RL&P Blog: An Update from Seth Litman- Aug/Sept 2025

Although you have heard from me in the past, today I write in my new role as Chairman of the re-formed TKC Religious Life and Practices Committee.  The RL&P is a committee that consults with our clergy and helps come up with new ideas for services, ways we can energize our membership to participate, and acts as a sounding board for clergy on the direction of temple’s religious objectives.  The recent change to our high holiday Yizkor service, for example, was implemented only after a spirited conversation among our committee.

                The RL&P will be working with Rabbi and Kyra during the upcoming high holidays and other upcoming services.  In the next few weeks, we will send out an email requesting for members to volunteer to participate in our high holiday services.  As in past years, parts will be available in English, Hebrew and non-speaking areas like opening the Ark.  Everyone is encouraged to participate, so please be on the lookout for our communications.  We are also going to work with your Oneg Team captains to hand out Friday night service honors as well for most Friday nights.

                In the next year, we plan to have fun and more educational services as well, and we hope you will come out and participate.  First, we are going to have a fun service at Simchat Torah – Rabbi and Kyra’s favorite service – which will feature a food truck for dinner, dancing with the torahs and lots of fun.  Also planned in the next year or so will be a Women’s Shabbat on or near International Women’s Day, a learning Shabbat where the Rabbi discusses the origin and intent of the prayers we often sing during our services, and a Community Shabbat, where we invite members of the Roswell Community (Jewish and non-Jewish) to attend our service to learn about our temple and our religious beliefs.  These special services will be in addition to our regular services, religious school shabbat services and family services.

                In addition to Rabbi Holtz, our Music Director Kyra Goldman and myself, the other members of the RL&P are Ron Katz, Rhonda Flynn, Tom Bryant and David Kopel.  Please reach out to any of us if you have a service suggestion, if you would like to help organize one of the services above or if you would like to participate in this outstanding committee.  Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at TKC!

Seth Litman

Chair, Religious Life & Practice Committee

Immediate Past President