Connect. Renew. Emerge.
High Holy Days 2021/5782
We’ve been adapting and reconfiguring our lives for the past year and a half as we continue to adjust to our unwelcome “new normal.” As we hold the hope and excitement ushered in with vaccinations and reuniting with family and friends, many of us also wonder about the unknown brought on by the variants. We have so deeply absorbed messages around danger and staying safe, that it may be hard to believe that we are OK again. How can the High Holy Day season support us during this time of transition?
The Elul (pre-High Holy Day) and High Holy Day rituals, traditions, and customs are replete with wisdom and practices that address the intensity and unknowns of this moment. We have curated a dynamic and interactive line up of in-person* and virtual classes, services, and gatherings, along with resources to provide our community with spaces to connect, to learn, to breathe, and to renew ourselves as we journey through the High Holy Day season.
Shana Tova! Here’s to a happy, healthy, and sweet 5782!
*At this time, in-person gatherings will be held outdoors. View our health and safety reopening policy.
Elul Pre-High Holy Day Warm Up
The Hebrew month of Elul (August 8 – September 6, 2021), the month preceding the Jewish High Holy Days, is a traditional period for intensive spiritual reflection, introspection, and moral accounting. We look forward to gathering in person and virtually with you as we prepare for this High Holy Day season with the following classes, services, and gatherings.
HiHo Hikes & Learning in Rock Creek Park
Sundays, August 8, 15, 22, and Sept. 5 • 10am [in person]
Jewish mystics retreated into nature as a way to experience a more profound sense of intention and attention to their lives. We’ll be guided on our hikes by our very own “hike captains” (nature lovin’ folks from the Den), followed by learning and discussion to get us warmed up for the season. BYO snack + water bottle. Meeting location will be shared with registrants. To sign up, please complete this form by the Thursday before your hike:
The 3 Rs of Teshuvah: Return. Reflect. Reimagine
Wed., Aug. 11, 25, and Sept. 1• 7:30pm [zoom]
Join Rabbi Jenna to explore the many elements of Teshuvah, “making a return” in preparation for the High Holy Days. This is a three part learning series. While it would be great for you to attend all 3 sessions, you are more than welcome to sign up and come to 1, 2, or all 3! We will meet over zoom for our last session.
Knead 2 Know: RH Challah Bake + Learn
Thursday, August 26 • 7:00 - 9:00pm [in person]
Join Rabbi Aderet to immerse in learning and discussion to prepare us for the High Holy Day season. We’ll also learn how to braid a variety of different round and sweet Rosh Hashana (RH) challahs. Once our challahs are braided and in the oven, we’ll immerse in our Jewish study and discussion. Take your challahs home for Rosh Hashana dinner (they’ll freeze beautifully!) We will meet in person and outdoors in Bethesda. Address will be shared with registrants. To attend this in person event and reserve your challah dough, please sign up by August 20th below:
Selichot: Havdalah + Singing Circle w/ the Den Band
Saturday, August 28 • 8:00pm - 9:00pm [in person]
Selichot = Prayers asking for forgiveness. On the Saturday night before we move into the new year, it is an ancient custom to enter the week of the High Holy Days with the tunes of the season. We’ll gather outdoors in Bethesda for an in-person Selichot Service, complete with havdalah, learning, and soulful singing with members of our Den Band. Address will be sent to registrants in advance. To attend this in person gathering, please sign up by Thursday, August 26th below:
Rosh Hashana: Jewish New Year
Many congregations will be offering virtual High Holy Day services, some with limited in-person capacity this year. Reach out if you’d like us to help you find a service near you or that speaks to your interests.
