High Holy Days
About High Holy Days with Kolot
Beyn Adam LaChavereh בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרֶה
Showing Up for Each Other
As we approach these High Holy Days, we are invited to reflect on how we show up; to consider not only what we stand for, but with whom we stand. When the rabbis of the Talmud outlined these holy days, they considered what we are called to account for as we do the work of teshuva, or returning:
Beyn Adam LaMakom, the responsibilities between a person and God, represents a return to connection that feeds our souls;
Beyn Adam LaChavereh, the responsibilities between people, which the rabbis prioritize, is an obligation to listen and tend to the impacts we have on each other.
Rosh HaShanah 5786
Erev Rosh HaShanah: Monday, September 22
Rosh HaShanah Day 1: Tuesday, September 23
Rosh HaShanah Day 2: Wednesday, September 24
Yom Kippur 5786
Kol Nidre: Wednesday, October 1
Yom Kippur Day: Thursday, October 2
As we move through these Days of Awe, our call is to show up with solidarity and accountability to one another and to put that work at the forefront of our search for connection.
At Kolot, the High Holy Days are uplifting, spiritual, and full of connection, with empowering and healing drashes and beautiful musical offerings from clergy and community members alike. This year Cantor Lisa B. Segal will be joined by our new rabbi, Rabbi Sam Kates-Goldman, and our new student rabbi, Molly Schulman.
We are pleased to announce that we will be returning to Cornerstone Baptist Church for 5786; four of Kolot’s High Holy Day services (Erev Rosh HaShanah, Rosh HaShanah Day One, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur Day) will be held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bed–Stuy, as well as live-streamed. (Rosh HaShanah Day Two services will be held in Prospect Park.)
Sukkot 5786
Erev Sukkot: Monday, October 6
Prospective Members’ Gathering : Sunday, October 12
Simchat Torah 5786
Erev Simchat Torah: Tuesday, October 14
Click here to register, and scroll down for more information on volunteering, donating, and so much more!
If you have any questions, check out our FAQ or contact our Major Events Coordinator Efrat Hakimi at EfratHakimi@kolotchayeinu.org.
Accessibility & Care for Each Other
Cornerstone Baptist Church is ADA-accessible. Parking spots are available free of charge for people with mobility issues, and Avodah volunteers will be available to assist.
Kolot is committed to expanding access to our services for all members and guests. As a matter of disability justice in the era of COVID, masking will be required while inside the Cornerstone Baptist Church, except for those who cannot mask for health reasons, who will have seating designated for them and masked family/friends in the front of the sanctuary.
For a full breakdown of our accessibility plan, see our Accessibility Memo. Please reach out to Interim Justice & Equity Organizer Jen Abrams at JenAbrams@kolotchayeinu.org to discuss any additional accessibility needs you may have.
Registering for HHD 5786
Registration for the 5786 High Holy Days is now open! We can’t wait to be with you for the Days of Awe, whether in person at Cornerstone Baptist Church or virtually over our livestream.
Every adult who plans to join us for in-person services this year must register individually! (That means that if there are multiple adults in one household, each adult must register separately. If there are children in your household, only one adult should register them.)
The registration deadline for Rosh HaShanah services is September 19th, but you can register right now! Early registration helps Kolot staff and clergy with the planning process. We will send registrants materials for the service, including a link to our Digital Machzor (prayer book) and Song Supplements, as we get closer to the High Holy Days. If you are planning to attend virtually, please be sure to register in order to receive the service materials!
If you have to make adjustments to your selections after registering, please contact our Major Events Coordinator, Efrat Hakimi, at EfratHakimi@kolotchayeinu.org.
All Hands Open Doors
Kolot’s High Holy Days services are pay-what-you-can, but keeping our doors open is only made possible by your contributions. We ask that you assess your own capacity to give. If you CAN support over the suggested levels, please do. Your gift will ensure that everyone can share in these Days of Awe.
We suggest donations of $360/person ($720/couple) for non-members, and $180/person ($360/couple) for dues-paying members. It takes all hands to open Kolot’s doors, so please give more if you can, less if you must.
Avodah - Volunteer
Avodah is the sacred work (avodat halev) required of everyone in our community (kehila) to make the High Holy Days run smoothly. We truly need all hands checking people in, helping people find their seats, caring for our little ones, and so much more.
We encourage all High Holy Days attendees ages 12+ to consider signing up to support the work of holding our services. Avodah is a wonderful way to meet and connect with the community and give back, whether or not you are a member. Kolot’s services are pay-what-you-can, so these roles are a crucial part of what enables us to provide inclusive High Holy Days.
