All About High Holiday Services at Tifereth Israel

As we enter the final months of 5775 our volunteers and staff are busy preparing for the High Holidays. If you are going on vacation this summer, please take a minute to look at this schedule before you leave or give it your immediate attention upon your return. Please note: You must order tickets by July 31st to ensure that the TI staff can do their best to honor seating assignment requests.

Services in the Wolman Sanctuary

TI offers services in the Wolman Sanctuary for Erev Rosh HaShanah, both mornings of Rosh HaShanah, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur morning and afternoon, and Neilah. Services follow TI's year-round practice of combining tradition with a largely lay-led egalitarian service conducted by Rabbi Ethan Seidel. We use Mahzor Lev Shalem, which is rich in commentary and links study and prayer through a synthesis of historical scholarship and spiritual vision. Children are welcome.

Tickets for assigned seats are required in the Wolman Sanctuary for first day of Rosh HaShanah, Kol Nidre andYom Kippur morning. At all other times the Wolman Sanctuary has general seating for all Wolman and Cherner ticket holders. All Wolman Sanctuary ticket holders are welcome to join services in the Cherner Auditorium at any time.

Services in the Cherner Auditorium

TI also offers services in the Cherner Auditorium on the first morning of Rosh HaShanah, for Kol Nidre, and on Yom Kippur morning. These services will be led by TI member Daniel Pedersen, with the participation of community members of all ages. Daniel is skilled service leader with over 35 years of experience in giving drashot and helping people find deeper connection to text, worship and observance.
Services in the Cherner will include a full liturgy, following Mahzor Lev Shalem, but are conducted in a more informal manner than the Wolman Sanctuary service. It is a participatory, family-friendly service that is engaging for both adults and children. The service has open seating.

Special Youth Services on Rosh Hashanah Day 2

TI will be offering special youth services on the second day of Rosh HaShanah in the Cherner Auditorium. Conducted by Eitan Gutin, TI’s Director of Lifelong Learning, these services will take TI's children on a journey through the highlights of the Mahzor in an engaging, meaningful, and age-appropriate way. Prayers will be interspersed with stories that expose children to the deeper meaning of the High Holidays. There will be two sets of services, one for children in grades K-3 and another for grades 4-6. Parents and other adults are welcome to join us for this experience.

Youth Activities and Babysitting

We will be offering a full range of youth activities for children in grades K-7. There will be babysitting for children aged 18 months through Pre-K. Please check the High Holidays schedule for more information.

A highlight for families with children up to 5 years old is the volunteer-led Tot High Holidays services on both mornings of Rosh HaShanah and on Yom Kippur. Services will begin at approximately 10:30 am each morning after the Torah parade in the Cherner Auditorium and will last for 30 minutes.

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Please note that parents are responsible for the supervision of their children and teens unless those children and teens are participating in services or activities supervised by TI staff.  Children and teens must be pre-registered to participate in or volunteer for these programs.  

Accommodating Disabilities and Special Needs

We will offer sign language interpretation at our Cherner Auditorium services on the first morning of Rosh HaShanah, for Kol Nidre, and on Yom Kippur morning.

We have a limited number of reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities. Please contact the TI office if you would like to request one of these spaces.

TI is able to accommodate a limited number of special seating requests. Please contact the office with any such requests ASAP.

There will be a limited number of large print Mahzorim available at both services. You may also purchase a large print Mahzor Lev Shalem for personal use from the link at the top of this page.