Lorton Jewish Community Prepares for Its Highest Holy Day

It is a busy holiday season for members of the Jewish community, as more than 80 Lorton and Fairfax Station families are expected to attend services at the Temple B'nai Shalom in Fairfax Station to observe Yom Kippur.  Yom Kippur begins this year at sundown this evening and continues to sundown on Saturday.  "Yom Kippur is a day of atonement and forgiveness," according to the President of Temple B'nai Shalom, Donna Courtney.  Yom Kippur is recognized as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The High Holy Days started with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah from Wednesday, September 8th at sundown into Thursday, September 9th. Rosh Hashanah is often referred to by Jews as the "Birthday of the World." Many area Jewish Families celebrated the Jewish New Year with family and friends and attended services at the Temple.

The Temple offered a daytime family service on Rosh Hashanah, which was geared towards families with children. Children welcomed the Jewish Near Year after service with traditional "apples and honey to symbolize the sweet New Year" said Courtney.

Yom Kippur takes a more solemn tone and area Jewish families will be spending much of the holiday in the Temple, attending services and focusing on prayer and repentance. Starting at sundown this Friday, Jewish families will fast until Saturday evening, sundown. Between services, which last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, Temple B'nai Shalom offers education classes for adult members. Classes include a musical meditation class and a Jewish family heirloom discussion class.

The Temple has two Rabbis who give services throughout the day and will be assisted by a Cantorial soloist. During Yom Kippur, the soloist will sing songs only heard during the Yom Kippur holiday. The services have both prayers and liturgy that focus on the holiday's message of "forgiveness and atonement." The services include Yizkor, a special memorial service where Jews, according to Courtney, "remember our relatives and friends that are deceased."

Although the Jewish community is small in and around Lorton, Courtney says that for her, "this makes it more important to be affiliated with the Temple" and that the Temple becomes the "[main] connection to the Jewish community." The Temple has 486 member families in total.

Temple B'nai Shalom was built 16 years ago, and this year marks a significant milestone for the Congregation, as they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. The Temple will be hosting twenty five special events and services this year to commemorate the anniversary. Events include a special concert featuring Jewish Rock performing artist Rick Recht.

According to Courtney, before the Temple was built, the group held services using the space at the Lutheran Church of Abiding Presence in Burke. Since the Temple was completed, Courtney, who is one of the founding members, has seen the number of members increase year after year. If you would like to attend any of the Temple's special events or services, please contact the Temple directly at 703-764-2901.