High Holy Days 5771
High Holy Days Preparation
About our Services & Programs
Service Schedule
Click here to access the Ticket Order Form for Temple Isaiah Members
Click here to access the Ticket Order Form for Non-Members
Let us prepare together…
CLERGY-LED STUDY SESSIONS
Letting Go of Anger: A Mystical Perspective on the High Holy Days with Rabbi Arthur Green
Thursday, August 12, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
Launching us on our preparation for the High Holy Days Rabbi Art Green, one of the great teachers of our generation, will guide us in new ways of thinking about these days applying the best of Jewish theology and the mystical traditions.
We are privileged to welcome Rabbi Green as our teacher. He is recognized as one of the world’s preeminent authorities on Jewish thought and spirituality, “a worthy heir to Abraham Joshua Heschel,” says Dr. Arnold Eisen, head of the Jewish Theological Seminar.
Rabbi Green is a professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hebrew College in Newton Centre, Massachusetts and is Professor Emeritus at Brandeis University. Previously, he taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where he served as Dean and President from 1984 to 1993. A prolific author, Dr. Green has published Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2002) and A Guide to the Zohar (Stanford University, 2003); his next book, Radical Judaism, is scheduled for publication by Yale University Press in 2010. He lectures widely at universities and Jewish communities throughout North America, as well as in Israel, where he visits each year. Dr. Green received his BA and PhD from Brandeis and an MHL and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Kol Nidre: A Closer Look with Rabbi Nicki Greninger
Tuesday, August 17, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
Kol Nidre, an evocative and emotional piece of liturgy, is perhaps the most famous “prayer” recited during the High Holy Days. In this study session, we will spend time examining Kol Nidre: the text itself, how it came to be part of the High Holy Days, controversies surrounding its recitation, and why it became such an important part of High Holy Day services.
Deciphering the Shofar Service: How Jews View God in the World with Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
Tuesday, August 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
Looking at the traditional texts in each of the three sections of the Shofar Service we will seek to understand how the liturgy helps us at a time of repentance.
The Sounds of the High Holy Days with Cantor Leigh Korn
Tuesday, August 31, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
One of the hallmarks of the High Holy Days is the music. It contributes to the grandeur and majesty of the holiday. Because most of the melodies are unique to these holidays, they can be hard to remember from one year to the next. Now is your chance to brush up on these special tunes and melodies and begin to prepare for this holy season. In this session, we will talk about the music and liturgy for the high holy days and, most importantly, we will learn the melodies that will facilitate your prayer. This is a participatory, sing-along session.
S’LICHOT (PENETENTIAL PRAYERS) LATE-NIGHT SERVICE AND STUDY SESSION
Saturday, September 4
9:00 p.m. Study Session, 10:00 p.m. Dessert Reception, 11:00 p.m. Service
We enter the contemplative, introspective mood of the High Holy Days during our late-night prayers of the Slichot (“petitions”) Service. To prepare ourselves for our Slichot worship, we will study together the themes of our Holy Days: self-judgment, remorse, forgiveness, repentance, atonement—at-one-ment—returning to our best selves and returning to the Holy One of Israel. Join us for a chance to greet each other, to study and to pray together on this holy night.
GRAVESIDE GATHERING OF PRAYER AND REMEMBRANCE
Sunday, September 5
10:00 a.m. at Isaiah Garden at Oakmont Memorial Park
11:00 a.m. at Gan Shalom Cemetery
We will join together at the cemetery for a ceremony of remembrance led by our clergy, which will be followed by private time to visit the graves of our loved ones.
Let us pray together…
IN OUR TEMPLE ISAIAH SANCTUARY
We join together as a community to find new meaning in the Reform liturgy, sing traditional High Holy Day music with our Cantor and Choir, take time for personal reflection and repentance, and challenge ourselves with contemporary messages of Torah through our Rabbis’ sermons. On Erev Rosh HaShanah, we will pray as one community at one evening service, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The sermon given at this service is offered only in the evening. The sermon for the morning services will be given at both morning services.
FAMILY SERVICES AT LAFAYETTE ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
49 Knox Drive in Lafayette
Rabbi Alissa Forrest, Rabbi Nicki Greninger and songleader Joel Siegel will lead interactive morning services for grade school children accompanied by parents and/or grandparents. Experience High Holy Day themes through storytelling, guitar music and age-appropriate discussions. PARENTS AND OLDER CHILDREN: Join us for evening services at Temple Isaiah on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur to experience the grandeur of services, sermons, and the power of praying with our entire community in our own sanctuary.
TOT SERVICES: HIGH HOLY DAYS FOR LITTLE ONES, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
Contra Costa Jewish Day School HaMakom (on TI Campus)
Come with your youngest children (0 - 5) for a High Holy Day experience planned just for them! Hear the Shofar blasts, sing songs and prayers with the themes of the World’s Birthday, Saying I’m Sorry, What’s New in the New Year and more. Tot services will take place in the Contra Costa Jewish Day School building on the Temple Isaiah campus. No tickets required for this service.
TEEN SERVICES AND HIGH HOLY DAY PROGRAM DURING SECOND SERVICE
Led by Rabbi Alissa Forrest, Dan Lange, our Youth Director, and Temple Isaiah’s teens, this program for 8th-12th graders will include services and informal programming emphasizing the themes of the High Holy Days. We will come together as a community of young people to study, reflect, pray and socialize. Additional information will be sent to Temple Isaiah’s teens.
