"It's the first time in my life we've had popcorn at Selichot, but — whatever it takes to get people through the door," said the vice president of the congregation of Temple Emanu-El.

Well, OK, Selichot (pronounced s'lee-KHOHT) is more than just "movie night."

This year the temple is reinstituting Selichot, the midnight service that serves as a time for preparation for the high holy days of the season. After the Jewish new year's observance come 10 days of penance, then Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

When Schandler-Wong heard that the Selichot service at the temple had been on hiatus for several years because of lack of participation, she resolved to revive it with some added incentives.

"We don't cancel religion due to lack of participation," she said firmly.

Selichot is a "preparation for the preparation," explained Rabbi Avi Magid, the rabbi at the reform Jewish temple.

"It's a prelude to high holy days," he said, "a warmup — getting ready to prepare yourself, to ask for forgiveness from God."

Traditionally, one undergoes a spiritual analysis of oneself, a spiritual accounting, Magid said.

"You understand with an open heart where your failings are," he said. "It's harder to do on the spot. It helps you get ready to ask God for forgiveness.

The Selichot service itself will be at about 11 p.m., with candles and the music of the holy days, but the tradition is for it to occur at midnight.

"The idea from more mystical traditions is that at midnight, our prayers fly more directly to God," said Magid.

He said their Selichot will begin earlier, but conclude at midnight with the changing of the Torah cover and blowing of the shofar, or ram's horn.

What's on the marquee? That would be the 2001 theatrical release "Focus," starring William H. Macy and Laura Dern. It's based on an Arthur Miller story about a Brooklyn couple near the end of World War II who are mistakenly identified as Jewish. The 106-minute playing time includes much opportunity to reflect on the nature of anti-Semitism.

Schandler-Wong, for one, is glad that the Selichot is back.

When she thinks of her childhood in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, she remembers the excitement of staying up late.

"On only two days was I allowed to stay up till midnight: One was secular New Year's, second was Selichot," she recalled.

She still has fond memories of going to temple with her grandfather, who was one of the first Jews in Asheville and who helped found synagogue there.