High Holy Days

“These days beckon us toward self-reflection to uncover the truths of how we live our lives. If we feel lost, our Jewish tradition can lead us through a maze of uncertainty. Within the shelter of our beloved Temple Israel community, we are offered the resources to approach this time with hope and possibility. May we be uplifted by awe, wonder, and gratitude as we move toward the new year together.”

Rabbi Elaine Zecher, Senior Rabbi

Bringing Our Whole Selves to the High Holy Days

Spiritual Preparation

Onsite and Online. Elul, the month before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is a time for spiritual preparation.

High Holy Day Services

Onsite and Online. This is the season of return. We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather both onsite and online to celebrate the new year together. We nourish our souls following a year in which we learned of our own resilience, and to expect the unexpected.

Self-Guided Exploration

Our self-guided exploration pathway puts worship at your fingertips, anywhere, anytime.

Immerse Yourselves in the High Holy Days

#10Days10Ways

An Antiracist Journey

Who will you be in 5782?

Racism is one of the most powerful social malignancies threatening our world today. Anti-racism challenges the ideas and policies that allow inequality to continue and thrive. As Jews, we have been given the mandate to fight injustices on all fronts.

Prayerbook Pickup: A Lending Library

For optimal viewing of the liturgy during our virtual prayer experiences, we suggest you have our prayer book physically in front of you in book form or electronically.

Sign up to borrow a prayerbook by filling out this form. You may also purchase a copy at www.ccarpress.org.

Congregational Read

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Wilkerson’s unsettling but necessary investigation of class hierarchies across American history confronts readers with the challenging realities which we must reckon with on a daily basis. Well researched and masterfully told, this book will no doubt lead to powerful discussion.

Congregational Read

Radical Judaism Rethinking God & Tradition by Arthur Green

S’lichot Candlelit Service

We start with S’lichot which draws us into the Days of Awe.

With candles illuminating our paths, we pose the eternal questions of our existence. Through exploration, forgiveness, and apology, we complete our spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days.

Candlelit Outdoor Service

Sat., Aug. 28, 8:00pm, onsite, TI Garden

We prepare ourselves and our Torah for our season of holiness. With candles, music, and repentant meditation, we dress our Torah in white. Stay tuned for registration.

S’lichot Zoom Candlelit Service

Sat., Aug. 28, 10:00pm, online

We gather in virtual space to sing and pray our beautiful S’lichot liturgy.

Tashlich

We invite you to participate in Tashlich, a beautiful ritual which allows us to symbolically cast our transgressions into the river. We meet at the Muddy River on Tuesday, September 7 around 12:00pm, after the family service, and at 1:00pm, after the second Rosh Hashanah morning service. You can find your own Tashlich liturgy on our website, www.tisrael.org, within the self-guided exploration pathway. We will have rice to cast into the river or bring your own. The clergy looks forward to greeting you and to sharing this experience with you.

Yizkor

This year, Yizkor, our memorial service, will be included in both the early and late sanctuary services on Yom Kippur morning. A Yizkor service will begin our 4:30 pm Afternoon/Neilah service.

Tzedakah Row

Each year we select several organizations to support through our communal tzedakah effort. While you are onsite, please consider a donation into one of the tzedakah boxes in the Atrium. This year’s partners all pursue righteous impact in areas of interest and action for our Temple Israel community.

Food Drive Donation

For over two decades, Temple Israel has given the Greater Boston Food Bank their largest single-day delivery of food through our Yom Kippur Food Drive. This year, the greater Boston community is particularly in need of donations as more and more are facing food insecurity. We invite you to make a physical donation of food at our building, or you can join us with a

financial contribution.

Sukkot & Simchat Torah

On Sukkot we build and we welcome. The festival holiday of Sukkot reminds us of our communal obligation to face outwards with open hearts to ease suffering and heal our fractured world.We offer Sukkot experiences for all ages and areas of interest as we recommit ourselves to our planet and to our vision of shelter for all people in this world.

Shanah Tovah Umetukah 5782

The Shofar is Coming Home!

onsite and online

What is Mixed Presence?

Mixed presence and the technology to support it are here to stay. We have learned there are many ways for people to participate, in the room and from far away places. It makes us more interesting and inclusive. We are investing in the technology to support our online presence even as we come back together to be onsite within our beloved synagogue building. We have worked hard to plan a meaningful High Holy Days experience for all members, both onsite and online. We encourage you to find the approach that best fits your needs this year.

Learn more about our COVID Guidelines

High Holy Day Tickets

Tickets based on preference for onsite and online will be mailed to members in good standing on a rolling basis this summer.

Additional tickets for visiting family members are available for purchase.

If you are unable to attend services at Temple Israel, and would like to secure reciprocal tickets to a fellow URJ congregation, please send your request to tickets@tisrael.org, or call Emma Savitz, Development Associate at 617-566-3960.

We are pleased to offer complimentary tickets to military personnel and full-time undergraduate students.

Last minute ticket orders can be picked up on site at the front desk, or at the will-call table.

If you are interested in attending services onsite, but are not currently a Temple Israel Member, tickets can be purchased here.

Machzor Bookplate

Our High Holy Days machzor, Mishkan Hanefesh, is the result of collaboration between rabbis, cantors, lay leaders, and members of Reform congregations. Consider dedicating a bookplate, in the amount of $72, to be placed in the front of our beautiful machzorim to remember or honor a loved one, teacher, or friend. To dedicate a bookplate, please fill out this form or contact Emma Savitz at 617-566-3960.