Dear Members,
With the Yamim Noraim approaching, please note the following important reminders, as well as the following new seating policies:
Seating Registration Dates:
* Sunday, August 17, 5pm Israel Time: seating registration opens.
* Sunday, August 31, 11:59pm Israel Time: seating registration closes; applications after this deadline will not be processed.
* Monday, September 15, 11:59pm Israel Time: deadline to cancel seats without penalty (see below).
* Saturday, September 27, 11:59pm Israel Time: deadline to request changes or cancel seats for Yom Kippur without penalty (see below).
Seating Policies:
* Seating requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis for Full Members whose account is in good standing and who have paid 5786 Annual Dues (or made payment arrangements with the Treasurer). Those who have not settled outstanding balances or annual dues prior to registration will only be sequenced into the seating request queue after account settlement. It is therefore important to verify and address this prior to August 17.
* Full Membership provides one free seat per head of household. Additional seats for unmarried children can be purchased at ₪50 each, and for other qualified guests at ₪200 each.
* Main Sanctuary Guest Policy: following feedback from previous years, only heads of household, their parents, and their unmarried children may be seated in the main sanctuary. Married children and grandchildren will this year be seated downstairs along with other relatives and friends. Members are asked to take this into account when making their choices of whether to apply for seats downstairs together or upstairs.
* Only children in Grade 6 and higher are eligible for seats.
* Other than parents, children, and grandchildren, guest seats may be purchased for relatives or friends who live outside the community only.
* Associate Members: as communicated previously, we are no longer able to provide Yamim Noraim seating for Associate Members, but we will do whatever we can to help any offsite minyanim (sifrei torah, chairs, etc. based on availability). If you know of any Associate Members looking for such assistance this year, please direct them to a member of the Vaad.
No-Show Penalty:
Following feedback from previous years, there is now a “no-show penalty” being instituted:
* Any reserved seats that will not ultimately be used for Rosh Hashanah must be cancelled one week prior to Rosh Hashanah (Monday, September 15, 11:59pm Israel Time). Failure to do so will result in that member family losing their priority seating for both Yom Kippur and for next year’s Yamim Noraim (5787).
* For Yom Kippur seats, the deadline is Saturday, September 27, 11:59pm Israel Time, and the penalty will apply to next year’s Yamim Noraim (5787).
* Note: this “no-show penalty” does not apply for any soldier unexpectedly called for duty.
Finally, we remind the kehilla that the seating process is run entirely by dedicated volunteers. We ask all members to accept in good faith that every effort is made to handle this in the fairest way possible, and to make as many people as possible happy.
Thank you.
