High Holy Days 2020 Zoom Schedule

High Holy Days Events and Services 5781 / 2020

1. Rosh Chodesh Elul 
2. Prayer Package Pickups
3. Essence of Elul offerings
4. Selichot service
5. Important Note about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 2020 schedule
6. Erev Rosh Hashanah
7. Rosh Hashanah Day 1, including family service, teen discussion, learning with the rabbis
8. Rosh Hashanah Day 2
9. Drive In Shofar Service on Rosh Hashanah Day 2
10. Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre
11. Yom Kippur Morning, including family service, yizkor
12. Yom Kippur Afternoon, including drum circle, teen discussion, healing service

Beginning Rosh Chodesh Elul Thursday 8/20 9:00 am

Hear the first shofar blast of the season. Beginning on Rosh Chodesh Elul, Thursday 8/20, the shofar will sound at the end of any daily service during this month before Rosh Hashanah.

Prayer Package Pickups

Drive to the Beth Israel parking lot to get a bag containing a variety of things for use during the High Holy Days (a Machzor/prayer book, honey straws, apples, a Yahrzeit candle, Shabbat/holiday candles, water soluble paper for use during Tashlich, blessings, and a message from the rabbis. The package pickup days will also be opportunities for you to contribute nonperishable food items for the Social Action Committee’s holiday food drive.

Sunday 8/23 10:00 am – 1:00 pm; Sunday 8/30 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Tuesday 9/8 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Essence of Elul: Offerings from Beth Israel members

From time to time during Elul, we will be sharing recordings of members reflecting thoughts about the themes of the High Holy Days. These short recordings might be in the form of spoken narrative, music, poetry, dance, visual art, or other forms of expression. They will be shared as part of the daily or weekly email. They will also be available on the BI website. If you would like to create a recording, please contact Laura Lee Blechner by 8/16.

Selichot Service Saturday 9/12 at 7:30 pm

The melodies of the High Holy Days season and changing of the Torah covers help focus our attention on evaluating our lives and making the changes we need.

Important Note About the Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Schedule

Below, you will find a draft schedule for the High Holy Days. The rabbis and RPC are working hard to best adapt our meaningful services to the digital medium. Here’s what we are sure about – we can’t wait to see everyone’s shayna punims (beautiful faces) on Zoom! Here’s what we aren’t sure about – exactly how the pieces will come together. Put these dates and times in your calendar for now, and we’ll make sure to send a final version, along with Zoom links, as we get closer to the High Holy Days.

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service Friday 9/18 at 7:30 pm

A beautiful brief service to bring in the New Year.

Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Saturday 9/19

9:00 am Family Service (30 min)

10:00 am Main Rosh Hashanah prayers: Shema, Unetaneh Tokef, Great Aleinu

11:00 am Torah chanting and study, closing prayers

12:00 noon Schmooze time in the “Lobby” (Zoom breakout rooms)

3:00 pm Teen discussion group with Emma Lefkowitz

4:00 pm Learning with the Rabbis, ending with Kiddush

Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Sunday 9/20

10:00 am Creative Rosh Hashanah Experience (including traditional prayers, Shofar, Tashlich)

12:00 noon Schmooze time in the “Lobby” (Zoom breakout rooms)

2:00 pm Drive In Shofar Service in the BI Parking Lot

We will be assembling, in our cars, to hear the sound of the shofar. Rain is forbidden that day. There will be multiple sessions that afternoon so that we can manage car spacing for safety. Please sign up here for the session you’d like to attend.

Erev Yom Kippur and Kol Nidre Sunday 9/27 at 7:00 pm

Musical selections, Kol Nidre, Light Yahrzeit and festival candles together at home, Yom Kippur prayers, Rabbis’ sermons. Note: Carol Briselli will begin playing at 6:55 pm.

Yom Kippur Morning Monday 9/28

9:00 am Family Service (30 min)

10:00 am Main Yom Kippur prayers: Shema, Unetaneh Tokef, Al Chet, Avinu Malkeinu

11:00 am Torah chanting and study

11:30 am Yizkor and closing prayers

12:00 noon Schmooze time in the “Lobby” (Zoom breakout rooms)

Yom Kippur Afternoon Monday 9/28

2:00 pm Drumming Circle at BI: Limited to 10 MASKED people in person, seated at least 6 feet apart and outdoors. It will be CANCELLED if there is RAIN. Sign up is a must, first come, first served. If you can't make it, please take yourself off the sign up list so others can take your slot. Sign up here.

3:00 pm Teen discussion group with Emma Lefkowitz

5:30 pm Healing service

6:00 pm Mincha/afternoon service, combined Avodah & Martyrology service led by Marion Hamermesh "Champions of Racial Justice/Victims of the Struggle."

7:00 pm Neilah/closing service (approx.)

7:30 pm Yom Kippur ends with a shofar blast and havdalah