Kol HaNeshamah Rosh Hashana Service with Rabbi Jenna
Rosh Hashana Day 1: Tuesday, September 7 • 10:00am - 12:00pm [livestream: Congregation Beth El]
Join Rabbi Jenna for the Kol HaNeshamah Service, a mix of tradition and innovation, music and ideas.
the Days Between: Aseret Yemei Teshuva
[the 10 days between Rosh Hashana + Yom Kippur]
Just Breathe: Transformation + Renewal
Thursday, September 9 • 7:00 - 8:30pm [hybrid: in person + zoom]
As we journey from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur, we seek to rediscover and cultivate the essence of who we are when we are able to move aside the noise and the busy-ness of everyday life. Through text study, discussion, and guided meditation, we will engage in a practice that increases our awareness to what is real and true for each of us as we navigate this moment of transition and deepen our inner resilience. To attend in person, please sign up below by the evening of Sept. 8th. Address will be shared with registrants.
Kayaking Tashlich + Lunch on the Potomac River
Sunday, Sept. 12 • 10:00am - 12:00pm [in person]
Join Rabbis Aderet + Jenna on the Potomac River for a meaningful, fun, and COVID-safe way to take part in the powerful ritual of Tashlich. Following our time on the water, we’ll head to a nearby DC restaurant for lunch on us! Tashlich, or “casting away”, is performed during the Ten Days between the start of Rosh Hashana and the beginning of Yom Kippur. Sign up and reserve your Kayak before Sept. 10th below:
**** WE HAVE REACHED FULL CAPACITY FOR THIS GATHERING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON!***
Or HaLev & HaMakom’s Yom Kippur Online Retreat
Sunday, September 12 - Tuesday, September 14 • experience part or full retreat [zoom]
Yom Kippur is an opportunity for extraordinarily deep and transformative practice if our hearts are ready. This retreat will begin the transformation of hearts, bodies, minds and souls through practice, reflection and exploration grounded in Jewish mindfulness practice. The retreat will include silence, guided meditation, teachings, and chanting, and prayer.
Yom Kippur: the Day of At-One-Ment
Kol HaNeshamah Yom Kippur Service with Rabbi Jenna
Yom Kippur Day: Thursday, September 16 • 10:00am - 12:30pm [livestream: Congregation Beth El]
Join Rabbi Jenna for this Yom Kippur Service, the Kol HaNeshamah Service, a mix of tradition and innovation, music and ideas. This service includes Musaf and Yizkor.
Yom Kippur Break-Fast Hub Spots
Yom Kippur: Thursday, September 16 • 8:15 - 9:15pm [in person]
Let’s come together at the end of Yom Kippur to celebrate the new year and break the fast together (whether you are fasting or not). We’ll have bagels and other goodies in individually wrapped to-go packages. Come by to catch up and enjoy your meal al fresco with Rabbis Jenna + Aderet at any of our YK Break-Fast hub spots, or grab n’go and take the deliciousness back home to enjoy in your PJ’s with your fave Netflix show. We see you and we get it. Either way, we’d love you to stop by!
High Holy Day Resources
High Holy Day Blessings + Ritual Guide - We put together this resource for your holiday celebration and observance to take you from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, including Tashlich! We include explanations of rituals, as well as all blessings in Hebrew, transliteration, and English translations. Enjoy!
The Shofar Project Elul Intensive is a free program offered by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality that is open to people of all backgrounds who want to make this a year of continued transformation. IJS will provide Jewish teachings and daily practices including Torah study, Jewish mindfulness meditation, and Jewish yoga, to address the longing within our hearts to lead lives of sacred purpose, in right relationship with the land and each other. Register for Shofar Project Elul Intensive here.
The Blast - an opportunity for the Washington Jewish community to welcome Rosh Hashanah with city-wide shofar blasts. Join from anywhere on September 6 at 4:00pm.
View this powerful new year blessing - a video from our friends at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.
Looking to join or host a Shabbat meal on Shabbat Shuvah, the Shabbat of Return, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? Check out OneTable’s Shabbat Shuvah. This is a unique weekend, offering an incredible opportunity to reflect on the year that was and welcome the year to come.