High Holidays

Service Schedule - Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah, Monday, September 22
6:45pm Service in the Sanctuary
6:47pm Candle Lighting

Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Tuesday, September 23
9:00am Service in the Sanctuary
10:00am Service in the Social Hall
10:00-10:45am Tot Service (newborn-Pre-K, accompanied by an adult)
10:00-11:30am School-Age Services (K-6th grade)
10:00am-12:30pm Tot Childcare, including a Tot Service (18mo-Pre-K)
11:30am-12:30pm Youth Childcare (K-6th Grade)
12:00-12:30pm Teen Program (7th-8th grade)
6:45pm Tashlich
7:43pm Candle Lighting
7:45pm Ma'ariv in the Sanctuary

Rosh Hashanah Day 2, Wednesday, September 24
9:00am Service in the Sanctuary
10:00-10:45am Tot Service (newborn-Pre-K, accompanied by an adult)
10:00-11:30am School-Age Services (K-6th grade)
10:00am-12:30pm Tot Childcare, including a Tot Service (18mo-Pre-K)
11:30am-12:30pm Youth Childcare (K-6th Grade)
12:00-12:30pm Teen Program (7th-8th grade)
7:42pm Havdalah Candle Lighting
7:45pm Ma'ariv in the Sanctuary

FAQ

When are the High Holidays?

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset Monday, September 22, 2025, and ends after sundown Wednesday, September 24, 2025. 

Yom Kippur begins at sunset Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and ends after sundown Thursday, October 2, 2025. 

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 early September. If you do not have your tickets by mid-September, 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 6:30pm 

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)                              All children attending Youth Services MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED
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.
Tot Service registration

School-Age Service registration

After Service Childcare (K-5th grade)
At the conclusion of Youth Services, all school-age children are invited to remain in the Youth Wing for childcare, from 11:30am-12:30pm. This supervised program includes snacks, games, and activities. New this year, there is no additional registration required for this program.

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.  We have hired a private security company to check everyone's ticket.

If you would like to sign up to assist ushering/greeting and monitoring doors for security, please sign up here or call Rochelle Goldberg in the office.

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 5786 together!
Shana Tova!

Youth Services & Childcare

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 Childcare for children 18mo-PreK ($20/child/day or $50 family max/day): Drop-off begins at 10am in the Youth Wing for pre-registered children. The morning will include supervised care, a Tot service specifically for children in the childcare program, snacks, and lots of fun! Children must be signed in and picked up by an adult listed by name on their registration. All care items (diaper bag, sippy cups, etc.) should be clearly labeled. Click Here to Register

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. Click Here To Register

School-Age Services for K-6th Grade: These services, held from 10:00-11:30am, include age appropriate activities, prayer, discussion and snack. PLEASE NOTE: All children registered for school-age Youth Services are invited to remain in the Youth Wing from 11:30am-12:30pm for our childcare program, with no additional registration required. The afternoon will include supervised care, snacks, and lots of fun! Please note that children must be picked up by an adult and cannot leave the Youth Wing without supervision. Click Here to Register

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. No registration is required.

High Holiday Readings and Resources

Pardes High Holiday Hub: Elevate your Elul and prepare for the High Holidays with Torah content from the Pardes faculty. Learn at your own leisure with a database of podcasts, articles, and videos featuring deep and accessible Torah.

Shalom Hartman Institute: The Shalom Hartman Institute is a leading research and educational center serving Israel and world Jewry. Visit their website for a variety of articles, podcasts, and other resources to deepen your holidays.

Hadar: Hadar's 5786 High Holiday Reader is a collection of essays and thought pieces that represent a variety of voices across the Jewish world, designed to inspire and engage.

JewBelong: JewBelong's mission is to help people find the joy, meaning and relevance that Judaism has to offer (you may know them from their pink and white billboards). Their High Holiday resources include a guide with thoughtful readings and pages that explain the rituals around the holidays in straightforward and sometimes humorous ways.

Exploring Judaism: Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism. Their Fall Holidays page has resources that explore everything from the month of Elul through Simchat Torah.

American Jewish World Service: Explore these AJWS resources to make your Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur even more meaningful with rituals and readings that inspire social change.

PJ Library: There's a whole world of flavors beyond apples and honey to celebrate the new year and PJ Library is here to guide you through tasty tour of a few of them. For even more great ideas for families throughout the holidays, check out A Time to Grow: A PJ Library Family Guide to the Fall Holidays.

Gateways: Browse and download free High Holiday resources for children and teens with disabilities and diverse learning needs, prepared by Gateways’ experienced special education teachers.

Moti's High Holiday Delivery

Groceries Delivery

Order deadline: Tuesday, September 16 at 6:00pm
Delivery: Thursday, September 18, at 4:00pm

Get everything you need for your Rosh HaShanah meals delivered to OT!  Orders must be placed by Tuesday, September 16, at 6:00pm. Orders will be delivered to Olam Tikvah on Thursday, September 18 at 4:00pm. To order, follow the instructions below:

1. Order online at motismarket.com. Before placing your order, please ensure that you or a friend will be available to meet the truck for pickup on Thursday, September 18 at 4:00pm.
2. Register as a new customer or log in as a returning customer.
3. Start shopping!
4. When prompted, select “pick up” at Olam Tikvah on Thursday, September 18.
5. If you need help placing your order, please call Moti's at 301-468-0400

Prepared Food

Order Deadline: Friday, September 12 at noon
Delivery: Sunday, September 21, at 12:00pm

Get everything you need for your Rosh HaShanah meals delivered to OT!  See their High Holiday menu here

Orders must be placed by Friday, September 12, at 5:00pm.

Orders will be delivered to Olam Tikvah on Sunday, September 21 at 12:00pm. 

Please Note: To place your prepared food order, you must email or call Moti's, online ordering is not available for prepared foods.

To order, email: foodorder@motismarket.com or call (301)822-4010

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 sins into a body of water.

Come together to perform this ritual at OT on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:45pm at the Olam Tikvah Creek. 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.

Food Drive for ECHO

Monday, August 25 - Wednesday, October 1

Donate throughout the month of Elul until Kol Nidre! This food drive supports Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO), which provides temporary and emergency assistance, including food, clothing, household items, transportation and financial support to about 1,000 families every year. Please bring one or more of the following most-needed items to help restock ECHO’s food pantry:

Canned tomatoes (paste, sauce, diced, etc)
Canned Meat (esp. Spam or Chicken)
Bagged beans (black, red or garbanzo)
Ketchup, Mayo or Mustard
Coffee (instant or ground)
Pancake Mix and Syrup
Muffin/Cornbread Mix
Lemon and Lime Juice
Milk products (canned, shelf stable, hot chocolate)
Spices (garlic, onion, cinnamon, salt, pepper)
Honey or Jam
Spaghetti Sauce
Bagged Rice
Boxed Pasta
Boxed Potatoes
Mac and Cheese
Masa (Corn) Flour
Juice bottles or boxes
Cooking Oil
Baked Beans
Lentils
Sardines
Sugar
Cereal
Crackers
Tortillas

Please keep in mind that the recipients are usually transient and do not have the ability to store bulk-size items. Thank you for your donations.