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Home > Pray > Holidays > High Holidays 5786

High Holidays - 5786

Click here to read our High Holiday Guide!

Service Descriptions

TRADITIONAL SERVICE
Our "Main" service, led by Rabbi Heller and Cantor Yoav with assistance from Lay Leaders and Rabbis K and Breit. Includes the full Hebrew liturgy and traditional sermon.
 
ENRICHMENT SERVICES
Meaning & Music: This updated Enrichment Service led by Rabbi Breit has the essential components of the High Holidays that pull at your heartstrings — the melodies and Torah you know and love — with space for learning, personal prayer, and reflection. Rosh Hashanah includes shofar blasts. Yom Kippur includes Yizkor.
 
Shofar & Study: Start your Jewish year off right with thoughtful study to reconnect with the strength and blessing of being part of the Jewish people. If you enjoy Rabbi Breit’s Coffee and Commentary during the year, this is for you. No advanced preparation required, come as you are. Includes shofar blasts and just a few of your favorite tunes.
 
Essential Rosh Hashanah: Can’t make it to the morning service? Miss seeing the sanctuary in person? Come in the afternoon for shofar, service highlights and inspiration, with our Rabbis and Cantor Yoav. This 1-hour condensed format is great for adults and families, and is followed with apples and honey.
 
YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
ECHAD Family Service: Rabbi K leads a morning service perfect for families with children ages 0-5.
ECHAD Kol Nidre: Rabbis K and Heller tag team to create a unique Yom Kippur experience combining the holiest prayers of the holiday with fun activities for children ages 0-5.
Youth Programming (children K-7): Just for the kids and held at Weber; includes a variety of age-appropriate activities and a service with Rabbi K.
Family Kol Nidre: For families with children ages 6 -13, this service incorporates the core liturgy of Kol Nidre, leavened with activities and discussions for parents and children to share.
USY High School Kol Nidre: New format this year! A Yom Kippur experience for teens by teens.
 
BT MINYAN
A lay-led, traditional-egalitarian, full service with lots of singing and a MAX 5-minute D’var Torah (even on Yom Kippur). Kids are welcome to join their parents at this service and their participation in these services is encouraged.
For a detailed schedule of services, click here.

Accessing Services Virtually

Our traditional services will be available in the following formats (if one option is not available, please try another):
- Streaming from our website at www.bnaitorah.org/stream
- Via our High Holiday Zoom Webinar

 

A virtual copy of the Mahzor Lev Shalem can be purchased ahead of time here.

Youth Programming and Babysitting

Some services, mostly in the Youth/Family track will require registration. This is to ensure we have the appropriate
amount of staff available for each age group. Please note that walk-ups for babysitting will NOT be permitted. 

Again this year, we are offering early drop off and extended pick up times, so that parents can more easily travel to and from B'nai Torah for Traditional Services. NEW this year, you have the option of having your child (K-7 only) take the shuttle from Weber to meet you at B'nai Torah at the end of services. Please note: Children will be accompanied by teen helpers. The shuttle to Weber will be running and Weber's parking lot will be open for you to get your car after services. 

Click here to register for High Holiday Babysitting

Click here to register for High Holiday Youth Programming

 

Lulav & Etrog

The lulav and etrog are used in the celebration of the holiday of Sukkot. A blessing is said over the “four species” that comprise the lulav & etrog and during Sukkot Services there is a procession (hoshanot) in which people dance with them.  
 
Erev Sukkot will fall this year on the evening of Monday, October 6, so Lulavim and Etrogim will be available for pick up on the morning of October 6. 

The cost for a child's set is $40; adult sets are $50.

Please order your Lulav and Etrog by Sunday, August 31.

 

High Holiday Institute/Learning Info

Insights into the liturgy and themes of the High Holidays.
 
