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Shaaray Tefila welcomes the Jewish New Year on Rosh Hashanah and observes the 10 Days of Awe with worship on Shabbat Shuvah and Yom Kippur.
We conduct two (early and late) services on Rosh HaShanah morning, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur morning.
Shaaray Tefila adds to the beauty of the holidays with special touches of our own. The High Holy Days season is ushered in with a late-night Selichot service of creative worship. On the afternoon of Rosh HaShanah, hundreds of congregants join in a Tashlich service conducted beside the East River. On Yom Kippur, services culminate with a deeply touching Neilah service and Havdalah.
We host age-appropriate activities and services for all children during the High Holy Days, ranging from babysitting, to programs for children of various ages, to youth services for middle and high school students.
HIGH HOLY DAYS GENERAL INFORMATION 2012 / 5773
Security and Ticket Information
Financial
Visitor and Guest Tickets
Mailing of Tickets
Student Tickets
Services in the Raisler Room
Children’s Services
Babysitting
Community Yizkor
Schedule of Services
Security and Ticket Information
For the safety of our congregation, we have an increased security presence both in and around the Temple.
Additionally, for security reasons:
• We will not allow any packages, backpacks, briefcases or shopping bags in the Temple building during our High Holy Days worship services.
• No one will be allowed in without a ticket.
• Tickets are not transferable and may not be given to non-members; tickets used in an unauthorized manner will be confiscated.
• We encourage women to leave their purses at home if possible. Whether large or small, they must be searched. This process will slow entry into the Temple.
Financial
In order for your High Holy Days tickets to be processed, at least 50% of your dues and fees must be paid or arrangements made with the Executive Director or Controller.
Visitor and Guest Tickets
Friends or family members who belong to out-of-town Reform congregations may request seats at our services by having their home congregation mail or fax a Courtesy Request Form to our office.
Members with out-of-town family not affiliated with another Reform congregation may purchase guest tickets at $360 each which covers all High Holy Days services, or $180 for Rosh HaShanah alone, or $180 for Yom Kippur alone. A limited number of guest tickets are available. Purchases are restricted to two tickets per family, and they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mailing of Tickets
Tickets will be mailed about two weeks before Rosh HaShanah. Tickets will be issued in person, at the Temple office, for anyone whose fees are received after the mailing.
Student Tickets
Members’ children who are 25 years old or younger, and dependent children who are engaged in full-time undergraduate/graduate education, may attend services as part of their parents’ memberships. We encourage all young adults (under 30) to join the Temple as Junior Members at special reduced rates. Please contact the office to arrange for such memberships.
Services in the Raisler Room
Seating in the Raisler Room gives us the extra capacity we need to accommodate all of our members for the High Holy Days. All new members (first two years) will attend services in our Raisler Room conducted by our regular team of clergy. Representatives of our Board of Trustees and committees also attend services in the Raisler Room so that they may welcome and worship with new members. In addition, all long-term members have the option of attending this service (and many prefer its intimate style).
Please note: Members who arrive late may be asked to attend services wherever seats are available.
Children’s Services
School-age children who are not able to sit through adult worship services should attend the Children/Youth services appropriate for their grades. These services and programs occur at the same time as the early evening and morning services.
Programs and Services for children in Grades 3, 4, and 5 are held at the Birch Wathen Lenox School at 210 East 77th Street. Shaaray Tefila school staff will be at BWL thirty minutes before the start of services (evenings at 5:30 pm and mornings at 8:00 am) and will remain until all children are picked up. Children in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will have their Programs and Services at the Temple.
Youth and Teen Services for Grades 6-12 take place at Birch Wathen Lenox School at 12:30 pm on the first day of Rosh HaShanah and on Yom Kippur.
For their own safety, children are not permitted to leave on their own from any program. Parents of children in Grades K-5 must pick up their children. Parents will need to present their tickets in order to enter the BWL school.
No child or teen will be allowed in the halls during services. Children must remain under parental supervision at all times, unless attending a service/program. Other than supervised planned activities, the congregation takes no responsibility for guaranteeing the safety and security of children inside or outside the building.
Babysitting
Babysitting is offered for the early evening and early morning services on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Babysitting is not available during late services. Please send in the registration form so that we may have the proper ratio of adults to children. A drink and snack will be provided. We can provide babysitting only for children who are able to walk. Please note that there is no babysitting at the Second Day Rosh HaShanah Lay-Led Service.
Community Yizkor
On Yom Kippur, a limited number of tickets are available for our Community Yizkor services (due to space constraints). The services are at 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Tickets are distributed one hour prior to each service.
Schedule of Services
Our schedule of High Holy Days services for 5774 will appear in Summer, 2013.