High Holidays

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Tickets | FAQ | Service Schedule | Youth Services | Food Deliveries | Tashlich | Food Drive | Fasting

While every day is important and must be cherished, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are particularly special holidays that bring us together as friends, family, community, and as the Jewish people. It’s a time of introspection and renewal as we consider and strengthen our bonds to God and to each other. In the face of an extraordinarily challenging world, our sacred liturgy guides us to identify and celebrate the numerous blessings in our lives. Simultaneously, we commit ourselves to look for ways to better ourselves and our world in the year ahead. As individuals and a blessed community, we pray that 5784 will be a year of peace, strength, love, hope, compassion, forgiveness, health, and joy.

Shanah Tovah u’Metukah—a good and sweet year,

Rabbi David Kalender
Rabbi Viki Bedo

FAQ

When are the High Holidays?

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset Friday, September 15, 2023, and ends after sundown Sunday, September 17, 2023. 

Yom Kippur begins at sunset Sunday, September 24, 2023, and ends after sundown Monday, September 25, 2023. 

How do I attend services for the High Holidays?

Every person attending must have their own ticket to enter the building for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.

Tickets will be mailed to each member household in mid-late August. If you do not have your tickets by Labor Day, please call the office. Accounts must be in good standing in order to receive tickets. Information on guest tickets, non-member tickets, and reciprocity is available here.

What time are services?

Click here for all of our service times

Where are the services being held?

Services will be held in both the Sanctuary upstairs and the Social Hall downstairs. All services in the Sanctuary will be available via livestream. There are no reserved seats in either location.

Will the services be the same upstairs and downstairs?

The services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur day are the same in both locations with the exception of P’seukei D’Zimra (the introductory service). The service in the Sanctuary will begin at 9:00am. The Social Hall service will begin at 10:00am with Shacharit (it does not include P’seukei D’Zimra). The rabbi will give the same sermon in both locations.

The Kol Nidre service will begin at 6:40pm in both the Sanctuary and Social Hall. The Sanctuary will feature the traditional Kol Nidre service, filled with the beautiful melodies and prayers that have linked one generation to the next for over a thousand years. This service, with the chanting of Kol Nidre and full Ma’ariv (evening) service will inspire us with a sense of holiness, awe and kavanah (mindful intention) as the sun goes down and Yom Kippur begins. The Social Hall will include the traditional recitation of the Kol Nidre prayer at the beginning of the service to set the tone for the evening, followed by “Kavana for Communal Confession: A Contemplative Kol Nidre Service.” This introspective, alternative Kol Nidrei service will revolve around the theme of collective confession, fostering a sense of communal solidarity and spiritual renewal. The service in the Social Hall will finish in time for everyone to go upstairs to the Sanctuary for the sermon.

Will there be a masked-only section?

We will continue to maintain a masked-only section in both the Sanctuary and the Social hall for the High Holidays. As always, thank you for your patience and understanding as people continue to figure out what feels right. There will be signage indicating which sections are masked-only in both locations.

What is there for children during the holidays?

All services and childcare options are located in the Youth Wing. All childcare ends at 12:30pm. Parents must pick up children in the Youth Wing at 12:30pm irrespective of what is happening in the community services. Children will not be released without an adult. 

Tot Childcare (18mo-Pre-K)
Who: 18 months-Pre-K
What: Offered on Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & 2, Yom Kippur Day. Will include the tot holiday service (see below Youth Service information) 
Where: Youth Wing (follow signs upon arrival)
When: 10:00am-12:30pm. Check in begins at 9:45am.
How: Register and pay for childcare here.

Youth Services (newborn-6th grade)
Who: Tot (parents must attend with children newborn-Pre-K); School-Age (K-6th Grade)
What: Offered on Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & 2, Yom Kippur day. 
Where: Youth Wing 
When: The Tot service is from 10:00-10:45am. School-Age services are from 10:00-11:30am.
How: Tot Service registration; School-Age Service registration

After Service Childcare (K-5th grade)
Children MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED here (suggested donation $18). Childcare follows the Youth services from 11:30am-12:30pm.

