TC Jewfolk’s 2020/5781 High Holiday Guide

We’re a couple of weeks away from the start of the Jewish holiday season that will be unlike one any of us have experienced. But that isn’t stopping us from bringing you TC Jewfolk’s comprehensive guide to high holiday services across the region and religious spectrum. No matter where you are or what kind of service you prefer, we’ve got your high holidays hookup.

This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at nightfall on Friday, Sept. 18, and Yom Kippur begins at nightfall on Sunday, Sept. 27. Be sure to contact your preferred place of worship in advance to get all the links you’ll need to attend the services that are the best fit for you.

If the synagogue you’re looking for isn’t listed, please contact them directly.

Reform

  • Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka is shifting to a hybrid model for the High Holidays. We are excited to offer in-person and virtual experiences. We are also providing age-specific events and services. A majority of our services will be pre-recorded, and we have limited space for in-person events. While there is no charge for our services and events, we always appreciate voluntary donations of any amount which helps us continue to offer many programs to the community. For more information, links, and sign-ups, please email [email protected]. Shana tova!
  • Mount Zion Temple – Primarily online with some in-Person experiences. With courage, faith, and compassion we are confident that these High Holy Days will bring – in new ways – spiritual renewal. We have some information in our High Holy Day bulletin, and we will be adding more details on our High Holy Day webpage, including the full schedule and video messages explaining how to navigate all that is new. We will also have an On-Call Shamash on hand to help you out as needed. As always, we approach the arrival of the new Jewish year with awe and trepidation. This year, 5781, we come with a bit more trepidation with new formats, but with awe for all we will be experiencing together. As in years past, guests are welcome to be part of our High Holy Day services and programs. This year, please sign up to receive emails with all the details and updates. We invite you to consider offering a free-will donation to Mount Zion. Members’ and guests’ contributions are what enable us to be the vibrant and welcoming Jewish spiritual home we strive to provide for our community.
  • Shir Tikvah Congregation: While none of us could imagine planning for the High Holy Days in a time of global pandemic or global uprising for Black Lives Matter (and the radical transformation of policing and public safety), this moment has called upon us to pause and reimagine what the High Holy Days looks like and means to us this year. Please email our office to learn about our comprehensive programming and the many ways we’ll gather for High Holy Days 5781. We’ll worship together on Zoom; we’ll learn together at home; and gather (safely) outside. We feel the weight of these changes with you. We’re striving to meet all this moment demands of us. We’ll do our best to provide an inspiring, nourishing, joyous, transformative High Holy Days and hold the work of personal and communal t’shuvah– turning our hearts and our lives, and our communities towards greater wholeness, hope, and justice.
  • Temple Israel in Minneapolis welcomes all who want to celebrate and observe the High Holy Days. For links to any of the programs, contact [email protected]. Erev Rosh HaShanah, Friday, Sept. 18: 4:45 p.m. Traditional Service; 6:30 p.m. Nefesh-Style Service and Seder. Saturday, Sept. 19: 9 a.m. Torah Study; 9 a.m. Tot service; 10:30 a.m. Morning Service including Virtual TIPTY Choir; 10:30 a.m. Learner’s service for grades 2-5. Sunday, Sept. 20: 11:30 a.m. Memorial service; 3:30 p.m. Confirmation 2019-20 service. Kol Nidre/Erev Yom Kippur, Sunday, Sept. 27; 4:45 p.m. traditional service; Monday, Sept. 28: 9 a.m. Tot Service; 10:30 a.m. Morning Service with Virtual TIPTY Choir, 10:30 a.m. Learners’ Service for Grades 2-5; 1 p.m. Yom Kippur Study Session; 4:00 p.m. Afternoon, Healing, Yizkor, and Ne’ilah Service.

