NYC Free & Cheap Jewish High Holy Day Services

Rosh Hashonah begins on Friday, Sept. 18, ushering in the High Holy Days through Yom Kippur. 

These NYC synagogues and temples are offering a combination of free and cheap, virtual and socially-distanced in-person services to welcome 5781.

There’s also live Shofar blowing events, on the streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn, on the second day of Rosh Hashonah at 4pm.

Shofar in the Streets  has more than a dozen Manhattan synagogues jointly participating by blowing the shofar together, much like the 7pm salute to Front Line medical workers and First Responders, which has been a nightly event since mid-March.

Listen from your windows and balconies or join the celebration on the streets. Please wear your masks and maintain social distance. 

Join in person at 4pm on Sunday, Sept. 20

• E 87th Street & Madison Avenue
  E 90th Street & Fifth Avenue

Shofars Across Brooklyn, also at 4pm Sunday, also has multiple synagogues participating.

• Find the list here, searchable by neighborhood.

l’Shanah Tovah from Evelyn Kanter, NYCOTC Editor.

The Actor’s Temple

Founded by theater people, this synagogue in the Theater District is offering FREE virtual services via Zoom. 

Of course, a donation is welcome, even expected, including for the downloadable prayer book.

High Holy Days services on Zoom:

 Erev Rosh Hashanah: Friday, September 18, 7 PM.

 Rosh Hashanah Morning: Saturday, September 19, 10 AM

 Free Service for the Community: Saturday, September 19, 7:30 PM

  Rosh Hashanah Creative Service: Sunday, September 20, 10 AM

  Tashlich: Sunday, September 20, 2 PM (Gather at Actors’ Temple and walk to the Hudson River)

   Kol Nidre: Sunday, September 27, 6:30 PM

   Yom Kippur: Monday, September 28, 10 AM; Yizkor at 1 PM, Study at 3 PM, Afternoon Service at 5 PM.

• Link to Website for all the Holy Days information: http://www.theactorstemple.org/events/upcoming-special-events/2020-21-membership-high-holidays-and-more 

The Greenpoint Shul

This Brooklyn synagogue is offering a combination of virtual and on-site prayer, meditation and even holiday-themed yoga.   All events are FREE. 

Sign up soonest, especially for the in-person events, which have limited availability.

Erev Rosh Hashana –  September 18

Maariv 7:00pm, Noble St. Sanctuary, followed by Building Vision Update with Architect & Board Member Daphne Lasky (20 tickets)

Rosh Hashana First Day – September 19

Self-Change: Jewish Meditation, Breathing, & Movement, 9:00am-10:30am, Transmitter Park, led by Yitzy Hoppenstein (20 Tickets)

Torah Study: Daf Yomi (Eruvin 40), 10:15am-11:00am, with R. Ben Greenfield, Brooklyn Expo Center (20 Tickets)

Main Event Rosh Hashana Davening, 11:00am-1:15pm, Brooklyn Expo Center, with R. Greenfield and Chazzan Yoni Kretzmer (75 Tickets)

Rosh Hashana Simanim Seder and Hangout #1, 4:00pm, Noble St. Backyard (12 Tickets)

Rosh Hashana Simanim Seder and Hangout #2, 5:00pm, Noble St. Backyard (12 Tickets)

Mincha & Maariv, 6:30pm, Noble St. Sanctuary followed by Building Vision Update with Architect & Board Member Daphne Lasky (20 tickets)

Late Night Torah Vigil: Teshuva Practices + Teshuva Sources 10:00-11:00pm, McGolrick Park

Rosh Hashana Second Day – September 20

Early Shofar Service (Reserved for People at Higher Risk), 8:00am, Brooklyn Expo Center Outdoor Parking Lot (30 Tickets)

Rosh Hashana Meditation: Hearing the Shofar, Breathing the Shofar, 9:00am, Transmitter Park, led by Yitzy Hoppenstein (20 Tickets)

Rosh Hashana Yoga: Like Honey, 9:45am, Transmitter Park, led by Nadine Azoulay (20 Tickets)

Torah Study: Visual Interpretations of Akeidat Yitzhak (Binding of Isaac), 10:15am-11:00am, with R. Ben Greenfield, Brooklyn Expo Center (20 Tickets)

Main Event Rosh Hashana Davening, 11:00am-1:15pm, Brooklyn Expo Center, with R. Greenfield and Chazzan Yoni Kretzmer (75 Tickets)

Outdoor Shofar Service, 3:00pm, McGolrick Park (40 Tickets)

Tkiya! Rosh Hashana Songs for Kids, 3:15pm, McCarren Park (10 Family Tickets)

Outdoor Shofar Service, 4:00pm, McCarren Park (40 Tickets)

Tashlich, 5:15pm, Transmitter Park (25 Tickets)

Mincha & Front Stoop Popsicle Hangout, 6:15pm, Noble St. Sanctuary (25 Tickets)

Zoom Havdalah and Elul Reflection, 8:00pm, with Celine Alderman and R. Ben Greenfield

• Registration is required.  Register here.

Temple Emanu-el

The world-famous Fifth Avenue synagogue livestreams its services regularly, including weekly Shabbat services.

High Holy Day services are being livestreamed on the temple’s Facebook page, including Kol Nidre.

92nd St. Y

Once again, services are led by the Y’s own Rabbi Elka Abrahamson and music director Elana Arian, virtually. 

Rosh Hashanah: 

Fri, Sep 18 – 6 pm
Sat, Sep 19 – 10 am
Sun, Sep 20 – 10 am

Yom Kippur:

Sun, Sep 27 – 6 pm
Mon, Sep 28 – 10 am
Concluding Service – 5:30 pm

Access to all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services for $72, which is a bargain compared with last year’s in-person price of $500.  The Y also will be streaming services on its Facebook page for free.

• Purchase tickets here.

Central Synagogue

This 2,600-member Reform congregation is one of the largest synagogues in North America.

The synagogue streams its High Holidays services free on its website and on its Facebook page.

The Reform congregation has livestreamed its services since 2008, and also has pre-recorded pre-recorded Shofar blasts.

Park Avenue Synagogue

This is a 1,650-family Conservative congregation in Manhattan. 

It ’s vision includes practicing “a Judaism filled with love, literacy, reverence, compassion, and joy” and striving “to make our ancient tradition compelling and welcoming to contemporary Jewry and to serve as a light unto our fellow Jews and the nations.” Led by Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove.

More Resources for Services:

Find more shul’s in other cities and other time zones offering livestream services, on MyJewishLearning.com

Another resource is the NYC branch of the UJA Federation, which lets you search by location or by Orthodox, Conservative or Reform.

• Click here to find a service.

Chabad.org lets you search for services by state, city or zipcode.  There are more than 400 listings, including for Shofar in the streets events in NYC and nationwide.

Haggadot.com, a nonprofit site for crowdsourcing the Passover prayer book, recently debuted the HighHolidays@Home website with downloadable prayers and guided meditations and advice, including a free webinar for creating a simple altar.