High Holy Days

Rebbe Nachman of Bratslov taught that both good and bad are found within each human soul. Our spiritual task is to find and magnify the goodness and light inherent in each of us. This soul work, this process of cheshbon hanefesh, is a profound source of joy. This High Holy Day season, rather than dwell on our shortcomings, we use this time to amplify our strengths, our joy, and our blessings. May we discover the path of t’shuvah, returning to our best selves, from the goodness within.

Watch video recordings of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 5784 services
Watch the video recordings of the clergy’s High Holy Day sermons

Celebrating the High Holy Days at Temple Israel:

Spiritual Preparation

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

High Holy Day Services

Our mission of living Judaism together is at the core of everything we do. One of the most crucial aspects of this mission is praying together.

Self-Guided Exploration

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

Immerse Yourselves in the High Holy Days

Sukkot & Simchat Torah

Join us in our Sukkah of Justice & Compassion for a night of heartfelt prayer, festive food, & joyful music, with a Jewish bluegrass band before & after the service.

On Simchat Torah we celebrate the conclusion of one cycle of Torah reading, and immediately begin anew! Don’t miss the music and dancing with the Torah on Nessel Way!

Prayerbook Pickup: A Lending Library

For optimal viewing of the liturgy during our online prayer experiences, we suggest you have our prayerbook physically in front of you in book form or electronically. During the month of September, we will lend out copies of Mishkan HaNefesh, the Reform Movement machzor for the High Holy Days, to TI members in good standing.

Tzedakah Row

Each year we select several organizations.to support through our communal tzedakah effort. Please consider a donation into one of the tzedakah boxes in the Atrium. This year’s partners are:

Commonwealth Kitchen
The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ)
The Muddy Water Initiative

Learn more>

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. Please fill out this form or email Emma Savitz or call her at 617-566-3960.

Congregational Read: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World

by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

Rooted in traditional Jewish concepts & speaking to the crises of our time, this book is for anyone desiring a country and culture that is more whole, and for anyone who has been hurt or struggling to take responsibility for their mistakes.

Tashlich

We meet at the Muddy River on Saturday, September 16th at around 11:00 a.m. (after the Family and Early Rosh Hashanah morning services), and at 1:30 p.m. (after the Late Rosh Hashanah morning service). We will have rice to cast into the river, or bring your own. We look forward to wishing you a Shanah Tovah, greeting you, and sharing this beautiful, musical experience with you. Download the Tashlich handout here (pdf).

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. We invite you to make an onsite food donation.

Yizkor

This year, Yizkor, our memorial service, will be included in the Afternoon Service on Yom Kippur.

Yizkor Memorial Book

Our Yizkor Memorial Book is a treasured tradition at Temple Israel. See this year’s book.

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.