Conservative

  • Adath Jeshurun is a progressive, egalitarian and sacred community. No tickets and no one is turned away – bring and be yourself on the High Holy Days. Come as you are to Adath Jeshurun Congregation’s virtual services and leave somehow changed for the rest of the year. We can also arrange for you to be hosted at a virtual holiday meal and connect you to a vibrant community of spiritual seekers beyond the High Holy Days. We warmly welcome you to egalitarian services and invite you to connect with us. For complete information on the High Holy Days at Adath visit us on the web at adathjeshurun.org/hhd or review our High Holy Day Clarion. Please feel free to contact Andrea Blumberg, at [email protected] or 952.545.2424. L’shanah Tovah from Adath.
  • Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park: no tickets, no charge, and no financial solicitation! We would love for you to join us for the High Holy Days – and the rest of the year, too! Beth El Synagogue is a warm and welcoming egalitarian and spiritual community, where Judaism is relevant and meaningful for all ages. This year, we are excited to offer a rich array of virtual services and programs  for all ages and interests to enhance your High Holy Day experience! View our schedule and please contact Liz Rappaport, our Director of Engagement and Program Operations, with any questions!. E-mail Liz at [email protected] or call 952-873-7314. For more High Holy Day information, visit: www.bethelsynagogue.org.
  • Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights is an egalitarian and participatory community where anyone and everyone is welcome. Despite social distancing, we will have a full array of on-line High Holy Day services this year, led by our new Senior Rabbi, Adam Rubin. From Rosh Hashanah to our Break Out Break Fast on Yom Kippur, from Sukkot breakfasts to our festive Simchat Torah celebration, we observe the Holy Days with joy, meaning, and a true spirit of welcoming. This year’s creative on-line children’s services include a special musical service by three of the top Jewish music educators in North America – Rick Recht, Shira Kline, and Rabbi Josh Warshawsky. We also have programs just for teens. Feel free to reach out at 651-452-2226 or [email protected] for more.  See our High Holy Day Schedule and Guide at www.Beth-Jacob.org/hhinfo
  • Sharei Chesed conducts conduct Conservative-style services, with readings in Hebrew and English. Erev Rosh Hashanah services are Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. via zoom. Rosh Hashanah first and second-day services are live-streamed from the sanctuary beginning at 10 a.m. Tashlich will be held weather permitting at the lake near the shul. Kol Nidre services will be held on zoom at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 27. Yom Kippur and Yizkor services are held Monday at 10 a.m. and will be live-streamed from the sanctuary. Mincha, Neilah, and shofar blowing will be shown via pre-recorded access on the evening of Sept. 29. For links and more information, email Rabbi Daniel Ettedgui.
  • You are always virtually welcome at Temple of Aaron! This year, we will be providing different experiences that will be available on the Temple of Aaron YouTube page. We will have exciting programs for young families and adults alike. We will have pre-recorded videos for our Rosh HaShannah services including Rabbi Fine, Cantor Fineblum, and our musician in residence from last year Coleen Dieker. Our assistant rabbi, Rabbi Miller will record an erev Rosh HaShannah seder for families to be used prior to or during their festive meals. There will be a special young family service that will include music, puppets, and crafts to commemorate the new year. Our Yom Kippur services will be live-streamed on Kol Nidre, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., and Yom Kippur morning, Sept. 28 at 9:30 a.m. We are partnering with the Bible players to make fun and interactive videos for our youngest members around themes of Yom Kippur and have video available about the book of Jonah. If you are interested in joining us virtually this year and have any questions please contact our Executive Director Ken Agranoff ([email protected]or 651-252-6406) to explore of virtual options. If you would more information about our community and what we have to offer please follow us on YouTube, like us on Facebook, or check out our website.

Orthodox/Traditional

  • Darchei Noam in St. Louis Park is holding socially distanced, in-person, outdoor minyanim under a tent for the holidays. Signup is required to reserve your spot here. Saturday and Sunday morning services on Sept. 19 and 20 are 7-9 a.m. and 9:30-11:30 a.m. Shofar blowing on Sunday will be at approximately 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. during the respective services.
  • Minneapolis Chabad in Minnetonka. All are welcome at Chabad of Minneapolis. Our Services are meaningful, engaging, user-friendly in a warm and personal atmosphere. We’ve designed the services so that you can actually enjoy them! Try us – you will not be disappointed. Services are in-person (following CDC and MDH guidelines), free, no membership or affiliation necessary, RSVP REQUIRED. For a full schedule and to RSVP, visit chabadminneapolis.com.

