feel the call to spiritual renewal and are inspired to explore Judaism," he explains.  "Still, many are not in a good position to make a decision about synagogue affiliation. Metro Pass is a great way to reach out to those in our midst who wish to pray and learn with a congregation on the holiest days of the Jewish year, hopefully as a catalyst to further involvement in the ensuing year.  The program makes it possible for those who are seeking to begin to discover what they're looking for, and for synagogues to be strengthened by the presence of new people."

Brown explains, "Our goal with MetroPass is to attract new, unaffiliated members of the MetroWest Jewish community to High Holiday services in September 2010." The deadline for ticket requests is Aug. 31, she adds. "We have approximately 40 synagogues participating and more than 50 people registered to date."

Finally, for a High Holy Days schedule from Congregation Beth Ephraim/Maplewood Jewish Center, the Orthodox congregation serving Maplewood and South Orange at 113 Parker Avenue in Maplewood, visit the congregation's website.

Plan now for a joyful 5771. L'Shona Tova.