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High Holydays Detailed Service Information 5784

Detailed Service Information and Schedule 5784

This year we are gathering for in-person services at Gann Academy, located at 333 Forest St, Waltham, MA 02452 as well as a YouTube livestream of our main services with live captioning. In addition, there will be options for outdoor programming on the second day of Rosh Hashanah and interactive Zoom programming on Yom Kippur afternoon (see descriptions below). We provide family and teen services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur morning, an all-ages outdoor program on the second day of Rosh Hashanah in addition to the service at Gann, and a children’s program for Kol Nidre. A full schedule of family and teen programming and details about child care can be found here. Please read on for more information about all of our High Holydays programs! Members will receive livestream links via email; for no-members, you must register for services in order to receive the livestream and Zoom links.

For those joining us online, you can access a PDF of the Reconstructionist machzor here.

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidre

Sunday, September 24, 6:30-8:30 pm

Kol Nidre Service
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

We usher in Yom Kippur with the special Kol Nidre service. This is the one time of the year that a tallit is worn for evening services.

Yom Kippur Supplement

Readings for Kol Nidre

Kol Nidre Children's Program
Gann Academy 

After hearing the chanting of Kol Nidre, children will be invited to a program led by Rabbi Emily Mathis, connected to the themes of the holiday, followed by childcare. The children’s program is geared toward children 8-years-old and older.

Yom Kippur Day

Monday, September 25

Morning service
9:30 am-12:30 pm 
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

All are invited to join us in the main sanctuary at 9:30 am for morning songs and blessings! The Torah service begins at 11 am, with Yizkor at approximately 11:45 am, and Rabbi Toba's talk at noon. At 12:15 pm, we will welcome all of our kids into the sanctuary for a story with Rabbi Toba, and a procession with the Torah.

Yom Kippur Supplement

Readings for Yom Kippur morning

Family and Teen Services
10:00 am-12:15 pm 
Gann Academy

Two family services begin at 10:00 am: One for kids aged 0-5 and their grown-ups; the other for 1st through 7th graders and their grown-ups. There is also a program for post-B'Mitzvah teens (8th grade and up) at 10:00 am — for a full schedule and description, please go to our Family & Teen Programming page. Childcare is provided at the end of these services, and kids are also welcome in the main sanctuary. We gather together as a full community at approximately 12:15 pm for a story with Rabbi Toba and the close of the service.

Musaf
12:35-1:30 pm
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

All are invited to join Rabbi Toba and Karen Arnold for the beautiful  Musaf service, which includes much of the special High Holydays liturgy.

Nature Walk 
12:35-2:00 pm

Adults and kids are welcome to join CDT member-leaders on this guided walk in the conservation land near Gann Academy (younger children should have an adult accompany them).

Yom Kippur Afternoon Programming

At Gann Academy:

Turning Toward Poetry with Marion Ross and Cindy Shulak-Rome 
3:00-4:00 pm 

We often find comfort in turning to poetry at important times in our lives. This gathering offers an opportunity to read and respond to poems that move you, support you, inspire you. A packet of poems will be provided for our exploration and reflection during this time together.

Tai Chi/Qigong with Peter Wayne
4:00-4:45 pm

Come join Peter Wayne of the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center for this wonderful opportunity to rest your mind and energize your body in the waning hours of Yom Kippur.

On Zoom (link will be sent to all who register for High Holydays services)

Text study with Rabbi Toba
3:00-3:55 pm

Join Rabbi Toba on Zoom as we read and discuss the powerful poem by Israeli-Palestinian author Marzouq al-Halabi, "The 40 Rules of Engagement."  Originally published in both Arabic and Hebrew in Israel in 2021, this moving, visionary poem about engaging with the "enemy" provides insight and inspiration for transforming the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and beyond.

Gentle Yoga with Jenny Leopold
4:00-4:50 pm

All are welcome to join Jenny, CDT member and certified yoga instructor, for some gentle movement to rest the mind and energize the body in the waning hours of Yom Kippur.

