2020/5781 HIGH HOLY DAY SCHEDULE

Links to our virtual services will be provided to members.  Our virtual doors are open – guests are welcome as always and, for security reasons, must register in advance in order to attend via Zoom.

Please click here to access our Guest Registration form.

Selichot: Saturday, September 12^th

8:00 pm: Selichot program and service – Bring your dessert as we gather together virtually. There will be an opportunity to schmooze in small groups, followed by presentation of the annual Arnold Award for contributions to the religious life of the congregation, and then the Selichot Service that helps us prepare for the upcoming Days of Awe with its taste of the liturgy and message of those days.

Erev Rosh Hashanah: Friday, September 18^th

6:00 pm: Kabbalat Rosh HaShanah B’yachad – Welcoming the New Year Together – A brief virtual celebration of the New Year in “Tisch style” as we gather around our own dining tables, sharing in the blessings, songs and stories of the season.  We will light candles, sing kiddush, say motzi and join in apples and honey for a sweet new year (please have yours ready).

Rosh Hashanah: Saturday, September 19^th

10:30 am – 12 pm: Rosh Hashanah morning service – A virtual service from the sanctuary with our clergy and musician. The worship experience will include the major elements of the Rosh Hashanah morning service, including an abbreviated Torah reading and Shofar service, with opportunities for interaction and engagement with one another. 

Rosh Hashanah afternoon events will occur at an outdoor location and masks will be required. Please contact office@vassartemple.org to request more information about location.

3:30 pm: Family Rosh Hashanah experience – (in case of inclement weather, on Zoom)  An outdoor program to welcome the New Year with words of prayer, story, holy day melodies, and the blast of the Shofar. Geared especially for families with children up to third grade.

4:00 pm: Tashlikh– We will follow the tradition of casting our sins into the deep by throwing bread crumbs into the water.  (In case of inclement weather, we will observe Tashlikh on Second Day Rosh Hashanah at 12:30.)

Second Day Rosh Hashanah: Sunday, September 20th

10:30 – 11:45 pm: Second Day Rosh Hashanah service – A more informal observance of Rosh Hashanah on Zoom.  The abbreviated service will include highlights of the liturgy, Torah reading and group discussion and the sounding of the Shofar.

Memorial Service: Thursday, September 24^th

4:30 pm:  Memorial service – at the Vassar Temple Cemetery.

Kol Nidrei: Sunday, September 27^th

8:00 – 9:00 pm: Kol Nidrei service – A virtual service from the sanctuary with our clergy and musicians.

Yom Kippur: Monday, September 28th

10:30 am – 12 pm: Yom Kippur morning service – A virtual service from the sanctuary. The worship experience will include the major elements of the Yom Kippur liturgy, including an abbreviated Torah reading and Haftarah reading, sermon and opportunities for interaction and engagement with one another. 

Yom Kippur afternoon options: there will be a number of different experiences from which you may choose to enhance your observance of Yom Kippur. Please contact office@vassartemple.org to request more information about the location of outdoor events, at which masks will be required.

1:00 – 1:30 pm: Family Yom Kippur experience – (in case of inclement weather, on Zoom)  An outdoor program on teshuvah with words of prayer, story, and holy day melodies.  Geared especially for families with children up to third grade.

1:00 – 2:00 pm: Study session via Zoom

2:00 – 3:30 pm: Meditations in the sanctuary – The sanctuary will be open with meditation music playing for 10-minute sittings.  A limited number of people will be admitted simultaneously to sit in silence at a safe distance from others.  YOU MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE – details will be emailed to members.  

4:00 – 5:15 pm:  Afternoon worship experience – An afternoon virtual worship/program from the sanctuary will include an abbreviated Torah reading, with focus on the Haftarah reading of Jonah, followed by an interactive program exploring its themes and other elements of the afternoon liturgy.

5:30 – 6:00 pm: Yizkor (memorial) service – Worship will continue virtually from the sanctuary with the Yizkor service. 

6:15 pm: Ne’ilah (concluding) service – The day will conclude with the beautiful Ne’ilah service, conducted virtually from the sanctuary with its powerful imagery of the closing gates, stirring liturgy, and resounding final Shofar call.  We will mark the end of this holy day with Havdalah.

Erev Sukkot: Friday, October 2^nd

6:00 pm:  Sukkot/Shabbat virtual service

Erev Simchat Torah:  Friday, October 9^th

6:00 pm:  Simchat Torah/Shabbat virtual service

Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah:  Saturday, October 10th

10:30 am:  Yizkor virtual service