High Holiday and Festival Holiday Information

High Holiday and Festival Holiday Information

The High Holy Days are a powerful time in our Jewish calendar set aside for spiritual renewal.  We enter this period on the Shabbat prior to Rosh Hashanah with Selichot meaning forgiveness. It refers to the solemn penitential prayers recited by prior to the onset of the High Holy Days. We traditionally gather together for study and then for services.

The ten-day period, the Days of Awe, begins with Rosh Hashanah (Literally, “Head of the year”) and culminates on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). Our spirit during these days is marked by introspection, prayer, and repentance. It is a time of remembering mingled with a time to look ahead to the new year. It is also a time to be together as a community.

If you are not a current Beth El member, we invite you to join our NSS Beth El Family for a spiritually deep High Holiday experience.  Find out more about becoming a member here.  Let the year begin with all its blessings.


Service Schedule

Please join us in person or through the livestream (for livestream password contact Kathy Stinson at kstinson@nssbethel.org). 
Click here for complete Children’s High Holiday Service Packet

Saturday, September 17 – Selichot
9:30 pm –  Dessert Reception
10:00 pm – Forgiveness: Between the Law and Lived Experience 
11:00 pm – Selichot Service 

Sunday, September 25 – Erev Rosh Hashanah
6:00 pm – Mincha/Maariv 
6:25 pm – Candlelighting  

Monday, September 26 – Rosh Hashanah 1
8:15 am – Shacharit Service  
9:15 am – Outdoor Preschool Family Service
(NSSBE Backyard)
10:15 am – Outdoor Junior Congregation Family Service (NSSBE Backyard)
10:15 am  – Indoor Drop Off Children’s Services (both NSSBE and HPHS locations)
5:45 pm – Neighborhood Shofar Blowing/Tashlich 
6:30 pm  – Mincha/Maariv  
7:23 pm – Candlelighting 

Tuesday, September 27 – Rosh Hashanah 2
8:15 am  – Shacharit Service 
9:15 am – Outdoor Preschool Family Service
(NSSBE Backyard)
10:15 am – Outdoor Junior Congregation Family Service (NSSBE Backyard)
10:15 am  – Indoor Drop Off Children’s Services (NSSBE location only)
6:15 pm – Mincha 
7:15 pm – Maariv (holiday ends 7:21 pm) 

Tuesday, October 4 – Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidrei
5:30 pm – Mincha 
5:45 pm – Kol Nidrei Service
6:09 pm – Candlelighting  

Wednesday, October 5 – Yom Kippur
9:00 am – Shacharit Service 
9:45 am – Outdoor Preschool Family Service
(NSSBE Backyard)
10:45 am – Outdoor Junior Congregation Family Service (NSSBE Backyard)
10:45 am  – Indoor Drop Off Children’s Services (both NSSBE and HPHS locations)
4:45 pm – Mincha 
6:00 pm – Outdoor Young Family Neilah (NSSBE Backyard only)
6:00 pm – Neilah 
7:08 pm – Holiday ends 
7:25 pm – Final Shofar Blowing

Sunday, October 9 – Erev Sukkot
6:00 pm – Mincha/Maariv
6:01 pm  – Candlelighting 

Monday, October 10 – Sukkot 1
9:00 am – Festival Service
10:30 am – Jr Congregation 
11:00 am – Tot Sukkot
6:00 pm – Mincha/Maariv 
6:59 pm – Candlelighting 

Tuesday, October 11 – Sukkot 2
9:00 am – Festival Service
10:30 am – Jr Congregation 
11:00 am – Tot Sukkot

6:00 pm – Mincha 
6:55 pm – Maariv (holiday ends 6:58 pm)

Sunday, October 16 – Hoshana Raba/Erev Shmini Atzeret
5:45 pm – Mincha/Maariv 
5:49 pm – Candlelighting 

Monday, October 17 – Shmini Atzeret/Leyl Simchat Torah
9:00 am – Festival Service
10:30 am – Jr Congregation 
11:00 am – Tot Shmini Atzeret

5:45 pm – Mincha
6:30 pm – Young Family Simchat Torah Celebration
6:45 pm – Maariv/Hakafot/Dancing with the Torahs 
6:48 pm – Candlelighting  

Tuesday, October 18 – Simchat Torah
9:00 am – Festival Service 
10:00 am– Hakafot Service w/Special Honors 
10:45 am – Tot Simchat Torah Pray and Play/Junior Congregation
5:45 pm  – Mincha
6:45 pm – Maariv/Hakafot  (holiday ends 6:47 pm)


Kol Nidre Appeal 

You can submit your Kol Nidre Appeal today by clicking here to make your pledge online. For any questions, please contact Judy Berkeley at jberkeley@nssbethel.org


Sukkot

Sukkah Walk
Monday, October 10 – 12:30 pm

Mark you calendars for this year’s Sukkah Walk on Monday, October 10th, directly following Kiddush. Food (provided by the synagogue) will be served at each house. If you live within a 10-minute walk of the synagogue, we’d love to include your sukkah on the walk. Please reach out to Becky Schechter for more information.


 

HAZAK in the Sukkah
Thursday, October, 13 –  Noon – 2:00pm

We welcome all HAZAK members to join us for:

  • A seasonal lunch
  • A deep dive into Sukkot led by the Rabbis
  • A Songfest led by our talented Hazzanim
  • Bingo with prizes

Transportation is available, please let us know if you need a ride or wheelchair assistance when you RSVP.RSVP no later than October 7, to Linda Clark at lsclark99@gmail.com or call (847) 910-4518.


Join BEANS USY and USY Gesher for Sushi in the Sukkah
Sunday, October 16
USY Gesher (6th-8th grade) at 12:00 pm
USY (9th- 12th grade) at 3:00 pm 
ADD TO CALENDAR

Join your friends in the NSSBE Sukkah to celebrate Sukkot, make (and eat) sushi and play games. Register today! Questions? Reach out to Sarah Topal, Director of Youth & Family Engagement.

Register today!

USY Gesher (6th -8th grade): Register here
USY (9th-12th grade): Register here


Simchat Torah

Celebration – Tuesday, September 28 – 6:45 pm
6:30 – 7:30 pm Special Celebration for Families with Young Children (joining in with the larger congregation)
6:45 pm Ma’ariv and Hakafot for the entire congregation outside in the parking lot. Join the Beth El community to dance, sing and celebrate Simchat Torah with ice cream treats.


Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot Resources

Rosh Hashanah Table Talk – click on link to open and print Rosh Hashanah at Home – click on link to open and print
Sukkot Table Talk – click on link to open and print Sukkot at Home – click on link to open and print

High Holiday Day Sermons 2021/5782

High Holiday Day Sermons 2020/5781