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 where a tiny human has 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. Education Director Earnest Arky Solomon 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 Hannah Limov (they/she) 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 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 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 puppet show with 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
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. Education Director Earnest Arky Solomon 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 Hannah Limov (they/she) to connect with other teens and explore High Holyday themes.
High Holyday Leaders 5785
Earnest Arky Solomon (he/they)
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Family Service Leader
Earnest Arky Solomon is honored to be the Education Director and is eager to support CDT in creating inclusive, meaningful, and justice oriented Jewish learning opportunities. In addition to working at CDT, Earnest is a SVARA Teaching Kollel fellow, which equips trans and queer teachers to lead empowering Talmud learning communities. Earnest received an M.A. in Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union and a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley. Earnest draws on his education to create learning experiences rooted in history, storytelling, cultural arts, and social justice. Prior to moving East, Earnest ran an outdoor Jewish religious school in the Oakland Redwoods and a Jewish farming program at URJ Camp Newman. Earnest is married to Emma Arky Solomon and they enjoy playing board games, studying Torah, spending time with their two cats, and working to build a more equitable world.
Hannah Limov (they/she)
Teen Program Leader and Second Day Rosh Hashanah Nature Service Leader
Hannah is deeply excited to be joining the CDT community for the High Holydays and throughout the year as the 6th grade Sunday teacher. They are a second year rabbinical student at Hebrew College, having spent the past 8 years living and working in western North Carolina in a variety of social work positions and at various synagogues. She received her BA in Environmental Studies and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder and their MSW from Western Carolina University. They believe that Judaism holds powerful wisdom for healing our hearts, minds, and the world; and loves to adventure in the woods, dig their hands into soil tending to plant babies, sing off key with friends, and cuddle her extremely adorable and weird kitties Lily and Padfoot.