Lenbrook Celebrates High Holy Days in Style
Here at Lenbrook, Atlanta’s premier Life Plan Community in Buckhead, we have an active and vibrant tradition of celebrating Jewish life, including monthly Shabbat services followed by a meal for Lenbrook’s Jewish residents, their adult children, and often, their (non-Jewish) guests.
Robbye Jarrell, Lenbrook’s Chaplain since 2008, and Chaplain Heather Flaherty have worked closely with Lenbrook residents as well as Rabbis from the greater metropolitan Atlanta area to create meaningful celebrations. They have also secured the full participation of Lenbrook’s executive chef to prepare the annual Seder meal.
“Every year, we deliver a Rosh Hashanah gift bag (complete with the traditional honey, an apple and a card) to the door of every Jewish resident at Lenbrook,” notes Jarrell. “This has become a cherished Lenbrook tradition.”
Yom Kippur is also observed with care at Lenbrook. “This year, we have Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, the beloved Rabbi Emeritus of The Temple, coming on September 17 to hold the Yom Kippur Service here. He will be joined by a cellist from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the cantor from the Temple. In view of his very busy schedule, we are blessed that Rabbi Sugarman is able to come the day before Yom Kippur,” smiles Jarrell. “We are thrilled that all these ‘heavy hitters’ are able to join us.”
As part of its focus on Spiritual Wellbeing, we have always embraced the opportunity to recognize the many different faiths represented at Lenbrook, even though the community is not affiliated with any particular religion. In addition to monthly Shabbat services, Lenbrook offers ecumenical Sunday worship services and Tuesday evening Vespers.
“Our Jewish residents are proud to continue their faith traditions after moving to Lenbrook, and enjoy inviting their neighbors, many of whom consider it a real honor to celebrate with them. On more than one occasion, after celebrating the Seder Meal, a Jewish resident has come up to me and said: “Now, Lenbrook feels like home to me.” And that’s the greatest blessing of all,” says Jarrell.