ימים נוראים
Yamim Nora'im • Days of Awe
CBST is an LGBTQ+ synagogue for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Our High Holiday services are open 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.
Registration for members is open. General registration will open on 18 June 2026.
5787 Yamim Nora'im Schedule
Selichot – Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Class: 9:00pm at
- Service: 10:00pm at
- Family services: at
- Family Service (all ages) 10:00am
- Rainbow Tots: 11:30am
Rosh Hashanah Evening II – No services.
- Tashlich, following Day 2 Main Service: Pier 64 at Hudson River Park (north of the W 24th St entrance).
- Yizkor will be part of the morning main services.
- Family Service (all ages): 10:00 AM
- Children’s Blessing: All families are invited to join us on the bimah in the Main Sanctuary for the children’s blessing. The blessing is expected to take place sometime between 10:20 and 10:45 AM, but the timing is approximate. Please arrive early so you do not miss it. Families attending the 10:00 AM Family Service will go together as a group.
- Rainbow Tot Service: 11:30 AM
Afternoon Classes:
In person
- A Conversation for Newcomers to CBST with Rabbi Yael Werber
- Yom Kippur: A Joyful Day? with Rabbi Alana Krivo-Kaufman
- The History and Mystery of Kol Nidre with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Leo Linder
- Unetaneh Tokef: The Poetry of Mortality with Miya Rotstein
- Contemplative Yoga with Hilary Nudell
All in-person classes will take place in the River Pavilion.
Online (on Zoom)
- Yom Kippur: an Evolving Holiday with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Tzvi Silver. Join on Zoom.
Come say hello, sit in the Sukkah, and wave the lulav and etrog.
Our 30th Street Sukkah will be open on:
- Monday, September 28 from 4:00-6:30pm
- Tuesday, September 29 from 2:00-6:30pm
- Thursday, October 1 from 10:00am-6:00pm
- Friday, October 2 beginning at 12:00pm through Kabbalat Shabbat services
Want to learn how to say the blessings and wave the lulav? Rabbi Marisa James will offer a short teaching and time together in the Sukkah on Tuesday September 29 from 2:00-3:00pm, and Rabbi Alana Krivo-Kaufman will offer the same on Thursday, October 1 from 5:00-6:00pm. No registration necessary!
- Morning service includes yizkor.
Livestreamed Services
- All Main Services are livestreamed. All registrants receive the livestream link.
- Family Services and Rainbow Tots 0-5 services are not livestreamed.
High Holiday 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 Holiday services.
- Annual Appeal – Keeps our doors open all year round
- Yizkor Appeal – Honors those who have gone before us.
CBST’s Book of Remembrance
Together, we open our hearts to the Days of Awe and to the mitzvah of gathering our loved ones whom we remember close to us. CBST’s Yom Kippur Book of Remembrance is a special way to honor those of blessed memory and to bring them into our beloved spiritual community.
The deadline to add names to our annual Book of Remembrance has passed.
FAQ for CBST's High Holidays
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.
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 to all registrants directly. QR codes for Rosh Hashanah will be sent by Thursday, September 10th at 5:00pm, and for Yom Kippur will be sent by Friday, September 18th at 2:00pm.
- 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?
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 – for Rosh Hashanah, we will share the link on the Friday before services, and for Yom Kippur we will share the link the Monday before services.
- This link will be the same for all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
- Families with Children services will not be livestreamed.
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 2:45pm. This year we are offering five in-person options and one online option:
- A Conversation for Newcomers to CBST with Rabbi Yael Werber
- Yom Kippur: A Joyful Day? with Rabbi Alana Krivo-Kaufman
- The History and Mystery of Kol Nidre with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Leo Linder
- Unetaneh Tokef: The Poetry of Mortality with Miya Rotstein
- Contemplative Yoga with Hilary Nudell
All in-person classes will take place in the River Pavilion.
Online (on Zoom)
- Yom Kippur: an Evolving Holiday with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Tzvi Silver
I have a question that isn’t covered here, what do I do?
Reach out us! Email highholidays@cbst.org or call 212-929-9498 x810.
What are CBST’s Health and Safety guidelines?
As we gather in large numbers to welcome 5787, CBST’s Science and Medical Team reminds us of the practices that have helped to keep our community safe. Deeply connected to the values of our tradition, we thank the congregation for its rededication to its simple principles. May we all be blessed with good health and optimism for the New Year.
- If you have, or have recently recovered from, respiratory symptoms, please do not attend in-person events. All services are livestreamed, and we will look forward to welcoming you back soon!
- Please respect personal space by not automatically moving to embrace others, especially clergy who interact with many congregants.
- Keep up to date on vaccinations for Flu and COVID. Transmission increases as temperatures cool.
- Please keep our masked seating section a place for people who prefer to stay masked, or may have special vulnerability.
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.
I'm spending part of the High Holidays elsewhere - how can I get a membership reciprocity letter to attend services there?
Members in good standing may request letters of reciprocity to attend other shuls for the High Holidays.
Email your request, include the following, to highholidays@cbst.org:
- The name of the synagogue you will be attending
- The contact information for the rabbinic office at the synagogue you will be attending
- Which services and dates you plan to attend
What Machzor (High Holiday prayer book) does CBST use?
We will again be using the Reconstructionist Mahzor, Prayerbook for the Days of Awe (Mahzor Leyamim Nora’im). Purchase your copy from the Reconstructionist Press here.