High Holy Days 2023/5784

Elul is our month of preparation to get us ready for the spiritual work of the High Holy days. This year there will be a series of preparatory workshops and learning sessions with our Rabbis for you to choose from. Where Zoom is mentioned, please refer to your member’s hard copy of the HHD Brochure or email admin@ehrs.uk for details

Elul Shabbat Shirah Friday Night Service & Dinner
Friday 1 September, 18:30-20:30
Please join our Shirah Band & Rabbi Tanya to celebrate the end of our year! We will kvel (feel happy & proud) on our achievements, reflect on our losses and prepare ourselves for a meaningful and hopeful new beginning. You are welcome to stay after the service for a bring & share dinner, during which we will sing songs and have a short Israeli dancing session. If you will be joining us for dinner please email june.lewis@ehrs.uk

First Shabbat Shiur
Saturday 2 September, 9:15-10:15
Judah HaLevi – His Heart was in the East – Learn about one of the greatest Hebrew poets whose poetry is part of our services, especially on the High Holy Days, and includes some wonderful love poetry. His works of poetry and philosophy had a huge influence on Judaism and were some of the earliest texts inspiring spiritual Zionism. Join Rabbi Mark in person at EHRS or on Zoom for culture and thought.

HaKol B’Seder Service for Elul
Saturday 2 September, 10:30-12:00
Join Rabbi Tanya and Cantor Dmitry Karpenko from Moscow for a special service for Elul, the month which leads up to the High Holy Days, which includes new music from the Reform and Conservative Jewish world helping us to consider the year gone by, an interpretative Torah reading and plenty of participation. In person at EHRS or on Zoom.

Elul Masterclass
Sunday 3 September, 10:00-12:30
Throughout this morning we feature experiences which will make the High Holy Days more meaningful for all ages. You can join Anthony Waterman for a Shofar Blowing masterclass to learn or just to try to blow the Shofar. You can also join us to learn the special movements which are part of the Musaf (Additonal) service on Yom Kippur, their origin and how to do them. Rabbi Debbie will making soul candles with you, which can give additional meaning to the Yizkor service. Andie Lucas will lead a honey cake cookalong, and Rabbi Mark will be looking at the meaning of forgiveness in Judaism, Christianity and Islam with his special guests. Please let us know that you are coming, click here to book.

Reverse Taschlich with EcoJudaism & Repair the Sea
Sunday 3 September, 12:45-14:15
EHRS and West London Synagogue come together this morning to help take the rubbish out of the water (rather than throwing bread into it!) at the Silk Stream in Watling Park, Burnt Oak. Together we are part of the global Jewish waterfront clean up (www.repairthesea.org/rt2023). Our Rabbis and the EHRS Environment Action Team invite all generations to join us to make a difference. Please click here to book and we will send you the full details.

Selichot Choral Service & Film
Saturday 9 September, 20:30-00:10
Selichot is a beautiful way to bring yourself towards the High Holy Days and to enhance their spiritual impact. We come together on a Saturday evening to hear for the first time the sound of the High Holy Days and the poems which search our souls. We will start the evening with the quirky Coen brother’s film ‘A Serious Man’ which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture on its release in 2010. With echoes of the Book of Job, the film centres on a Minnesotan Jewish man, Larry Gopnik, whose life crumbles both professionally & personally, leading him to questions about his faith. Much of it is set in the Conservative Jewish community of the city, the Bar Mitzvah of Larry’s son Danny, and his nightmare Cheder! The film opens in subtitled Yiddish and then quickly moves to America. After a break for refreshments, at 23:00 we will begin our beautiful choral service led by our rabbis, our Cantors and featuring the EHRS Choir and cellist, Ekaterina Solomenik.

FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER – EREV ROSH HASHANAH

Where Zoom is mentioned, please refer to your member’s hard copy of the HHD Brochure or email admin@ehrs.uk for details

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 19:30-20:40 
We open with the service which brings us into the High Holy Days, led by all of our Rabbis. Sermon given by Rabbi Tanya.

Blasting into the New Year, 20:00-20:30
Join Rabbi Mark in the Upper Synagogue or on Zoom. The Shofar sound will propel us forwards into another year of our lives as a community and as individuals. What do you hope that this year will bring? Do you hope for change or stability? A chance to talk with each other as the High Holy days begin.

SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER – FIRST DAY ROSH HASHANAH

Shacharit and Musaf (Additional) Service, 10:00-12:40
Beit Tefillah and Upper Synagogue
The full morning service which includes the reading of Torah, the story of Hagar and Ishmael, and Haftarah and with the sermon given by Rabbi Mark, followed by the special service for Rosh Hashanah where we hear the haunting and inspiring sound of the Shofar and recognise the significance of the New Year. Also Livestreamed on the Classic Channel.

Rosh Hashanah Kiddush, 12:45-13:00
If you are at home come together as a community for Kiddush on Zoom.

Taking place in the Community Centre – Children & Young People
Ages are a guideline only. Please feel welcome to attend the service that works best for your family

Early Years Service, 9:30-10:15   
This service is created for children aged 2-6 and their families, led by Rabbi Debbie. Enjoy apple and honey to taste the sweetness of the New Year and this active service with songs, stories and Shofar especially for you.

Chumash Babies, 10:30-11:00
Taking place in the Nagila Kindergarten this is a special sensory Rosh Hashanah experience for our very youngest members aged 0-2 led by Sarah Koster.

Primary Years Service, 10:30-11:30    
Our interactive family service for anyone aged 6-11 and their families, led by Rabbi Mark, with our up close Torah reading using EHRS’s own TorahCam and great music featuring the EHRS Shirah Band. If you would like to join the band please email rabbi.mark@ehrs.uk

Youth Service, 11:45-12:45
Especially for people aged 11+ and their families, Rabbi Debbie leads our service that give the New Year meaning as you step forward on your journey through life, with the EHRS Shirah Band.

Stay & Schmooze and Youth Tashlich, 10:15-12:00
In the ground floor of the Community Centre, we invite you to hang out following the Early Years Service or before or after the Primary Years Service and Chumash Babies, for a cuppa and conversation for adults and craft for the children with Marian Cohen and Sarah Koster. There will be the opportunity to perform Tashlich (symbolically throwing our sins to the waters) in the especially created Nagila River.

SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER – SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH

Where Zoom is mentioned, please refer to your member’s hard copy of the HHD Brochure or email admin@ehrs.uk for details

Shacharit and Musaf Service, 10:00-12:15
Beit Tefillah
The morning service includes the reading of Torah, the Akedah, with Abraham and Isaac, and Haftarah with the D’var Torah given by Rabbi Debbie, continuing with the special service for Rosh Hashanah where we again hear the haunting and inspiring sound of the Shofar and build upon the significance of the New Year. Livestreamed on the Classic Channel.

Create the Universe Youth Activities, 10:00-11:00
Beit Midrash
Join Rabbi Tanya to rebuild the universe from scratch on Rosh Hashanah, it’s traditional birthday. For young people aged 11+.

Create the Universe Family Service, 10:00-11:00
First Floor Community Centre
On Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the creation of the world! Children up to the age of 10 and their families are warmly invited to join Rabbi Debbie and Marian Cohen as we think about big bangs, try out some creating ourselves, and delight in the star dust that made each and every one of us!

Bite of Apple & Honey Torah Study, 11:15-12:00
Upper Synagogue
Rosh Hashanah is framed by the stories of Ishmael and Isaac. This year, join Rabbi Tanya at EHRS or on Zoom as we go deeper into the text of the Hagar and Akedah narratives and the tough issues these Torah portions raise.

SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER – KOL NIDRE
FAST BEGINS 18:40

Kol Nidre Service, 19:30-21:40
Beit Tefillah
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, opens with the plaintive song Kol Nidre in this service that sets the pattern for the day. Three Torah Scrolls represent our spiritual Beit Din at the opening of the service. Sermon given by Rabbi Debbie. Our service will have no instrumental music. Also Livestreamed on the Classic Channel.

Kol Nidre Service from the New Machzor, 19:30-21:40
Upper Synagogue
Our service will be led from the new Movement for Reform Judaism Machzor draft of Days of Awe and will include two pieces played by Samuel Weinstein, Cello Scholar at the Royal College of Music. Sermon will be given by Rabbi Debbie.

Believing, Belonging, Behaving? What Makes me a Jew?, 21:00-21:40
Beit Midrash
An opportunity to work with Rabbi Mark as we explore the meaning of Judaism on Yom Kippur, whether or not you think that God exists. A safe space to discuss belief, doubt and commitment and the spiritual journey that we make in life across our generations.