Teens (7th-8th grade)
Our teens attend the community services in the Sanctuary and Social Hall and then we have a special teen experience from 12:00-12:30pm in the Youth Lounge on Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & 2 and Yom Kippur.

What book do we use?

We use the Machzor Lev Shalem. Books will be available at the entrance to each service.

Will the service be available on the livestream?

All services from the Sanctuary will be livestreamed at olamtikvah.org/livestream

What security will be in place?

As you approach the building from the parking lot to the Main Lobby entrance, you will see security personnel on site. When you get to the entrance at the Main Lobby, you should have your ticket out and ready to show.

Where can I park?

You can park in the Olam Tikvah parking lot. When the lot is full, you may also park at the Pozez JCC. There will be shuttle buses running between the JCC and Olam Tikvah on a constant cycle throughout the morning and then again at the end of services to take people back to the JCC. DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASS AT OLAM TIKVAH. DO NOT PARK ON GLENBROOK ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO CURB, OR IN FRONT OF DRIVEWAYS OR MAILBOXES. The police may ticket for illegal parking in any location.

I have more questions.

For additional questions, please email info@olamtikvah.org.

We look forward to starting 5784 together!
Shana Tova!

Youth Services & Childcare

• Childcare registration deadline: Thursday, August 17 THE CHILDCARE DEADLINE HAS PAST AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
• Tot and School-Age Service registration deadline: Thursday, September 7

Olam Tikvah is proud to offer age-appropriate services and programs for children newborn-8th grade, and childcare for children 18 months-5th grade. Please register your child(ren) below for Youth services and childcare.

Tot Service for Newborn-Pre-K and Adults: This service, held from 10:00-10:45am, is designed for our youngest children to celebrate the holidays. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This service is meant for families who are not registered for childcare. Children pre-enrolled in Tot Childcare will enjoy a Tot service during childcare.

School-Age Services for K-6th Grade: These services, held from 10:00-11:30am, include age appropriate activities, prayer, discussion and snack. Children (K-5th grade) pre-enrolled in Youth childcare will be escorted to childcare by care providers after the services. All other children must be picked up by an adult at 11:30am.

Teen High Holiday Program for 7th-8th Grade: This program meets on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur from 12:00-12:30pm, and includes discussion, an interactive activity and a small snack.

Childcare is available for children 18 months - 5th grade (fees apply for ages 18mo-Pre-K). Pre-registration for childcare is required.

Register for Tot Services (newborn-Pre-K) and Childcare (18 months-Pre-K)

Register for School-Age and Teen Services (K-8th grade) and Youth Childcare (K-5th grade)

Tashlich

Tashlich is traditionally performed on Rosh Hashanah, though it may be performed at any point between Rosh Hashanah through the end of Sukkot at Hoshanah Rabbah. Tashlich means "to cast away" and the ritual reminds us of the power of teshuvah and God's forgiveness. Join us for this meaningful ritual as we symbolically cast away our sings into a body of water.

Come together to perform this ritual at OT. Park at OT, then turn left on Glenbrook Road to the dead end before the turn into the cul de sac. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes to walk on a mulched path to the stream.

While one traditionally tosses bread into the water, we encourage you to use eco-friendly items, such as mulch or pebbles.

Doing Tashlich on your own? You can perform the ritual of Tashlich at any stream or body of water. Click here to download some verses to help you perform this ritual.

Fasting & Breaking the Fast

It is a mitzvah to enjoy a festive meal prior to the fast. The meal is eaten before the holiday begins and therefore there is no kiddush. There are no requirements for this meal. It should be something filling to help you get through the fast ahead. Be sure to stay hydrated the day before the fast.

Want some recipe ideas? Check out Jamie Geller's 5 Best Foods to Eat Before a Fast.

Not fasting? There are a number of reasons one might not fast on Yom Kippur, and still observe the holiday. Read this meditation for those who cannot fast.