Enter the Mishkan
As 5785 draws near, we are especially grateful for Temple Emanu-El’s presence as our mishkan — a haven of hope, a wellspring of strength and a source of light for our lives and our world.
It’s been a difficult year for the Jewish people, since the joy and promise of new beginnings were shattered on Oct. 7. We experienced a wide range of emotions in response to worldwide events and our own more personal experiences. And while it may be hard to talk about some issues and feelings, we can come together in the mishkan, and here be seen and heard, learn and reflect, and pray for peace for ourselves, for others and our planet.
This year, more than ever, as we arrive at the new year and its possibilities, it’s time to come together in the Temple Emanu-El mishkan, our holy tabernacle of blessing and mitzvot. Come with open hearts. Come with doubt and courage. Come with curiosity and compassion. Come so we can be partners, with each other and the Holy One, in creating a community where all feel welcome and safe to share gifts of heart, mind and spirit.
Welcome to 5785; may it be a year of return, renewal and wholeness.
Find the member link to register, Book of Remembrance submission form and other important information here. Please note that there are some exciting changes to this year’s schedule, which are explained below.
New This Year
We are pleased to introduce significant schedule changes that reflect how our members join together in prayer, offer better opportunities for families and provide greater opportunities to learn with our clergy. Temple Emanu-El clergy and staff, in close partnership with the High Holy Days Advisory Team, have worked for many months to create meaningful, spiritual and connective experiences for all members. See below for schedule changes, highlights and the philosophy behind them.
Rosh Hashanah Day
• We are continuing last year’s practice of offering two daytime options for prayer, one in Olan Sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. and one in in Stern Chapel at 1 p.m.
Philosophy: These changes recognize and reorganize how our members engage in High Holy Days services, especially since 2020. The number of participants remains the same, but our community now chooses from various modalities. Some only come in person, some only participate online, and many choose both in-person and online attendance. We continue offering two daytime options, in two different styles, instead of repeating the morning service as we have done historically.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
• The Tots and Their Families service will begin at 9 a.m.
• The Family Service will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Philosophy: Based on feedback from families, the service times have been adjusted to be better suited to specific age ranges. We are excited that the time shifts allow for a cantor to participate in both services.
Yom Kippur
• A single Kol Nidre service will begin at 7:30 p.m.
• A single morning service will begin at 10 am.m
• Temple clergy will lead expanded spiritual and study experiences from 12:30-2:15 p.m.
• The Prayer and Music of the Heart service will begin at 3 p.m.
• Yizkor will begin at 4:30 p.m.
• N’ilah and Havdalah will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Philosophy: Identifying the time for our single Kol Nidre service has been an ongoing conversation among clergy, staff and lay leadership. Our goal is to balance the traditional practice of eating before Kol Nidre with our community’s diverse needs and historical experiences. We recognize the logistical challenges this presents to many and encourage all to create new traditions for this most sacred of days. During the day, we hope more members will now spend the day engaged in a variety of spiritual practices that help do the sacred work of the season in different ways. We also offer maximum flexibility with livestreaming of most services; recordings are available once the services have concluded.