The Closing of the Day — Mincha, Eleh Ezkereh, & Neilah
5:00-7:15 pm
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

We gather again in our main "sanctuary" at Gann and on livestream for the closing programs and services of the day, including a Mincha program at 5 pm, our "Eleh Ezkereh" remembrance ritual at approximately 6 pm, and the concluding Neilah service at 6:30 pm, followed by an in-person break-fast. Childcare resumes at 5 pm. Bring your shofar for the concluding "Tekiah Gedolah!"

Mincha – The Story of Jonah
5:00-6:00 pm

We'll grapple with this traditional reading for the afternoon of Yom Kippur, the story of Jonah the reluctant prophet, with a dramatic reading, text study, and conversation.

Jonah Text Study Sheet

Eleh Ezkereh
6:00-6:30 pm

We gather for our memorial Eleh Ezkereh/These We Remember service, during which we will be especially remembering CDT members Gordie Fellman, Marianka May, and Robert Hausman.

Eleh Ezekereh Handout

Neilah & Break-fast 
6:30-7:15 pm

We close the day with the special Neilah service and gather outdoors to break the fast!

Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah

Friday, September 15, 8:00-9:15 pm
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

Welcome the new year with this musical service, featuring CDT musicians and Rabbi Toba. There is no childcare provided during this service, but all ages are welcome! Put on your dancing shoes and join us for an evening of wonderful music and time for reflection as we enter the new year.

English Readings
Rosh Hashanah Supplement

First Day Rosh Hashanah

Saturday, September 16

Morning Service 
9:30 am-12:30 pm
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

We begin with morning blessings and songs, followed by a Shacharit service that incorporates elements of the traditional Rosh Hashanah Musaf. The Torah service will begin a little after 11 am, followed by Rabbi Toba’s talk. At approximately 12:15 pm, we will welcome all of our kids into the sanctuary for a story with Rabbi Toba! We’ll gather for Kiddush and schmoozing following the service. Because it is Shabbat, we will not be hearing the shofar at this service; we will hear the shofar on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah.

English readings
Rosh Hashanah supplement

Family and Teen Services 
10:00 am-12:15 pm
Gann Academy 

Two family services begin at 10:00 am: One for kids aged 0-5 and their grown-ups, the other for 1st through 7th graders and their grown-ups. There is also a program for post-B'Mitzvah teens (8th grade and up) at 10:00 am — for a full schedule and description, please go to our Family & Teen Programming page. Childcare is provided at the end of these services, and kids are also welcome in the main sanctuary. We gather together as a full community at approximately 12:15 pm for a story with Rabbi Toba and the close of the service.


Second Day Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 17

Morning Service and Torah study
10:00 am-12:30 pm
Gann Academy & Livestreamed

All are welcome to join Rabbi Toba and CDT member Miriam Bronstein for a musical service featuring highlights of the Rosh Hashanah liturgy, sounding of the shofar, guided meditation, and text study. Note: There is no childcare available this morning.

English Readings
Rosh Hashanah Supplement
Text Study Sheet

Second Day Rosh Hashanah All-Ages Nature Walk Service
10:00-11:30 am
The Cove at Auburndale Cove*

All ages are invited to join CDT Educator and rabbinical student, Hannah Limov, for a Rosh Hashanah nature walk service. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birthday of the world. We will gather at the beautiful Auburndale Cove and celebrate the earth through prayer, movement, mindfulness, and community building. This program will include the blowing of the shofar and Tashlikh, when we cast off all of the obstacles to becoming our better selves.

**Location: Make sure to type in "The Cove" on West Pine St, Auburndale in your GPS to get to the correct part of the park; please park in the parking lot on West Pine Street. We will gather in the big field. Please wear walking shoes, and bug spray is also recommended.


Tashlikh Services
4:00 pm

We will gather outdoors for the Tashlikh ritual at three locations: Newton City Hall Pond, Jamaica Pond in JP, and the dock in Watertown Square. All ages welcome! Bring some beans or small stones to throw into the water as we cast off the obstacles to becoming our best selves.

Tue, October 3 2023 18 Tishrei 5784