High Holy Days 2024/5785
ימים נוראים • Yamim Nora'im • Days of Awe
CBST is an LGBTQ+ synagogue for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Our services are open to all. We have an open door policy which never requires a fee to join any of our services.
Our High Holy Day services are free to all and include opportunities for self-reflection, beautiful communal singing, and Jewish teachings for a world in need of our prayers and our actions. Whether in-person or online, your voice, your mind, and your heart have a home here.
Schedule for the Yamim Noraim
This includes Families with Kids Services, which take place on Rosh Hashanah Day I and Yom Kippur.
Click the “+” to open the full details for each holiday.
Selichot, Sunday, September 28
Saturday, September 28, 9:00pm at 130 W. 30th Street
Rosh Hashanah, Wednesday, October 2nd to Friday, October 4
Rosh Hashanah Evening
Wednesday, October 2, 6:00pm at Masonic Hall (Closed Captioning)
Rosh Hashanah Day I
Thursday, October 3
Main Services, 9:00am at Masonic Hall (Closed Captioning)
Families with Kids (k-7th grade), 10:00am at 130 W. 30th Street
Alef-Bet Family Services (0-5 years old), 11:00am at 130 W. 30th Street
Tashlich, 2:30pm at Pier 64 at Hudson River Park and W. 24th Street
Ma’ariv Evening Services, Rosh Hashanah Day II, 7:00pm at Masonic Hall (Closed Captioning)
Rosh Hashanah Day II
Friday, October 4
Main Services, 9:00am at Masonic Hall (Closed Captioning)
Shabbat, Friday, October 4 to Saturday, October 5
Kabbalat Shabbat Services – Shabbat Shuvah, 6:30pm at 130 W. 30th Street
No Shabbat morning services on Saturday, October 5
Havdalah
Saturday, October 5, 7:30pm via Zoom
CBST Cemetery Visit, Sunday, October 6
CBST Cemetery Visit
Sunday, October 6, 12:00pm, details TBA
During the Days of Awe, it is traditional to visit the cemetery to memorialize loved ones. Visit our CBST cemetery plot to hold a brief service and recite memorial prayers for every CBST member buried there. Please note: Transportation will not be provided.
CBST CEMETERY LOCATION – Directions.
Block 20, Section 3, Lot 14
Cedar Park Cemetery
735 Forest Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652
GPS coordinates: 40°58’04.7″N 74°03’09.4″W
***For information about purchasing plots, contact: Membership, giving@cbst.org
October 7: Seven Hours of Reflection
Monday, October 7, 12:00 – 7:00pm
In person and via Zoom
Stop by CBST for a few minutes or a few hours as we read all 150 biblical Psalms in seven parts and create space for prayer and reflection on the past twelve months of violence and trauma.
If you are interested in leading the reading of a Psalm, please indicate “I am interested in leading the reading of a Psalm” and what hour between 12pm and 7pm on the registration form.
Yom Kippur, Friday, October 11 to Saturday, October 12
Yom Kippur – Kol Nidre Service
Friday, October 11, 6:00pm at the Jacob Javits Center (Open Captioning)
Yom Kippur Services
Saturday, October 12
Main Services, 9:00am at the Jacob Javits Center (Open Captioning)
Families with Kids Service (k-7th grade), 10:00am at the Jacob Javits Center
Alef-Bet Family Services (0-5 years old), 11:00am at the Jacob Javits Center
Afternoon Study Sessions, 2:45pm at the Jacob Javits Center
Yom Kippur Evening Services with Neilah, 4:30pm at the Jacob Javits Center
Shofar and Havdalah, 6:59pm at the Jacob Javits Center
Yom Kippur Afternoon Study Sessions
In-Person:
- Meeting Each Other in this Moment with Rabbi Jason Klein
- Do Not Separate Yourself from Your Community with Rabbi Yael Werber
- Teen Meet and Discussion with Miya Rotstein
- Immersing in Divine Forgiveness with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Alana Krivo-Kaufman
- Contemplative Yoga with Hilary Nudell
- NY’s inclusive ERA: vowing to protect LGBTQ+ and women’s rights in 5785 and beyond with Lynn Paltrow and Rabbi Yael Rapport
Online:
Sukkot, Shabbat, Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Thursday, October 17 to Thursday, October 24
Sukkot Day I
Thursday, October 17, 10:00am at 130 W. 30th Street
Kabbalat Shabbat – Sukkot Day III
Friday, October 18, 6:30pm
Shabbat Morning Services – Traditional Egalitarian Minyan
Saturday, October 19, 10:00am at 130 W. 30th Street
Havdalah
Saturday, October 19, 7:30pm via Zoom
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Thursday, October 24
Shemini Atzeret Morning Services, 10:00am at 130 W. 30th Street
Simchat Torah Services, 6:30pm at 130 W. 30th Street
Service Location Details
- Masonic Hall: 46 West 24th Street (at 6th Avenue). Accessibility entrance: 71 West 23rd Street.
