High Holidays

In 2011, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Wednesday, September 28.  Yom Kippur begins on the evening of Friday, October 7.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and begins a period of 10 days of repentance which leads up to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Scroll down for lots of other Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur materials!

Click here for Streaming Services: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Broadcasts

Streaming Rosh Hashanah services:

  • Rosh Hashanah Evening: 8:15 PM ET on Wednesday, September 28
  • Rosh Hashanah Morning: 10:30 AM ET on Thursday, September 29
  • Rosh Hashanah Children’s Service: 1:30 PM ET on Thursday, September 29

Streaming Yom Kippur services:

  • Yom Kippur Evening (Kol Nidrei): 8:15 PM ET on Friday, October 7
  • Yom Kippur Morning: 10:30 AM ET on Saturday, October 8
  • Yom Kippur Children’s Service: 1:30 PM ET on Saturday, October 8
  • Yom Kippur Memorial Service: 4:00 PM ET on Saturday, October 8

This year we’re excited to add streaming Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services for children.  Those are at 1:30 PM ET on Thursday, September 29th and Saturday, October 8th.

Here’s a three minute overview of Rosh Hashanah.


Rosh Hashanah 101 and Yom Kippur 101:

Rosh Hashanah Background Information

Yom Kippur Background Information

Video Streamed Services:

Information about our 2011 streaming Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Our 2010 and 2009 services can be found here – just click on “videos” to see the full selection.

Our 2008 services can be found here.

Sermons/Essays:

Read Rabbi Robert Barr’s thoughts on Why I Don’t Read the Binding of Isaac on Rosh Hashanah

Read Rabbi Robert Barr’s thoughts on Reading the Sodom and Gomorrah Story

Children’s Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:

The Mona Lisa: A High Holiday Children’s Story (pdf format)

The Messiest Torah story: A High Holiday Children’s Story (pdf format)

Midrashim (Creative Stories For Adults) with Discussion Questions:

Abraham and the Idols: A Modern Midrash

Smashing of the Idols Part II: A Modern Midrash

Barr’s Banter (Brief Podcast on Contemporary Jewish Thought):

Online Services and the Theory of Relativity

Why (not) Two Days of Rosh Hashanah

Sounding the Shofar on the Sabbath

High Holidays – Early or Late?

Congress, The Economic Bailout, and Rosh Hashanah (originally posted October 7, 2008)

For Families with Children:

High Holiday Activities for Children – Art and edible projects for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur include honey cups, apple stamping, New Year’s cards, cookies, and resolutions.  Check them out!

High Holiday Discussion Ideas for Families with Children

Audio Files:

Check out our audio files of sermons, midrashim, Kol Nidrei chanted, and Torah portions from our High Holiday services from previous years.