Reconstructionist

  • Mayim Rabim Congregation is a warm and eclectic Jewish Reconstructionist community in South Minneapolis. High Holiday Services will be led by Rabbi Stiefel and congregants. Email us at [email protected] for the Zoom links. For Rosh Hashanah, we will gather on Friday Sept. 18, from 6-7 p.m., and again on Saturday, Sept. 19. High Holiday services will be held from 10 a.m.-noon. Services for the second day of Rosh Hashanah are Sunday, Sept. 20, from 10-11:45 a.m. On Sunday, 9/20 at 4 PM, we will meet for shofar blowing and the Tashlich (casting off sins) ritual, in person, weather permitting, at Minnehaha Creek.  Meet us with your mask at the corner of Humboldt Avenue South and West Minnehaha Parkway (drive south one long block from 50th Street). Yom Kippur begins on Sunday Sept. 27, with Kol Nidre from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 includes services from 10 a.m.-noon, the Yizkor memorial service at 4:45 p.m., a study session from 5:15-6 p.m. The closing services will be from 5-7:41 p.m., ending with one last long blast of the Shofar. Break the fast after the sun sets; on your own this year, hopefully together next year! You can make a donation on our website but everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. Questions, call the office at 612-247-5490 or email [email protected]. Shanah Tovah!

Humanistic Judaism

  • Or Emet, the Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, is celebrating this year’s High Holidays with the following online programs, led by rabbinic candidate Eva Cohen: Erev Rosh Hashanah: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18; Tashlich: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19; Kol Nidre: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27; Yom Kippur: 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28. For Humanistic Jews, the High Holidays are a time to reflect on the relationship of the universe to human need and desire. We assess our behavior during the past year and affirm the possibilities for change, improvement and happiness. The High Holidays open the Jewish year with the most important message of Jewish history: human dignity is not a gift of destiny; it is a human achievement, requiring courage and self-reliance. All services will be held online, with advance registration required. If you are interested in attending, please email Or Emet president Scott Chazdon at [email protected]. For further information about Or Emet’s High Holiday services, contact [email protected]. For general information about Or Emet, contact [email protected] or visit their website.

Other/Independent

  • Join J-Pride for all our sweet High Holiday offerings! Sunday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.: Meet us for singing and davening on Zoom with Kohenet Sharon Jaffe, Julie Dean, and Arielle Forstein. Afterwards, sign up for a time between 2-4 p.m. and come out to Wood Lake with your pod for Tashlich, reflection, and letting go. Register by Sept. 18 to receive a Break-the-Fast care package and join us on Monday, September 28th at 9 p.m. for Havdalah, limmud, and schmooze! Interested in joining us in our brand new J-Pride Sukkah? Shoot an email to Miriam Graham, program coordinator at [email protected] for more info coming soon. Registration for High Holiday shenanigans will be open until Sept. 18. Sign up here!

  • PJ Library has created an online, interactive High Holiday at Home guide. For more information, contact Carrie Fink or Stacy Dockman.

  • Temple Israel (of Duluth) is affiliated with both the Reform and Reconstructionist movements. All are welcome to participate in our High Holiday services (as well as all other services and programs throughout the year). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic all of this year’s High Holiday programming will be virtual on Zoom unless otherwise indicated. Please contact our office at [email protected] to obtain the link, and check the website for the complete schedule. Donations to defray our costs are welcome but not required. In particular, no donations are requested or expected from students from outside the Duluth area who are attending college in Duluth. Our High Holiday service schedule for 2020 is as follows: For further information please call our office at 218-724-8857 or e-mail [email protected].
  • For additional Holiday offerings from outside the Twin Cities, refer to our Holidays + Observances resource guide!

Note: If you’re a community leader and would like to be added to this listing, please email [email protected] with the information and any relevant links.