The Jewish High Holy Days create a beautiful, transformative arc that begins with the month of Elul and culminates in the joyous celebration of Simchat Torah.
This season invites us on a journey that encompasses introspection, renewal, and celebration—a marathon of joy, reflection, and profound connection with family, friends, and community.
Starting with Elul, we enter a time of personal reflection and preparation, setting intentions for the year ahead. Rosh Hashanah ushers in the Jewish New Year, a time to celebrate new beginnings and embrace possibilities with hope and gratitude. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, offers a sacred moment to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, both within ourselves and with others.
As we move into Sukkot, the harvest festival, we celebrate the beauty of nature, dwelling in temporary shelters to remind us of the blessings of life’s simple joys. Finally, Simchat Torah arrives, a vibrant celebration marking the completion and renewal of the Torah reading cycle, filled with dancing, singing, and a profound sense of communal unity.
Throughout these weeks, we experience a full spectrum of emotions and spiritual growth, deepening our bonds with our loved ones, our heritage, and our faith. This season is a unique and sacred time, offering us all the opportunity to connect more meaningfully with ourselves and with one another.
2025 / 5786 High Holy Days Schedule
If you are trying to register for services:
Please ensure you have made your Shalom Commitment and your first payment before registering.
You may try calling the office for assistance at 617-332-9550.
You may also register in person on the day of services by going to Will Call.
For those joining us from home, our live stream can be found here: Temple Shalom Livestream.
Shanah Tovah
Service Schedule
Selichot
Friday, September 12, 2025
6:30pm Shabbat Services & Selichot Ritual
Embrace this season of renewal and repair with poetry and prayerful song, as we dress our Torah scrolls in their High Holy Day white mantles and listen for the Shofar’s call.
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 22, 2025
7:30pm Erev Rosh HaShanah Service
Join our clergy in welcoming the New Year 5786 with a joyous combination of traditional and contemporary prayer and song as we celebrate the creation of the world. Rabbi Abrasley and Rabbi Gubitz will offer a shared sermon.
9:00pm Community Celebration & Toast
Toast to 5786 with our clergy and community immediately following the service
Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
8:30am Family Service
For families with young children (0-8) and the young at heart, join Becca Yudkoff and our clergy for a joyful morning of stories, song and celebration in the Sanctuary!
9:00-10:30am L’Shana Tova: Connection & Bagels Gathering
A light bagel breakfast and community connection during the High Holy Days. Family Service attendees are invited to stay after services to share in conversation and New Year greetings, while Classic Service attendees are welcome to come early before services begin to enjoy time together. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends, meet new members, and celebrate the start of the year as a community.
10:15am Classical Morning Service
Led by our clergy, we will embrace themes of renewal and return with memorable High Holy Day melodies, a Torah service honoring members of our community, and a meaningful sermon by Rabbi Abrasley.
2:00pm B’yachad Community Service
A new prayer experience created by our clergy that cultivates spiritual practice through soulful music, poetry and communal connection. This service is open to the broader community.
3:40pm Tashlich
Walk with us to a nearby brook of water to symbolically cast away our transgressions and all of the things we carry that no longer serve us.
Kol Nidre
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
7:00pm Kol Nidre Service
With the stirring sounds of the cello, we enter into a day of repentance with introspection, powerful music, and a sermon by Rabbi Abrasley.
Yom Kippur
Thursday, October 2, 2025
8:30am Family Service
For families with young children (0-8) and the young at heart, gather with Becca Yudkoff and our clergy for a thoughtful morning of stories and songs to help us become our best selves in the year to come.
10:00am Healing Service
Through comforting prayer and music, we will acknowledge the personal and collective pain of this past year as we pursue a sense of wholeness amidst a broken world.
11:30am Classical Morning Service
Led by our clergy, we will embrace themes of repentance and forgiveness with memorable High Holy Day melodies, a Torah service honoring members of our community, and a meaningful sermon by Rabbi Gubitz.
2:30pm Study Experience
Spend the afternoon with us exploring themes of the High Holy Days through study and conversation.
On the Path to Forgiveness: A Yom Kippur Reflection Space
Facilitated by Temple Shalom member Johanna Ehrmann
Many of us wrestle with forgiveness—toward ourselves, loved ones, or even strangers whose actions feel unforgivable. This session offers a supportive space to reflect on where we’re stuck and to listen deeply to one another. After a brief introduction and a few grounding guidelines, most of our time will be spent in shared reflection and compassionate listening. Join Johanna Ehrmann, an experienced facilitator in peer counseling, in gently engaging with the challenging work of forgiveness on this sacred day.
4:00pm Yizkor and N'ilah Service
Yizkor touches the heart as we remember those we have lost and whose memories we hold dear. Hear stories and voices from our community who have recently lost loved ones, as you remember your own.
Followed by N’ilah - a spirited closing service and final opportunity for repentance, concluding with Havdalah, the blast of the shofar, and a chance to break the fast with one another.
6:30pm Community Break Fast and Sukkah Building
Just as we finish Yom Kippur, we’ll fuel our bodies with a nosh and head out into the courtyard to help build our Sukkah.
Volunteer
Volunteering as an usher or check-in greeter during the High Holy Days is a meaningful way to give back while helping create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors. It’s a simple but powerful way to connect with others, support the flow of services, and be part of what makes Temple Shalom feel like home. Plus—it’s fun! You’ll see familiar faces, meet new people, and know that your presence truly makes a difference.
Join us on Sunday, September 28 at 8:00 am on the main floor as we come together to build the frame of our Temple Sukkah. This is a wonderful opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of creating sacred space while sharing laughter, teamwork, and community spirit. No tools or experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm and a smile!”
Coffee and snacks will be provided!
High Holy Days Important Links
Book of Memory
Yom Kippur Food Drive
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Sukkot Programming
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2025 / 5786 Elul Programs
Connect with our clergy over coffee for a casual, heartfelt conversation as we prepare for the High Holy Days.
Join Rabbi Abrasley for a special gathering to reflect on 75 years of Temple Shalom’s history, share memories, and celebrate our journey from humble beginnings to a thriving community.
Join our clergy for a neighborhood walk to reflect, connect, and prepare for the year ahead with fellow community members.
During Elul, join us for a reflective gathering to honor loved ones' memories, share stories, and find comfort in their lasting legacies.
This workshop invites parents to reflect, grow, and enter the New Year with greater connection, patience, and joy in family life.
5785 High Holy Day Sermons
Erev Rosh Hashanah 10/2/24 - From Welcoming to Belonging: Finding Your People at Temple Shalom
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Rosh Hashanah 10/3/24 - It feels like the worst New Year ever!
Kol Nidre 10/11/24 - Return to You
Yom Kippur 10/12/24 - The Heavenly Voice of Reason