High Holy Days Menu
Preparing Our Hearts for the High Holy Days
The stirring strains of Kol Nidre call us to reflection, renewal, and return.
We invite you to pause and listen to this moving performance by HBT congregant
Rob Kalish, whose cello helps carry us into the spirit of these holy days.
Welcoming the New Year in Song
Our High Holy Day services are led with heart, depth, and joy.
In this short video, Rabbi Aliza Schwartz introduces
Eliana Golding, our shaliach tzibur (prayer leader),
who will join us this season to guide us in prayer and song.
Learn the Shofar with Claudia Harris
Interested in blowing the shofar at HBT this High Holy Day season? Our Baʿalat Tekiah, Claudia Harris, is inviting new learners to join in.
Come learn to blow the shofar and add your Tekia to our High Holy Day celebration. Contact Claudia to begin learning and join those who will sound with us .
🌅 Erev Rosh Hashanah — Monday, September 22
Begin 5786 together with song, prayer, and intention as we welcome the New Year.
6:15–7:30pm
Service with Rabbi Aliza Schwartz and
Eliana Golding, shaliach tzibur (prayer leader).
✨ Rosh Hashanah Day 1 — Tuesday, September 23
Lift our voices, hear the shofar, and step into the New Year with joy and awe.
🌟 Main Sanctuary Service
9:30am–1:00pm
With Rabbi Aliza and
Eliana Golding, shaliach tzibur.
👶 High Holy Day Sing-Along
8:30–9:30am — Geared toward children under 4 and their grownups (no drop-offs, please). Celebrate the sweetness of the New Year with singing, movement, apples & honey, and a joyful welcome to 5786.
🎉 Family Service (Ages 4–2nd Grade)
8:30–9:30 am — A participatory family service for children and their grown-ups. Discover the themes of the holiday, pray together, and laugh a little, too. No drop-offs, please. We will sing prayers—both familiar and special for the Holy Days—and tell stories.
Children’s Service (Grades 3–6)
10:45 am — Led by Rena Coben & Asher Cohen • Location: Kiddush Room (Main Floor).
Children will rejoin the main service for the Shofar Service.
Teen Discussions (Grades 7–12)
10:45 am — Led by Jon Wishnie & Mel Starr • Grades 7–8: Yellow Line Room (Upstairs) • Grades 9–12: Blue Room (Main Floor).
Teens will return in time for Rabbi Aliza’s D’var Torah.
🧒 High Holy Day Childcare (Ages 3+)
Childcare opens ahead of the Main Community Service (9:30am start); check-in begins at 9:15am.
Provided by Yal-Day-New (Allston/Brighton) — experienced early childhood educators known for warmth and professionalism.
- Free for HBT members
- $36 per participant, per day for non-members
⚠️ Important: This form indicates interest so we can staff appropriately. Your spot is not guaranteed until we confirm with you.
📅 Deadline: Please complete the form by September 15. Without sufficient confirmed interest, we won’t be able to offer childcare.
4:30pm — Tashlich at Millenium Park (meet at the boat launch dock). Join Rabbi Aliza for a story and cast sunflower seeds on the water (please do not bring bread — it harms the ecosystem).
🌅 Rosh Hashanah Day 2 — Wednesday, September 24
Continue the journey into 5786 with prayer, learning, and community.
9:30am–1:00pm
Service with Rabbi Aliza and
Eliana Golding, shaliach tzibur.
🧒 Childcare is available with advance registration. Please complete the Childcare Interest Form .
🕊️🎶 Rosh Hashanah at Temple HBT: Full, Joyful, and Uplifting 🎶🕊️
We had a full house at HBT for Rosh Hashanah! It was joyful and inspiring, with music and prayer calming the mind and lifting the heart. Rabbi Aliza and Eliana Golding led us in song, prayer, and spirit, joined at times by the warm harmonies of the HBT band. Yet it was the Kol HaKahal—the voice of the congregation—that truly carried the days of Rosh Hashanah.
Heartfelt thanks to the Avodah Committee, our staff, and the many volunteers whose care and dedication made these High Holy Days exceptional.
As we move toward the sacred days ahead—Shabbat Shuvah, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah—we welcome everyone to share in the spirit of the High Holy Days. It’s never too late to be part of something truly special.
📖 Shabbat Shuvah — Saturday, September 27
The first Shabbat of the Jewish New Year is called Shabbat Shuvah, or the “Sabbath of Return.” If that word reminds you of the word teshuvah, that’s not a coincidence — they share a common root.
Teshuvah, or repentance, is a core concept of the High Holidays. The word literally means “return.” Services on Shabbat Shuvah are typically solemn and focused. The Haftarah portion deals with themes of repentance and forgiveness.
10:00am–12:30pm — Shabbat morning service
🌙 Kol Nidre — Wednesday, October 1
6:00–8:15 pm
Service with Rabbi Aliza and
Eliana Golding, shaliach tzibur.
Please arrive early to park, check in, and settle your body and spirit for this moving service.
🎶 Rob Kalish will play the cello during Kol Nidre. The sanctuary doors will be closed during the chanting of Kol Nidre.
If you arrive after Kol Nidre begins, please enter quietly when the usher lets you in and take a seat in the back only; you may move forward afterward.
It is our custom to wear white.
🧸 Childcare
Childcare with confirmation from Benita:
• 5:45 – 8:15 PM
Call Benita at 508-954-5637.
🕊️ Yom Kippur — Thursday, October 2
The holiest day of the Jewish year — a day of prayer, reflection, and renewal. All are invited to join in community as we seek forgiveness, healing, and hope for the year ahead.
🌟 Main Sanctuary Service
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
With Rabbi Aliza and
Eliana Golding, shaliach tzibur.
👨👩👧 Family & Children’s Service
8:30–9:15 am — A participatory Yom Kippur service for children ages 0 – 2nd grade and their grown-ups, led by Rachel Shapp. Joyful singing, prayer, and stories help children and adults explore the themes of the day. No drop-offs, please.
Children’s Service (Grades 3–6)
10:45 am — Led by Rena Coben & Asher Cohen.
Teen Discussions (Grades 7–12)
10:45 am — Led by Jon Wishnie & Mel Starr • Grades 9–12:.
Teens return in time for Rabbi Aliza’s D’var Torah.
🧒 Childcare
Childcare with confirmation from Benita:
• Yom Kippur Morning (Thu, Oct 2): 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Call Benita at
508-954-5637.
🧘 Body • 🕯️ Spirit • 🧠 Mind
By weaving together yoga for the body, meditation for the spirit, and reflection for the mind, you will be guided on a holistic journey embracing the themes of Yom Kippur — reflection, healing, and renewal.
- 1:40–2:25pm — Chair Yoga with Laurie Rotman
- 2:30–3:15pm — Making Meaning of the Yom Kippur Liturgy with Elana Elstein
- 3:25–4:10pm — Chanting and Pausing with Tracy Rich
🌅 Yom Kippur Afternoon & Closing Services
Yizkor — 4:15 pm
Mincha — 4:45 pm
Ne’ila — 5:45 pm
Final Shofar Blast & Fast Ends — 7:05 pm
🍽️ Community Break-Fast
All are welcome to break the fast together as a community immediately following Havdalah.
Cost: $25 per person or $65 per family (up to 2 adults and all children in household).
Please RSVP by calling the temple office:
617-323-0486.
