fulano - 7-23-2008 at 12:44 PM
Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement to be celebrated in Rosarito Beach this fall Baja Shalom ("Peace in Baja"), a recently formed reform-style Jewish
congregation in Rosarito Beach, Baja, Mexico, announced recently that it will hold services for the Jewish New Year ("Rosh Hashana"), September 29 and
30, and also for the Jewish Day of Atonement ("Yom Kippur"), October 8 and 9.
All Jews and non-Jews are welcome, from Southern California as well as Mexico, and do not have to be members of the congregation to participate fully
in all the services. Communal dinners are planned prior to both evening services, and a huge break-the-fast get-together will be held at the end of
Yom Kippur.
The congregation's approach to prayer incorporates the past experiences of its members, and guests, in a participatory, relaxed, open, and
free-flowing service that will follow the basic prayers but encourage individual input. Although some of the prayers will be in Hebrew, the great
majority of the service will be conducted in English. There will be lots of music, both recorded and live singing, a shofar service, and a special
feeling of spiritualism that occurs when Jews come together to pray and participate, at whatever their comfort and experience levels allow, because
they want to get back to their roots, to feel "Jewish" again, without all the distractions, costs, and sometimes politics of a more formal Temple
experience.
Baja Shalom encourages Jews of all backgrounds to come and worship with us. There is no cost – we believe all Jews should have a place to pray
together, especially for the two major holidays in the Jewish year, without having to worry about economic considerations.
The Rosarito Beach Hotel is offering special rates for the Holidays for out-of-town worshipers as well as offering a room and a special dinner for our
September 29th service.
We are also very open for your input. Help us grow - Baja Shalom can be your new Jewish home, and let's build it together! Please contact us for any
and all additional information, questions, and ideas. In Rosarito call Morrie at 664-631-3932; in Southern California call either Diane at
619-818-3426 DianeKane@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Lorraine at
858-679-9905.
As additional background information, the congregation has been formed primarily from the impetus of the growth of a very successful Chavurah, aptly
named "Bajavurah", which has been enjoying monthly get-togethers in Rosarito Beach for over two years now, and is supported by approximately 25
families who either live in the area full time, or have 2nd homes here. These families make up the majority of the Baja Shalom congregation.
Baja Shalom hopes to extend the warmth and fellowship already present in the Bajavurah into the religious experience of the High Holy Days by offering
a much more relaxed, less formal, get-together for those who want to pray and worship together in a communal setting in the incredible atmosphere of
Baja, California, Mexico.