Don’t let a fear of high ticket prices keep you from High Holidays services. Here is TC Jewfolk’s comprehensive list of those synagogues in town specifically reaching out to younger folk – those of us in our 20s, 30s and 40s – with free or reduced tickets for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Pick one shul, or use the High Holidays to go shul-hopping with friends. We’ll see you there.
Reform:
- Bet Shalom in Saint Louis Park, MN. Free tickets for students. Call Andrea Blumberg at (952) 933-8525 to get tickets in advance. High Holiday Schedule.
- Mount Zion in Saint Paul, MN. Free tickets to High Holiday Services for students or for non-students IF you attend Mount Zion’s free Open House and Brunch on Sunday, September 13th from 10am-12noon. RSVP for the open house to Heather at [email protected]. If you can’t attend the open house, tickets are $54 (but pay what you can afford) and can be purchased from Jane at [email protected]. High Holidays Schedule.
- Shir Tikvah Congregation in Minneapolis, MN. Free admission; no tickets necessary. Services held at the First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Avenue South. High Holidays schedule. Call 612-822-1440.
- Temple Israel in Minneapolis, MN. Free admission, but admission card required. Contact Jackie Fitzcollins at (612) 374-0324 or [email protected] for an admission card. High Holidays Schedule.
Conservative:
- Adath Jeshurun in Minnetonka, MN. Tickets are $25 for college students, free for those under the age of 30 who are living in their parents’ home. Otherwise $250. High Holiday Schedule.
- Beth Jacob in Mendota Heights, MN. Free admission; no tickets necessary. High Holiday Programming Guide.
- Beth El in St. Louis Park, MN. Tickets free for students and cost should not be a barrier for others. Contact Linda Goldberg at (952)920-3512.
- B’nai Emet in Saint Louis Park, MN. Free for students. Tickets required for admission. Otherwise $150. High Holidays Schedule.
- Sharei Chesed in Minnetonka, MN. Contact the congregation at (763) 545-8800 to make arrangements.
- Temple of Aaron in Saint Paul, MN. Free tickets to High Holiday services if you are 30-years-old or younger. If over 30, cost negotiable. Call Ken Agranoff at (651) 698-8874 x106 to reserve your tickets. Check out their High Holiday Schedule.
Orthodox:
- Adath Israel in Saint Paul, MN. Free admission; no tickets necessary. Call Rabbi Zeiliengold at (651) 698-8300 for more info and the services schedule.
- Chabad Minneapolis. No tickets required, but advance RSVP requested. Please call (952) 929-9922. High Holidays Schedule.
- Chabad House Saint Paul: No tickets required. All are welcome. Call Mendel Feller, Rabbi at the Chabad House at (651) 554-7700 for more information.
- Congregation Darchei Noam in St. Louis Park, MN. No tickets necessary, but donations are appreciated. Call (612) 920-3424 for more info.
- Kenesseth Israel in St. Louis Park, MN. No tickets necessary. Call the office at (952) 920-2183 for more info.
Other
- Congregation Bais Menachem in Saint Paul, MN. Russian. Free. No tickets necessary. High-Holidays schedule.
- Hillel at the UofM. Free tickets for students with reservations, and students can call Hillel to arrange for home hospitality with local families. High Holidays Schedule.
- Mayim Rabim (reconstructionist) in Minneapolis, MN. Students and young professionals can pay what they feel they can afford. Contact President Isaac Kaufman at [email protected] or at (651) 238-7012. High Holiday schedule.
- Or Emet in Minneapolis, MN. Humanistic. Free admission; no tickets necessary. Services at the Sabes JCC in Minneapolis. High Holiday Schedule.
Where will you be for services this year? Will you join your family at the synagogue you belonged to as a child? Join your new boyfriend at his family’s shul? Try out a new temple with your friends? How do you balance high holiday attendance when different family members belong to different synagogues? We would love to hear your insight – and advice – in the comments.
(Photo of Beth Jacob Congregation sanctuary)
So this is the first year (hopefully one of many) that I’m attending some of the services for the high holidays with my boyfriend’s family. I get to check out a new shul – B’nai Emet – which is neat, and a new way to experience this season of renewal. It will be a balance though – I’ll be away from my family for half of the holiday, but isn’t that what growing up and meeting a significant other is about anyway? Learning to balance the family you grew up in with the world you are creating for yourself?
I’ll be at Temple of Aaron – You can catch me during “Bet” services on the right side of the sanctuary (facing the bimah), towards the back if you’re a visitor looking for a friendly face.
That is what it’s about. Sometimes I secretly think that the reason there’s two days of Rosh and two Seders is so that we can have one with each family.
Even before I had to balance my preferences with my partner, my liturgical tastes didn’t necessarily jibe with that of my parents. It’s great to see that this year even more local synagogues are being accommodating to “non-members.” Even just a few years ago this was not the case.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the accessibility — it’s way better than I expected, and bodes well for the 20s/30s Jewish population. Nice work collecting all this!
Thank you for saying that those of us in our 40’s are still “younger folk!” 😀