High Holydays Family & Teen Programming
We have a wonderful team of service leaders, youth musicians and songleaders, and childcare professionals providing youth and family programming for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. On each holiday there will be a family service for children ages 0-seventh grade and their families. We also have a teen program for our post-B'Mitzvah-aged members.
In order to ensure we have enough staff to provide childcare for all who need it, you must preregister kids and teens — you can register your kids here.
Childcare is provided after the Family Service, enabling parents to join the main service for the Torah service and Rabbi Toba's talk. Childcare will include a hardy snack and activities connected with High Holyday themes. On Yom Kippur, childcare will also be provided in the evening starting at Mincha.
Like last year, the Beit Midrash room will be open after the Children's services for families who have trouble finding seats together in the main room or need an environment with flexibility to move around. This space is adjacent to the main room with a 20 by 30 foot screen available to watch the service live stream.
Please read on for details!
Rosh Hashanah
First Day Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, October 3
Rosh Hashanah Family Service (ages 0-seventh grade)
10:00-11:00 am
Gann Academy
Families are invited to an interactive Rosh Hashanah celebration. Director of Congregational Learning R' Beck Epstein will lead services along with CDT bands and youth tefilah (Jewish prayer) leaders. There will be movement, song, stories, and opportunities to reflect on the new year. Childcare will be available after the service and will conclude with kids joining adults in the main service for a story with Rabbi Toba.
Rosh Hashanah Teen Program
10:00-11:00 am
Gann Academy
Post-B'Mitzvah teens are invited to reconnect with their Dorshei Tzedek community at our Rosh Hashanah teen program. Join CDT educator and rabbinical student Yoni Slater to connect with other teens and explore High Holyday themes.
Second Day Rosh Hashanah
Friday, October 4
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 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 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.
Yom Kippur
Kol Nidre
Friday, October 11
Kol Nidre Children's Program
6:45-8:30 pm
Gann Academy
After hearing the chanting of Kol Nidre, children will be invited to a join CDT Religious School parent and educator Rabbi Emily Mathis for a program 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
Yom Kippur Family Service (ages 0-seventh grade)
10:00-11:00 am
Gann Academy
Families are invited to for an interactive Yom Kippur Service. Director of Congregational Learning R' Beck Epstein will lead services along with CDT bands and youth tefilah (Jewish prayer) leaders. There will be movement, song, stories, and opportunities to reflect on Yom Kippur themes. Childcare will be available after the service and will conclude with kids joining adults in the main service for a story with Rabbi Toba.
Yom Kippur Teen Program
10:00-11:00 am
Gann Academy
Post-B'Mitzvah teens are invited to reconnect with their Dorshei Tzedek community at our Yom Kippur teen program. Join CDT educator and rabbinical student Yoni Slater to connect with other teens and explore High Holyday themes.
High Holyday Leaders 5786
Rabbi Beck Epstein (they/them)
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Family Service Leader | Second Day Rosh Hashanah Nature Service Leader
Rabbi Beck graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in May 2025. They grew up in Lincoln, MA between the Reform & Conservative movements, and their Judaism bears the unmistakable marks of their east coast Transcendentalist upbringing, as well as an Irish Celtic sense of magic and mischief that they get from their mother's side. Beck loves davening, song, and all things Torah. Prior to rabbinical school, Beck worked for 10+ years in community mental health, focusing on a range of issues in the LGBTQ community, from domestic violence and sexual assault, to primary care medicine and aging and older adult community. When Beck is not working, they love to do crosswords, read aloud, and spend time in the woods with their sweet and boisterous Bernese mountain dog named Me'od (Hebrew for "much" or "a lot").
Yoni Slater (they/them)
Teen Program Leader
Yoni grew up attending Camp Havaya as a camper and spent 3 summers on staff and they are looking forward to joining the CDT community. Originally from Evanston, IL, Yoni has been living in the Boston area since receiving their BA in Psychology and Peace Studies from GW in Washington, DC in 2022. They've spent the past year and a half working as the MA organizer for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and are beginning their first year at Hebrew College this fall. Yoni lives in Brighton with their partner Hilary and cat Lester.
Rabbi Emily Mathis (she/her)
Kol Nidre Children's Program Leader
Rabbi Emily has served communities across much of the Jewish spectrum, most recently in Cambridge and on Boston’s North Shore. Prior to her work in Jewish settings, Emily directed programming in the fields of environmental education, urban gardening and family literacy. In addition to her rabbinic work, she is a family herbalist, and can generally be found in the kitchen working on her next project and drinking coffee. She and her spouse, Hali Diecidue, live in West Newton with their three girls (24, 14, and 8) and one labradoodle.