High Holy Days

The High Holy Days consist of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

During Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the beginning of a new year with a mix of reflection, hope, gratitude, and general celebration. This is followed by a period of ten days known as the Ten Days of Repentance, during which individuals are encouraged to engage in acts of charity and forgiveness.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is considered the most important holy day of the Jewish year. It is a time for fasting, prayer, and repentance, as individuals seek to acknowledge their misdeeds and ask for forgiveness.

2025 High Holy Day Services and Events

The Jewish High Holy Days, also known as the Days of Awe, are a time for the Jewish people to engage in self-assessment, seek forgiveness, and resolve to improve in the future. The process is referred to as Teshuvah, which means “making a turn” or “returning” to a better path.

Food Drive

Youth Programming & Childcare

Youth Programming Schedule (Grades K—7)

Child Care During the High Holy Days

Yizkor Memorial Book

Livestream

Volunteer

High Holy Days Food Drive

Temple Emanu-El Social Action Committee is organizing the food drive. You can participate by donating non-perishable nutritious food and essential toiletries. Grocery bags will be distributed at Rosh Hashanah Services. Return bags filled with non-perishable nutritious food and essential toiletries when you return for Yom Kippur or drop them off in the Temple office lobby at your convenience. NO GLASS JARS, PLEASE. Gift cards to local stores and monetary donations are also welcome. Your donation will be distributed to people in need throughout our community by Jewish Family Services and other organizations.

Donation

This year, more than ever, your High Holy Day “pledge” is of paramount importance. We are always committed to welcoming all families and students regardless of financial ability. Your High Holy Day donation will help us fulfill this promise and our sacred covenant. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and support.

Click HERE to make a High Holy Days donation. Please mark your payment as a donation and then Type would be Donation – High Holy Day Pledge.

We are offering FREE youth programming for our K-7th graders and Childcare for 2 to 5 year olds. We encourage you to provide your children with a wonderful High Holy Day experience while you enjoy the adult services. Our young people will enjoy activities and programs supervised by experienced teachers providing content-rich programing.

There will be T’filah, Judaica, games, art, a snack and drink. Lunch will be provided on Yom Kippur. Registration is required so we can plan for each child. Register your child HERE by Tuesday, September 9. Contact Linda Sand at the Temple Office or lsand@teesd.org for more information.

Tuesday, September 23—Rosh Hashanah Morning

Check-in: 9:30 am to 10:00 am

Youth Program: 10:00 am until adult service ends (approximately 1:15 pm)

Rosh Hashanah Family Service: 3 pm

Thursday, October 2—Yom Kippur Day

Check-in: 8:30 am to 9 am

Youth Program: 9 am to 12 pm

Youth Lunch: 12 pm to 1:15 pm

Youth Fun & Games: 1:15 pm until adult service ends (approximately 6:30 pm)

Yom Kippur Family Service: 4:15 pm

Registration is required so we can plan for each child. To register your child for K to 7th Grade High Holiday Youth programming click HERE.

Childcare during the High Holy Days

Children of all ages are welcome to attend any and all services. For your convenience, child care for children ages 2—5 will be available during the High Holy Day services on Rosh Hashanah Day and Yom Kippur Day. Advance registration is required so we may hire the appropriate number of caregivers.

Registration is required so we can plan for each child. Register your child HERE by Tuesday, September 9.

Yizkor Memorial Book

We hope you’ll consider participating in this beautiful tradition of remembering our loved ones who have passed away through the Mitzvah of tzedakah. The Book of Remembrance is published every year for Yom Kippur Yizkor services with the names of those whom we have loved and lost. Following the custom of giving tzedakah in our loved ones’ memories, families are invited to publish the names of those whom they are remembering with a suggested donation of $18 per name. The booklets not only give us the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah in our loved ones’ memories, but it can add a layer of comfort as family members are able to read their names during the Yizkor prayer services. To participate, click HERE.

Join our livestream

High Holy Days are a time for reflection, introspection, prayer, and re-connection. We welcome you to join us in celebrating and observing these special holy days virtually via our livestream.

This year, more than ever, your High Holy Day “pledge” is of paramount importance. We are always committed to welcoming all families and students regardless of financial ability. Your High Holy Day donation will help us fulfill this promise and our sacred covenant. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and support.

Click HERE to make a High Holy Days donation.

High Holy Day Volunteer Sign Up 2025

If you are interested in volunteering as an usher, greeter or ticket taker during the High Holy Days, click HERE.

Yahrzeit

You are invited and encouraged to let us know the name and yahrzeit of your beloved ones who have departed from us. We will honor their memory by announcing their name at our synagogue during services. May you be comforted among all the mourners of Israel.

In Jewish tradition, when the year of mourning is over, mourners are expected to return to a fully normal life. There are several occasions each year when our loved ones who have passed on are memorialized. The most significant of these is yahrzeit, the anniversary of the death, which is observed according to the Hebrew calendar.

As is the case in all Jewish holy days, yahrzeit observance begins at night. A 24-hour candle is lit and one may attend synagogue to recite the Kaddish [the memorial prayer]. It is traditional to avoid attending any celebrations or parties on the day of yahrzeit, and some people fast on that day.

Would you like the Honor of reading Torah or receiving an Aliyah during the High Holy Days?

Signing Up For An Honor

If you would like to sign up for an honor, please email Emma Sherman at esherman@teesd.org with the names of those who would be participating, your preferred service for your honor and which honor you would like to do: Torah Readers, Aliyah, Haftarah, Hagbah and Glilah (Carrying the Torah).

High Holy Days 2025 Services

Saturday, September 13

7:30 pm: S’lichot Service and Board Installation

Monday, September 22

7 pm: Erev Rosh Hashanah

Tuesday, September 23

10 am: Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
3 pm: Rosh Hashanah Family Service
5 pm: Tashlich (Lake Murray)

Wednesday, October 1

7 pm: Kol Nidre Service

Thursday, October 2

9 am: Yom Kippur Morning Service
12:30 pm: Limmud I
2 pm: Yom Kippur Afternoon Service
4:15 pm Yom Kippur Family Service
4:15 pm: Limmud II
5:15 pm: Yizkor Service
6 pm: Ne’ilah and Havdalah Services