Sign In Forgot Password
Home

High Holydays Detailed Service Information 5784

Detailed Service Information and Schedule 5785

We gather for in-person services at Gann Academy, located at 333 Forest St, Waltham, MA 02452 as well as a Zoom livestream of our main services with closed captioning. We offer options for outdoor programming and interactive Zoom programming on Yom Kippur afternoon, family and teen services on Yom Kippur morning, and a children’s program for Kol Nidre. A full schedule of family and teen programming and details about child care can be found at the link to the right. Please read on for more information about all of our High Holydays programs! Members will receive Zoom links via email; for non-members, you must register for services in order to receive the Zoom links.

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

Yom Kippur Supplement

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidre

Friday, October 11, 6:30-8:30 pm

Kol Nidre Service
Gann Academy and Zoom

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


Kol Nidre Children's Program
Gann Academy 

After hearing the chanting of Kol Nidre, children are invited to a special puppet show with storyteller Anna Sobel connected to the themes of the holiday, followed by childcare. The children’s program is geared toward children 6-years-old and older.


Yom Kippur Day

Saturday, October 12

Morning service
9:30 am-12:30 pm 
Gann Academy and Zoom

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

Family and Teen Services
10:00-11:00 am
Gann Academy

Family services for children ages 0-seventh grade and their families begin at 10:00 am. 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 12:30 pm for a story with Rabbi Toba and the close of the service.

Musaf
12:40-1:30 pm
Gann Academy and Zoom

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 
12:40pm

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

Communal Sing with Rikki Morrow-Spitzer & Rabbi Toba
2:30-3:00 pm

All are invited to join Rikki Morrow-Spitzer, director of CDT Sings, and Rabbi Toba for an opportunity to join together in communal song that requires no musical or Hebrew knowledge and does not involve written music. We will nourish our spirits by exploring harmony and connecting through song.

Poetry Sharing with Jo Radner & Josette Akresh-Gonzales
3:00-4:00 pm 

Join CDT members Jo Radner, Josette Akresh-Gonzales, and other Andre Sofer as we read original poetry related to the themes of the High Holydays. A brief discussion of each poem will follow, and attendees are encouraged to bring original or favorite poems by any author on a theme related to the High Holydays  to read and discuss. 

Tai Chi/Qigong with Peter Wayne
4:00-4:40 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)

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, and Neilah
5:00pm-7:00 pm
Gann Academy and Zoom

We gather again in our main "sanctuary" at Gann and on livestream for the closing programs and services of the day. Child care resumes at 5pm.

5:00pm  Mincha - Conversation with Ms. Angie Jefferson of Families for Justice as Healing. Angie will share with us about her own journey of incarceration and release, and a vision for new new models of community safety and flourishing beyond incarceration.

5:50pm  Eleh Ezekereh - In this remembrance service, we will take time to mourn the lives lost in Israel and Gaza since October 7, as well as remembering loved ones who have passed away.

Eleh Ezkereh Readings

6:25pm  Neilah & Break-fast - We close the day with the special Neilah service (bring your shofar for the Tekidah Gedolah!) and a communal break-fast. 

Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday, October 2, 8:00-9:30 pm
Gann Academy and Zoom

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.
 

First Day Rosh Hashanah

Thursday, October 3

Morning Service 
9:30 am-12:30 pm
Gann Academy and Zoom

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 and the shofar service! We’ll gather for Kiddush and schmoozing following the service.

Family and Teen Services 
10:00 am-11:00am
Gann Academy 

Family services for children ages 0-seventh grade and their families begins at 10:00 am. 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.
 

Tashlikh Services
4:30 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.


Second Day Rosh Hashanah

Friday, October 4

Morning Service and Torah study
10:00 am-12:30 pm
CDT Sanctuary and Zoom

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

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

Rosh Hashanah Supplement

Text Study

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

Fri, May 9 2025 11 Iyyar 5785