Lunch and Learn
12:00PM lunch and gather, 12:15PM learn; in person and on Zoom
September 2 - Say “Yes” to the Test: How Abraham Failed God’s Test with Rabbi K
September 9 - Forgiving the Act, or the Person? with Rabbi Heller
September 16 - Hunger for Holiness: Why We Fast with Rabbi K
September 23 - no class
September 30 - Poems that Break Open Your Heart with Rabbi Breit
 
 
Shaleshudis
Following 6PM Shabbat afternoon service, in person and in the Virtual Sanctuary
September 6 - Say “Yes” to the Test: How Abraham Failed God’s Test with Rabbi K
September 13 - Forgiving the Act, or the Person? with Rabbi Heller
September 20 - Hunger for Holiness: Why We Fast with Rabbi K
September 27 - no class
October 4 - Poems that Break Open Your Heart with Rabbi Breit
October 11 - Ecclesiastes: Why Bother? with Rabbi Heller
 

 

Selichot - Saturday, September 13

Selichot kicks off the season with study and a unique service that reintroduces the key spiritual and musical themes of the High Holidays. This year our Selichot evening is in partnership with Hadar Atlanta, a new learning initiative in Atlanta. Rabbi Ayal Robkin, Director of Hadar Atlanta will be our special guest.
 
 
9:00 PM: Refreshments and Havdalah
9:30 PM: Study with Rabbi Robkin: When words fail: Finding God through a Broken Heart
10:30 PM: Selichot Service
 
There is no charge, but registration is requested.

 

About our Speaker
Rabbi Ayal Robkin is the newly-hired Director of Hadar Atlanta. A native Atlantan and graduate of AJA and The Weber School, for the past 10 years Ayal taught Talmud, Tanach, Jewish Virtue Ethics (Mussar), Jewish Mystical Thought (Chassidut/Kabbalah), and mindfulness meditation at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School in Manhattan. Ayal completed the Pardes Educators Program as well as Semikha through Yashrut under Rabbi Danny Landes. He moved back to Atlanta this summer with his wife Maddy Bloch, and children Neima and Menashe.
 
About the Learning
When Words Fail: Finding God through a Broken Heart
Have you ever felt like words weren’t enough? This class explores one Jewish tradition’s radical claim: that prayer is most received not through words but through emotion; a broken heart, the shedding of tears. To this end, we will engage in an exploration of high holiday liturgy through a Talmudic discussion on the accessibility of God when it appears God is unavailable.
 

Parking and Shuttle

Parking will be available primarily at B’nai Torah and The Weber School. Most Enrichment and almost all Family/Youth services will be taking place at Weber. For your convenience, there will be a complimentary shuttle available to bring you back and forth between B’nai Torah and other locations.

 

Candlelighting/Havdalah Times

ROSH HASHANAH
September 22: Candle lighting 7:15 PM
September 23: Candle lighting 8:14 PM*
September 24: Havdalah 8:13 PM
 
YOM KIPPUR
October 1: Candle lighting 7:03 PM
October 2: Havdalah/fast ends 8:02 PM
 
SUKKOT
October 6: Candle lighting 6:56 PM
October 7: Candle lighting 7:55 PM*
October 8: Havdalah 7:54 PM
 
 
SHEMINI ATZERET/SIMCHAT TORAH
October 13: Candle lighting 6:47 PM
October 14: Candle lighting 7:46 PM*
October 15: Havdalah 7:45 PM
 
*no earlier than this time, from a pre-existing flame

 

Giving & Community Connections

FEEDING THE HUNGRY: Throughout the holiday season, we will be collecting non-perishable food items to feed the hungry through the JF&CS Kosher Food Pantry and books for CCC. You can also donate to the Community Assistance Center if you prefer to contribute financially.
 
SHOFAR CHAUFFEUR: Can’t make it to the synagogue? Want to have someone blow shofar for your household or learn how for yourself, email sarah@bnaitorah.org.

HOSTING: Looking for company for a Rosh Hashanah meal or break fast? If you are willing to host or are looking for a group to join, email sarah@bnaitorah.org.
 
KOL NIDRE APPEAL: At this time of year, as we come together to celebrate and welcome a New Year, it is traditional to make a Kol Nidre appeal to our members, and those who join us for the High Holiday services. The Kol Nidre Appeal provides essential funding to build and sustain Jewish life and our community at Congregation B'nai Torah. To participate in our 5785 Kol Nidre Appeal, please click here. 

 

Tashlich - Sunday, September 28

Join B’nai Torah friends and rabbis at one of several convenient times and locations (TBA) to carry out the ancient mystical ritual of Tashlich, symbolically casting away our sins, with a bit of song and inspiration.

 

 

Wed, August 20 2025 26 Av 5785