- Jacob Javits Center: 429 11th Avenue (at 35th Street).
Accessibility
When we go offsite for High Holy Day services, we want to make your experience as smooth as possible. Please indicate any needs you have that we can address with you on the High Holy Days registration form, or you can reach out to us directly at accessibility@cbst.org.
CBST’s building at 130 W. 30th Street is a fully accessible building with an elevator and accessible, all-gender bathrooms. Learn more about accessibility onsite at CBST »
High Holy Day contributions are a vital source of support for everything we do at CBST. Please consider a donation to our Annual Appeal, Open Door Appeal or Yizkor Appeal to keep CBST joyful, spiritual, and proud.
- Open Door Appeal – Allows us to welcome all to High Holy Day services without requiring payment
- Annual Appeal – Keeps our doors open all year round
- Yizkor Appeal – Honors those who have gone before us.
FAQ for CBST's High Holy Days
I’ve registered for in person services – what now?
QR Code Tickets for in-person attendance at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as livestream links, will be sent out to all registrants at the beginning of the week of each service.
- Hold on to these emails and be ready to present them at the door when you arrive, either with your phone or device, or print and bring a paper copy of the code(s) to be scanned by CBST staff at check-in.
- Other guests in your party who were registered on the same form with a valid email address will also receive the group’s ticket(s) via email.
- This email will also contain the livestream info, should you or one of your guests be unable to attend in person.
I’ve registered for Livestream services – what now?
If you registered for online services:
- You will receive the link to join the livestream in the week prior to services.
- This link will be the same for all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
- Families with Children services will not be livestreamed.
Do services really start at the listed times?
Yes, they do!
- Services begin promptly at their start times. Doors open 45 minutes prior to service start times. Please allow time for check-in and bag inspection.
- We will be utilizing magnetometer screening at the Jacob Javits Center for Yom Kippur services. Please allow more time for processing upon arrival.
What should I bring? What shouldn’t I bring?
Bring yourself, your spirit, your heart, and all the parts of you. We are honored to welcome you in.
However, please note that there will be no coat or bag checks available at Masonic Hall or at the Jacob Javits Center. Please refrain from bringing bags and large items. All bags are subject to inspection.
What are the Yom Kippur Afternoon Classes?
After Yom Kippur day services, we will offer classes and breakout groups at roughly 2:45 p.m. See below for the options to choose from for in-person services. We will also offer an online zoom class for those attending services online. No pre-registration required to attend any classes. Services resume again at 4:30pm with Minchah, followed by Neilah.
Classes are…
In-Person:
- Meeting this Moment with Rabbi Jason Klein
- Do Not Separate Yourself from Your Community with Rabbi Yael Werber
- Teen Meet and Discussion with Miya Rotstein
- Immersing in Divine Forgiveness with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Alana Krivo-Kaufman
- Contemplative Yoga with Hilary Nudell
- NY’s inclusive ERA: vowing to protect LGBTQ+ and women’s rights in 5785 and beyond with Lynn Paltrow and Rabbi Yael Rapport
Online:
Tales of Teshuvah with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Marques Hollie
I have a question that isn’t covered here, what do I do?
