High Holydays 2023/5784 - L'shanah Tovah!
Due to increased online security concerns, livestream links will no longer be available on the website. Links will be emailed tonall CDT members, and for non-members, to the address that was submitted as the primary email in your registration. If you do not see the email, please check your spam folder.
We enter into the Jewish new year the evening of Friday, September 15. We look forward to welcoming our members and guests to our High Holydays programs this year, both in person at Gann Academy and via livestreaming. In addition, there will be options for outdoor and Zoom programming on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Please see the menu to the right for more information about our High Holydays programming, and read on for information about registration and resources for home celebration. If you have questions, please email highholydays@dorsheitzedek.org.
Our current COVID guidelines include a strong recommendation that all who attend our service who are eligible be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, and we are "mask friendly" — masking is optional, but we will have masks available and welcome all who would prefer to remain masked. Please see our COVID guidelines for more information.
If you would like your own copy of the Reconstructionist machzor (High Holydays prayerbook), especially if you will be joining us via livestream, you can either purchase a new copy from Reconstructionist Press or purchase a used copy on Amazon. Alternatively, you may access an online PDF version here.
L’shanah tovah tikateivu and anyada buena, dulse, i alegre — may we all be written for a sweet and healthy new year!
Tickets and Payment
It costs us approximately $45,000 to bring our High Holyday services to the community (including rent, security, technology, children’s programming, additional staff, and food). While CDT adult membership includes attendance at High Holydays gratis, we request contributions for non-member partners, children of members, and close relatives, as well as our non-member guests. We are committed to ensuring that finances should never be a barrier to participation, and a sliding scale payment option is included on the High Holydays Registration Form.
Members and pre-registered guests will have a name tag awaiting you at Gann Academy. This name tag will serve as your "ticket" throughout High Holyday services. Please note that seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis — we expect that all seats will be filled.
If you are interested in membership at Dorshei Tzdek, please email our VPs of Membership, Carole Slipowitz and Marjorie Salvodon, for more information. If you attend High Holydays services and decide afterwards that you’d like to become a member, if you join by October 31, your High Holydays contribution will be credited towards your membership dues. More information about our dues structure can be found here.
Resources
Reconstructing Judaism's High Holidays Collection
Rosh Hashanah Home Rituals
- Erev Rosh Hashanah blessings — A PDF with the blessings over the candles, wine, apples, and honey
- An Apple & Eve Ritual for Rosh Hashanah — A short home ritual by CDT member Ben Newman to encourage us not to fix what Eve broke, but to continue and finish what Eve started, to know the good, and to act according to that knowledge in our lives.
- Rosh Hashanah Seder — Taking part in a seder on both nights of Rosh Hashanah is a rich tradition among Sephardim. This article by Ashkenazi/Reconstructionist Rabbi Barbara Penzner contains links to special blessings and readings for a Rosh Hashanah seder that you can do any time over the holiday. Read this article from the University of Washington's Sephardic Studies Digital Library to learn more about Sephardic Rosh Ashana customs.
- Tashlikh Ritual — If you'd like to do your own "casting away" in a body of water on Rosh Hashanah afternoon, you are welcome to print out this PDF for a do-it-yourself ritual!
Contact us
Please reach out to highholydays@dorsheitzedek.org, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Tue, October 3 2023
18 Tishrei 5784
Register to join us for the High Holydays!
Find all tickets/registration, Lulav/Etrog order, and member volunteer sign-up forms on our Forms page!
Registration for Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur closes on September 22 at 12:00 pm.