5781 High Holy Days Schedule

7:30 PM  Kehillat Yom Tov (This service will be streamed on Zoom; link to come) – Led by Cantorial Soloist Robyn Helzner with participation by congregant volunteers, the service includes traditional elements, modern interpretations, and reflections on Yom Kippur themes in light of current events. This service will be conducted live, in a virtual Zoom meeting format and will include a recording of Rabbi Roos’s sermon. *

7:30 PM  Virtual Sanctuary: Kol Nidrei – Usher in Yom Kippur with the haunting melody of Kol Nidrei both sung and played on the cello. Led by much of our clergy team, join us in the virtual sanctuary for this contemplative liturgy. This service will include a sermon by Rabbi Roos. *

* This service will be using the Gates of Repentance Prayer Book

9:00 AM   Tot Holiday Service – Yom Kippur is a day of putting our hearts back together and getting ready for a better year ahead. Join Cantor Robins, Rabbi Roos, Rabbi Goldstein, Perri, and Ali for a morning of story, song, and putting our hearts back together. This service is particularly designed for children age 6 and younger, and lasts 30 minutes.

9:30 AM   Family Service – Join Rabbi Noah Diamondstein and Cantor Rebecca Robins in an active and interactive morning of reflection and community on Yom Kippur.  Through creative liturgy, traditional prayers, story, and song – join us on a journey of tshuvah.  A copy of the liturgy for this service can be found in the virtual library. This service is particularly designed for elementary school aged children, and lasts 45 minutes. 

10:00 AM  Virtual Sanctuary: Turn and Return: A Service of Teshuva (Led by Cantor Croen, Rabbi Roos & members) – This Yom Kippur morning service uses Maimonides’s four steps of teshuva (turning) alongside the Yom Kippur liturgy to contemplate how we truly make change. At this time of introspection and challenge, this service will help you contemplate where you are in your life, what needs to change, and how you might begin to get there. *

10:00 AM  Virtual Bet Am Service (Led by Cantorial Soloist Robyn Helzner, Rabbi Noah Diamondstein, & Rabbi Hannah Goldstein) – Join us for a journey through the Yom Kippur liturgy. Using the traditional liturgy as a guide for the themes of the day, this service will also include modern reflections, poetry and a mix of classic and contemporary melodies, chanted by Robyn Helzner and accompanied by guitar. *

12:15 PM   Teen/Youth Discussion: Teshuva from a Distance – Teens in grades 8-12, join CR and Emily and figure out: Just how do we do tshuva when we are only digitally connected? Work with ancient practice and the experience of today to create and engage with a process of repentance for today’s teens. Join via Zoom.

12:15 PM   Discussion Groups and Learning. Learn more.

1:30 PM   Healing Service – In this moment where our entire world is in need of healing, turn inward to your own healing and the healing of those around you.  Sing with us, breathe with us, meditate with us, and hold this moment as a moment for healing; of body, of spirit, or whatever other healing you desire.  The liturgy for this service is available in the virtual library.  This service lasts about 50 minutes.

3:00 PM   Mincha (Afternoon) Service (With Guest Speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner) – The Torah reading at our Yom Kippur Mincha service calls us to be holy and to pursue justice. Using the Torah reading as our guide, this service will be an opportunity to recommit ourselves to justice in the new year, and reflect upon how we have fallen short. Justice giant, Jonah Dov Pesner, the director of the Religious Action Center and a member of Temple Sinai, will speak about the biblical Jonah, the haftarah traditionally read on Yom Kippur afternoon. This service uses the Afternoon High Holy Day Machzor created by Temple Sinai, as well as the text of the book of Jonah, both available in the virtual library. 

4:45 PM   Yizkor (Memorial) Service – We come together for Yizkor to remember our loved ones who have died. With Psalms and poetry, we set aside this time for both personal and communal mourning. This service uses the Afternoon High Holy Day Maczhor created by Temple Sinai, available in the virtual library. 

5:35 PM   Neilah (Concluding) Service – We conclude Yom Kippur with Neilah, as we use every last moment of the day for prayer. Our clergy team shares their hopes for the new year, we will hear the traditional melodies of the season one last time, and we join together for Havdalah. Our service concludes with one final Tekiah Gedolah…one last blast of the shofar. This service uses the Afternoon High Holy Day Machor created by Temple Sinai, available in the virtual library. 

7:00 PM   Virtual Break Fast (Hosted on Zoom, link to come) – In place of the crowded break fasts of years past, see familiar faces during an informal Zoom gathering to mark the conclusion of the holy days. No lines for food, and no concerns about getting out of the parking lot! BYOB (Bring Your Own Bagel!)

* This service will be using the Gates of Repentance Prayer Book