TASHLICH (CASTING OUR SINS INTO THE WATER) ON ROSH HASHANAH AFTERNOON
During Tashlich, we symbolically “cast out” our sins into a body of water. Tashlich will be held on Thursday, September 9, at 3:00 p.m. We will meet at the east end of the Lafayette Reservoir parking lot.
YIZKOR SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE ON YOM KIPPUR
“May God remember…” With these words we bring to mind the sacred names and memories of all who were close to us – grandparents, parents, friends and relatives. By preserving their memories, we resolve to continue the tasks they bequeathed to us. The Yizkor service is an act of faith that their goodness does not die, but exists in the memory of those who remain alive. Yizkor emphasizes the transience of life and reminds us to use our brief time in this world to perform acts of righteousness. Memory is the sacred link between past and future, between time and eternity. In our community, all are encouraged to be part of Yizkor so that as a community we can remember those whose lives have been a blessing to our people and all humanity. This year we return to the format of including Yizkor following the morning Yom Kippur services.
NEILAH SERVICES ON YOM KIPPUR
As the shadows fall on Yom Kippur we come together as a community to strengthen each other through the last hours of repentance and reflection. In this moving service, appropriate for all ages, we pray, remember and celebrate our entrance into the New Year with a clean slate. At the end of the day, we invite children to participate in our candlelight procession, lighting our path into the New Year. Those who own a shofar are invited to join in the final shofar blast: Tekiah Gedolah!
SUKKOT AND SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICES
Our month of Holy Days continues with the celebration of the harvest in our Sukkah and dancing with the Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah. Join us on Thursday, September 23 at 9:00 a.m. for a morning service in the Sukkah. Then celebrate with us on Friday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. with a vegetarian potluck in the Sukkah, followed by a Shabbat-Sukkot service at 8:00 p.m. Join us for our Simchat Torah Service & Religious School Consecration in the Sanctuary on Wednesday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m.. Come sing and dance with the Torah scrolls, as we celebrate restarting our cycle of Torah readings. We will also consecrate our Kindergarten and new Religious School students as they begin their lifelong study of Torah. Join us the following day, Thursday, September 30, at 9:00 a.m. for our Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Service with Yizkor in the Beit Knesset.
Complete Schedule of High Holy Days Programs & Services
High Holy Days Preparation Workshops
See course descriptions at the top of this page.
Letting Go of Anger: A Mystical Perspective on the High Holy Days with Rabbi Arthur Green
Thursday, August 12, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
Kol Nidre: A Closer Look with Rabbi Nicki Greninger
Tuesday, August 17, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
Deciphering the Shofar Service: How Jews View God in the World with Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
Tuesday, August 24, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
The Sounds of the High Holy Days with Cantor Leigh Korn
Tuesday, August 31, 7:00 p.m. in the Beit Knesset
S’lichot: Saturday, September 4
9:00 p.m. Study session
10:00 p.m. Reception
11:00 p.m. S’lichot Service
Graveside Gathering of Prayer and Remembrance: Sunday, September 5
10:00 a.m. at Isaiah Garden at Oakmont Memorial Park
11:00 a.m. at Gan Shalom Cemetery
ROSH HASHANAH
Erev Rosh Hashanah: Wednesday, September 8
8:00 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah Service in the TI Sanctuary
Rosh Hashanah Day: Thursday, September 9
8:15 a.m. First Service in the TI Sanctuary
9:15 a.m. Family Service at Lafayette/Orinda Presbyterian Church
9:15 a.m. Tot Service in the CCJDS HaMakom (on TI Campus)
11:45 a.m. Second Service in the TI Sanctuary
11:45 a.m. Teen Service & High Holy Day Program in the Adult Lounge
3:00 p.m. Tashlich at the Lafayette Reservoir
Second Day Rosh Hashanah : Friday, September 10
9:00 a.m. Second Day Rosh Hashanah Services in the Beit Knesset
YOM KIPPUR
Erev Yom Kippur: Friday, September 17
5:15 p.m. Kol Nidre First Service in the TI Sanctuary
8:15 p.m. Kol Nidre Second Service in the TI Sanctuary
Yom Kippur: Saturday, September 18
8:15 a.m. First Service with Yizkor in the TI Sanctuary
9:15 a.m. Family Service at Lafayette/Orinda Presbyterian Church
9:15 a.m. Tot Service in the CCJDS HaMakom (on TI Campus)
11:45 a.m. Second Service with Yizkor in the TI Sanctuary
11:45 a.m. Teen Service & High Holy Day Program in the Adult Lounge
4:00 p.m. Afternoon Service (with dramatic retelling of the Jonah story) in the TI Sanctuary
5:00 p.m. Neilah Service in the TI Sanctuary– followed by Community Break-the-Fast
SUKKOT
Thursday, September 23
9:00 a.m. Sukkot Service in the Sukkah
Friday, September 24
6:30 p.m. Vegetarian Potluck Dinner in the Sukkah
8:00 p.m. Shabbat-Sukkot Service in the TI Sanctuary
Saturday, September 25 – Sunday, September 26
Kulanu (Elementary School Family Activity Group) Camping Trip – Location TBA (More info will be emailed to Kulanu families)
SIMCHAT TORAH/SHEMINI ATZERET
Wednesday, September 29
6:30 p.m. Simchat Torah Service & Religious School Consecration in the TI Sanctuary
Thursday, September 30
9:00 a.m. Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Service with Yizkor in the Beit Knesset
Click here to access the Ticket Order Form for Temple Isaiah Members
Click here to access the Ticket Order Form for Non-Members