Reach out us! Email highholydays@cbst.org or call 212-929-9498 x810.
What are CBST’s Health and Safety guidelines?
Along with Jewish communities around the world, anticipation of High Holy Days comes with joy and excitement, together with the awareness of extra risk associated with large gatherings. Continuing escalation of COVID-19 will hopefully be checked with newly formulated vaccines to better match circulating strains. At CBST, we aim to protect each other, to spread accurate practical information, and to take special care to keep our clergy and staff safe.
Once again, CBST’s Science and Medical Team asks that we rededicate to the practices that have served our community:
- If you have, or have recently recovered from, respiratory symptoms, please do not attend in-person events. All services will be livestreamed, and we will look forward to welcoming you back soon!
- Consider wearing a mask, especially while moving through congested areas.
- Please respect personal space by not automatically moving to embrace others. This simple practice was especially effective in protecting our clergy in prior High Holy Day seasons!
- Keep up to date on vaccinations for Flu and COVID. The more of us who are vaccinated before we gather at the Masonic Hall and the Jacob Javits Center, the more effective our efforts will be.
- If you are at risk for m-pox (Mpox – NYC Health), consider reaching out to your healthcare provider to discuss vaccination.
Sincere thanks, and healthy and joyous New Year to all!
What should I know about Accessibility at Masonic Hall?
For Rosh Hashanah, CBST’s Main Services will take place at Masonic Hall.
Location
- Masonic Hall Main Entrance: 46 West 24th Street
- Masonic Hall Accessible Entrance: 71 West 23rd Street
Guests who cannot safely navigate 7 steps should enter at 71 West 23rd Street. This entrance is fully accessible via two sets of elevators.
Facilities
CBST Staff & Volunteers will be available to assist and direct attendees to the appropriate elevators, through the most accessible route, and to their seats. View a map of the accessible route at Masonic Hall »
There will be no coat or bag checks available. Please refrain from bringing bags and large items. All bags are subject to inspection.
Seating
A select number of seats will be reserved for guests with accessibility needs and these seats will be released 5 minutes before the start of each service. Arriving 20-30 minute prior to the service start time with a companion is recommended.
Captioning
Live captioning will be provided in-person and online for the Main Services. When registering, please check “Captioning” if you require accessible seating in the captioning section. We are not able to provide ASL interpretation, but the captioning will be done by a live captioner, not an automatic system, to ensure that the captioning is high quality.
What should I know about Accessibility at the Javits Center?
For Yom Kippur, CBST’s Main Services will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Location
- Javits Center Main and Accessible Entrance: 429 11th Avenue (at 35th Street), New York, NY 10001 – this entrance is at street level with no steps, and is fully accessible to all.
Facilities
- We will be utilizing magnetometer screening at Jacob Javits. Please allow for more time for processing at arrival.
- The Javits Center features sidewalk ramps and automatic doors at all street levels, as well as accessible restrooms and elevators.
- Electric scooters are available for rent at the Javits Center by contacting the Security and Safety Solutions Department at (212) 216-2196. Manually operated wheelchairs also are available, but they cannot be reserved. Upon arrival, please visit the Concierge Desk in the Crystal Palace or ask a Public Safety Office for assistance in securing a wheelchair. CBST Staff and Volunteers will also be onsite to assist. Learn more about accessibility at the Javits Center »
There will be no coat or bag checks available. Please refrain from bringing bags and large items. All bags are subject to inspection.
Seating
A select number of seats will be reserved for guests with accessibility needs and these seats will be released 5 minutes before the start of each service. Arriving 20-30 minute prior to the service start time with a companion is recommended.
Captioning
Live captioning will be provided in-person and online for the Main Services. When registering, please check “Captioning” if you require accessible seating in the captioning section. We are not able to provide ASL interpretation, but the captioning will be done by a live captioner, not an automatic system, to ensure that the captioning is high quality.