Childcare for Ages 0-6
To ensure that you and your kiddos can get the most out of these Days of Awe, and can plan the Holidays with ease, Kolot will be making professional childcare available for children and babies ages 0-6 at the following times:
Rosh HaShanah Day 1: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur Day: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
We will ask that you bring bottles and diapers if your little one needs them, as well as snacks for your toddler, especially if your child has a specific preference. We will also have some snacks available. Please register for childcare by September 15th for a guaranteed spot.
There is a fee of $85/child per service to register your children. If you are in the position to give more, we invite you to sponsor childcare for another family. If this cost is prohibitive, please Jessica Moore, Director of Lifelong Learning, at JessicaMoore@kolotchayeinu.org — money is never a barrier to entry at Kolot.
COVID Protocol: We ask that children three and over wear masks while in the childcare room. Thank you for helping us keep our children safe.
Honor a Loved One with a Machzor Nameplate
We also offer a special way to honor those who have touched your life: a nameplate affixed in our beautiful High Holy Day prayer books (machzors), which were so generously gifted to us all by Bob and Glenn Usdin in honor of their parents and long-time Kolot members Martha and Marvin Usdin z’’l. By purchasing a nameplate, you can memorialize the names of loved ones and express gratitude for the gifts their lives have brought, both past and present, and keep them connected to our sacred community.
Please purchase your nameplate(s) by September 10th for inclusion in the machzors for the 5786 High Holy Days!
Kolot’s Digital Yizkor Book
We are honored to remember your loved ones through our digital Yizkor book, to be shared during Yom Kippur again this year. Our Yizkor book names each person being remembered by a Kolotnik, and is presented as a PDF for everyone to look at during and after Yom Kippur services. This is a beautiful opportunity for us to collectively name those we have lost, and to hold their memories close at one of the holiest moments of the year.
All previous submissions will be carried forward, unless you let us know otherwise. If you have a new submission to make, please do so here by September 19th. If you have questions about the Yizkor book, please contact Major Events Coordinator Efrat Hakimi at EfratHakimi@kolotchayeinu.org.
High Holy Days 5786 Schedule
Click here to download our Schedule at a Glance PDF.
*in-person AND livestreamed
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At Park Slope Jewish Center
9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. - Service*
Join synagogue communities across Brooklyn for a poetic and reflective service full of prayer, song, and study to prepare your heart, mind, and spirit for the Days of Awe. Learn more here.
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At Cornerstone Baptist Church
7:30-9:30 p.m. - Main Service*
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At Cornerstone Baptist Church
9:30 a.m. - Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - Childcare opens
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Main Service*
2:00-3:00 p.m. - Youth and Family Service (ages 6 to 10) in the Sanctuary
The musical, interactive Youth and Family service is led by Ty Citerman and Amanda Miller, and is geared toward school-age youth. We welcome all families with younger children, though five and under must be accompanied by a responsible family member or adult. This will be a family-friendly space for all ages.
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In Prospect Park
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Shofar Service and Tashlich Ritual Offering
This will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
On Zoom
3:00 p.m. - Akedah Text Study with Rabbi Sam
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At Cornerstone Baptist Church
7:00-9:00 p.m. - Main Service*
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At Cornerstone Baptist Church
On Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur we invite you to engage in quiet conversation or contemplation to honor the holiness of this day, as well as foregoing leather if possible, and wearing clothing that helps you enter the day with intention.
10:00 a.m. - Childcare opens
10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Main Service*
1:30-2:30 p.m. - Youth and Family Service (ages 6 to 10) in the Sanctuary
The musical, interactive Youth and Family service is geared toward school-age youth. We welcome all families with younger children, though five and under must be accompanied by a responsible family member or adult. This will be a family-friendly space for all ages.
1:30-4:45 p.m. - Avodah & Adult Learning Opportunities
5:00-7:30 p.m. - Yizkor / Neilah / Havdalah* in the Sanctuary, followed by break-fast
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In Prospect Park
5:30-8:00 p.m. - Sukkot Celebration
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In Prospect Park
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Meet and Greet
Has spending the High Holy Days with Kolot gotten you interested in becoming a member? This is the event for you! Come to this gathering hosted by our Membership Engagement Committee to hear from clergy, staff, and current members about what membership at Kolot offers and to get any questions you may have answered.
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In-Person at Church of Gethsemane
6:00-8:00 p.m. - Service
Kolot's next chapter starts now—with you!
Make this the year you become a member and find your place in this vibrant, diverse and sacred community, our Kehila Kedosha, where all hands are needed. Our dues structure was created with inclusivity at the forefront of our minds: Anyone can be a member of Kolot, regardless of financial circumstances.