Jewry Duty
During the Yamim Noraim (the Days of Awe - Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur), Temple members sign up for "Jewry Duty." These are six Shabbat services during the year for which you commit to attending services and providing some refreshments for the oneg or kiddush. For Bagel and Bible Shabbat (the first Saturday of each month), the Jewry Duty households also provide the bagels and fixings. Usually, there are three or four households on Jewry Duty for each service. Please refrain from bringing foods containing nuts as we do have members who are allergic to nuts.
Jewry duty is one of our important ways of being there for each other. It gives us some extra assurance that each Friday evening and Saturday morning those of us in mourning have a service with a minyan in which to say Kaddish. It is a simple kindness of presence, which is part of the covenant with our fellow congregants that we take on as members. In addition, it gives each of us a chance to come in to services and reconnect with our community, with Judaism, with God, and with our selves. In fact, it's usually fun or inspiring or both.
Members who don't sign up during the holidays are assigned service dates for Jewry Duty by the Temple office (Some members choose to have the office assign their Jewry Duty dates because they want to serve when most needed). Others sign up for particular dates to commemorate a life-cycle or other occasion. Both approaches are OK. If for some reason, you are unable to attend a service for which you have Jewry Duty, we ask that you try to switch with another member. Remember that your presence or that of a substitute for minyan is more important than the refreshments you provide.
Of course, at each service, the majority of the congregation is made up of people who are not on Jewry Duty, but have just come to celebrate, to learn, to pray, to sing, or to take time to affirm the blessings of life. You're always welcome to join.