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.
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.
ROSH HASHANAH | ||||
Friday, September 18 | ||||
5:30 PM | Eve of Rosh Hashanah Service, with sermon by Rabbi Joshua Davidson (Rabbi Davidson will preach at the beginning of the service) | |||
8:00 PM | Shir Chadash, a musical service with sermon by Rabbi Rachel Gross-Prinz | |||
Saturday, September 19 | ||||
10:00 AM | Morning of Rosh Hashanah Service, with sermon by Rabbi Amy Ehrlich | |||
12:00 PM | Address from Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin and Ambassador Ido Aharoni | |||
YOM KIPPUR | ||||
Sunday, September 27 | ||||
5:30 PM | Shir Chadash, a musical service with sermon by Rabbi Andrue Kahn | |||
8:00 PM | Kol Nidrei Evening Service, with sermon by Rabbi Joshua Davidson | |||
Monday, September 28 | ||||
10:00 AM | Yom Kippur Morning Service, with sermon by Rabbi Amy Ehrlich | |||
12:00 PM | Study Sessions, featuring: Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israeli Religious Action Center Warren Klein, Curator of the Bernard Museum of Judaica | |||
3:00 PM | Afternoon, Avodah, Yizkor and Neilah Services, with sermon by Rabbi Sara Sapadin | |||
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.
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.
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.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.