High Holidays 5781
On This Page:
FAQ | Service Schedule & Livestream | Tot & Youth Experiences | Kol Nidre Food Drive | Shofar in Your Neighborhood | Tashlich
While every day is important and must be cherished, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are particularly special holidays that bring us together (physically and through the miracle of screens) 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 a terrifying pandemic, 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 5781 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
FAQ
Do I need a password to watch the services online?
No! All of our High Holiday services will be livestreamed at olamtikvah.org/livestream for free and without a password. Feel free to share this information with family or friends who would like to be part of the OT services. If you would like to make a contribution in appreciation of these virtual services, please click here to donate.
Can I attend services in person at OT?
Those who have chosen to attend High Holiday services in-person have already received their assignments. For the health and safety of our community, we are unable to take walk-ins. If you decided to stay home this year, we hope you will join us via livestream. If you are unsure if you are signed up for a service, please contact the office ASAP. Additional information about in-person service guidelines will be sent separately to all those signed up to attend.
We are happy to give you the opportunity to attend our 30 minute Erev Rosh Hashanah service on Friday, September 17 at 6:45pm to welcome the High Holidays. Advance sign up is required. Please click here to sign up for the Erev Rosh Hashanah service.
Can I still borrow a machzor?
Yes! We have a limited number of machzorim (High Holiday prayer books) available to borrow. Limit 3 per household. Email Erin Dreyfuss with your request. You can pick up your machzor in the OT office on the following dates:
Wednesday, September 16, 9:00am-3:00pm
Thursday, September 17, 9:00am-3:00pm
If you need to arrange pickup outside of those dates/times, please email Rochelle Goldberg.
How can I hear the shofar?
There are multiple opportunities to hear the shofar in person and via livestream.
Rosh Hashanah Day 2, Sunday, September 20
4:15pm Shofar Livestream
5:00pm Shofar in Your Neighborhood
Yom Kippur, Monday, September 28
Approx 7:50pm Final Shofar Livestream
What about the Yizkor Book?
Yizkor will be part of both the 8:30am and 1:00pm Yom Kippur day service, so you can watch the livestream for either service to participate. The Yizkor service is in our machzor on page 290. The OT Yizkor book contains additional prayers and the names of our loved ones. If you would like a copy at home:
1. Click here to download the Yizkor book, or
2. Pick up a book from OT the week of September 21, (limited quantity available) Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00am-3:00pm or Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm
Books will be distributed on Yom Kippur day for those attending in-person Yom Kippur services.
What youth resources are available?
Throughout the High Holidays, Olam Tikvah will offer a variety of options for kids of all ages to engage in prayer, song, discussion, and learning, including livestream and on demand experiences, and printable materials to help you engage your kids. Visit olamtikvah.org/HHyouth
Service Schedule and Livestream
Those who have chosen to attend High Holiday services in-person have already received their assignments. For the health and safety of our community, we are unable to take walk-ins. If you decided to stay home this year, we hope you will join us via livestream. If you are unsure if you are signed up for a service, please contact the office ASAP. Additional information about in-person service guidelines has been sent separately to all those signed up to attend.
Erev Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 18
6:45pm Service In Person & Livestream*
6:55pm Candle Lighting
Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Saturday, September 19
8:30am Service In Person & Livestream
12:00pm Youth Experience Livestream
1:00pm Service In Person & Livestream
7:54pm Candle Lighting
Rosh Hashanah Day 2, Sunday, September 20
8:30am Service In Person & Livestream
12:00pm Youth Experience Livestream
1:00pm Service In Person & Livestream
4:15pm Shofar Livestream
5:00pm Shofar in Your Neighborhood (click here to learn more)
Erev Yom Kippur, Sunday, September 27
10:00am Drive Thru Food Drive (click here to learn more)
6:30pm Kol Nidre In Person & Livestream
6:41pm Candle Lighting
Yom Kippur, Monday, September 28
8:30am Service In Person & Livestream
12:00pm Youth Experience Livestream
1:00pm Service In Person & Livestream
5:45pm Mincha/Neilah In Person & Livestream
Approx 7:50pm Final Shofar In Person & Livestream
*Limited in person attendance at the Erev Rosh Hashanah service is available by advance registration. Click here to sign up.
Tot & Youth Experiences
Throughout the High Holidays, Olam Tikvah will offer a variety of options for kids of all ages to engage in prayer, song, discussion, and learning. We will also provide a variety of printable materials on the OT website to help kids engage in OT’s streaming services. Check back here for more content coming soon!
Click here for youth experiences and resources
Kol Nidre Food Drive
Drive thru and donate to support ECHO!
Sunday, September 27, 10:00am-12:00pm
Hel
p restock ECHO's food pantry on Kol Nidre morning. Drop off food and supplies in the OT parking lot. Please bring one or more of the following most-needed items. Please keep in mind that recipients are usually transient and do not have the ability to store large quantities.
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Tortillas
Salsa
BBQ Sauce
Instant Potatoes (Box)
Soup
Crackers
Beans
Salad Dressing
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Dry Pasta (please no spaghetti)
Canned/Bottled Juice
Coffee/Tea
Laundry Detergent
Cleaning Supplies
Children’s Summer Clothes
New Socks (all sizes)
Children’s Tennis Shoes & Sandals
New Underwear (all sizes)
Want to do more? Volunteer to drive the food we collect to ECHO. Drop off dates are flexible following Yom Kippur. Erin Dreyfuss will coordinate a time for you to pick up food from OT to drive to ECHO at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. ECHO is open daily 9:30am-12:30pm and Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7:00-9:00pm. Click here to volunteer.
Shofar in Your Neighborhood
Shofar in Your Neighborhood Drive In
Sunday, September 20, 5:00pm, around Northern Virginia
Hear the shofar in person on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Members of Olam Tikvah will blow shofar in different locations around Northern Virginia. This is a "drive in" event. Please park, roll down your windows to hear the shofar, and remain in your car to practice physical distancing and respect the public spaces in which we are gathering. Please note, the buildings will not be open for indoor access.
Locations:
Congregation Olam Tikvah parking lot (3800 Glenbrook Rd, Fairfax, VA 22031)
Gesher Jewish Day School parking lot (4800 Mattie Moore Ct, Fairfax, VA 22030)
Pohick Regional Library parking lot (6450 Sydenstricker Rd Burke, VA 22015)
Madison High School front parking lot near door 1 (2500 James Madison Dr, Vienna, VA 22181)
Centreville Regional Library parking lot (14200 St. Germain Dr, Centreville, VA, 20121)
Tashlich
Learn more about Tashlich from Rabbi Kalender below.
Click here to download the two-page PDF of the Tashlich service. Tashlich may be performed at any point between the second day of Rosh Hashanah on Sunday, September 20 through the end of Sukkot at Hoshanah Rabbah on Friday, October 9. We invite you to come to the creek just past Olam Tikvah in small groups anytime during the holiday season.
We have prepared the creek with a mulched path from the end of Glenbrook Road to the creek bed. Due to the limited area at the site, we ask you to avoid coming with a large group, and if you arrive at the creek while someone else is there for Tashlich, please maintain physical distance and let them complete the ritual before you proceed.
