High Holy Day Schedule
Our High Holiday services for 5787 will take place in our sanctuary on the beautiful grounds of the Woodstock Jewish Congregation.
How to attend
For security purposes and due to space restrictions, in-person attendance for High Holy Day services —except for 2nd day Rosh Hashanah and Ne’ilah — will be limited to members (included in membership dues), their guests (for an additional fee), and our “Friends of the WJC” (for an additional fee). If you are not a member and would like to attend our High Holy Day services,
Please consider joining….or become a Friend of the WJC HERE.
All are welcome to join us ONLINE for all of our services (REGISTER HERE FOR ZOOM LINK) or in person for 2nd day Rosh Hashanah and the closing Yom Kippur Ne’ilah service.
*Renewed 26/27 members may register HERE!*
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES & PROGRAMS:
~Yom Kippur~
Kol Nidrei
Sunday, September 20, 7pm ET (IN PERSON AND ONLINE)
Co-led by Rabbi Karen Levine and Hazzan Raechel Rosen
The evening before Yom Kippur is called Kol Nidrei. It is named for the powerful prayer that begins the Yom Kippur evening service. This prayer focuses on promises made and promises yet-to-be-made and moves us to consider how our decisions at this season help shape the direction of our lives and our relationships. Our Kol Nidrei service will set a meaningful tone for the Yom Kippur prayer, and reflection, that we will share on this holiest of days.
Yom Kippur Day
Monday, September 21, 10am ET (IN PERSON AND ONLINE)
Co-led by Rabbi Karen Levine and Hazzan Raechel Rosen.
This service will feature classical prayers and melodies as we engage in the work of communal and individual t’shuvah (returning) and will include the Yizkor (memorial) service.
Download Makhzor HERE Download Book of Remembrance
Yom Kippur Afternoon Programs
Yom Kippur Afternoon 1st Program, 2:30pm, Teshuvah Circle with Hazzan Raechel (IN PERSON ONLY) Meet outside (weather permitting)
Yom Kippur Afternoon 2nd Program, 3:30pm: MAKING AMENDS: A discussion with Rabbi Ellen Triebwasser (IN PERSON ONLY). Meet in the sanctuary.
This is the time of year when we are encouraged to revisit the sometimes painful memories of times when we may have hurt another person and offer them an apology.
What makes a good apology, one that leaves both people satisfied? What are the different ways a person who receives the apology could react? Must the person who is apologized to always offer forgiveness?
Using lessons from the book On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, we will discuss repentance, repair, amends, and accountability, based on Jewish tradition, specifically in the words of Maimonides, the twelfth-century philosopher, whose work speaks to issues that seem everlasting in human relationships.
Yom Kippur Afternoon 3rd Program, 4:30pm: Exploring the Book of Jonah with Julie Makowski (IN PERSON ONLY). Meet in the library.
Ne’ilah
Monday, September 21, 6pm ET (IN PERSON AND ONLINE)
Co-led by Rabbi Karen Levine and Hazzan Raechel Rosen
The High Holy Days conclude with the uplifting service of Ne’ilah. During this service, when the gates of prayer are said to be “closing,” we move from the solemn spirit of Yom Kippur to the promise of renewal for the year ahead. This year we are excited to gather after services for a potluck community break fast! Please bring a dish (vegetarian/dairy/fish) to share!
Children’s Programming
Rosh Hashanah First Day- 11am
Yom Kippur Day- 11am
Family Service with Elissa Weinzimmer
*All children ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult*
The services will go for an hour, after which children will join us in the main sanctuary. If you are in need of a babysitter for the remainder of the services, reach out to admin@wjcshul.org
High Holy Day Food Drive
As has been our practice, the WJC will collect food at our Yom Kippur services to support Family of Woodstock, with bags handed out during Rosh Hashanah. For those in our community joining us remotely we ask that you donate cash or food directly to Family of Woodstock (https://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org/donate/) or any organization that provides food for those in need.
Especially needed are: peanut butter, jelly/jam, tuna, rice, flour, shampoo, snack food, cookies, coffee/tea, toilet paper, mayonnaise, laundry detergent, cereal, soup, sugar, toothpaste, veggies, baby food, disposable razors, mustard, tomato sauce, shelf stable milk, juice, cooking oil, feminine hygiene products, crackers, hot cocoa, and hand soap.
Looking for Some Wonderful Volunteers:
Every year, it takes a village of volunteers, lay-leaders, and staff to make High Holy Days happen. This year is no different! There are several ways that you can be helpful and every hand and heart makes a difference! To offer your help, please sign up: HERE
REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND ONLINE
Online services
We are delighted to welcome our members and extended community to join our sanctuary services via Zoom. Please register HERE to receive the Zoom access link. This will help us ensure that our Zoom account has capacity for everyone and that whatever holy ground you are on, you feel connected. NOTE that we ARE NOT sharing prayer slides on Zoom this year.
If you are joining us online you may wish to read this guide:
CREATE A SANCTUARY SPACE IN YOUR HOME
Sukkot Celebrations
September 25 – October 3
*Everyone is welcome to bring a meal to enjoy in our sukkah throughout the holiday
Erev Sukkot and Shabbat service, with oneg in the Sukkah
Friday, September 25, 6pm ET. Come early to help decorate!
Sukkot Festival and Shabbat service with potluck lunch in the Sukkah
Saturday, September 26, 10am ET (In person and online)
Shmini Atzeret Festival and Shabbat service with Yizkor Service
Saturday, October 3, 10am ET (In person and online)
Simchat Torah with Klezmer Berl’s Hotsie Totsie Orkestra
Saturday, October 3, 6pm ET (In person and online)