From our celebration of the new year to introspection that enables us to hear that “still small voice,” we begin to set the course for the coming year. We prepare with Selichot ( the familiar melodies of High Holiday prayers for forgiveness) and at the close of Yom Kippur, upon hearing a thunderous shofar blast at Ne’ilah, we break our fast and, with renewed focus, the work of healing a fractured world begins.
We’d love to see you at Beth El for the High Holidays! Use the menu below or simply scroll down for more information. Questions? Call the office at 978-443-9622 or email templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.
Are you chanting Torah or Haftorah? Click here for audio files of the High Holidays Torah readings and Haftorah blessings.
Simchat Torah (Friday, Oct. 2)
Click here to register. Attendance at services is free for Beth El members and some others — click the plus-sign below for details on fees and eligibility. Both members and nonmembers must register in advance. There is a maximum total of $720 per member household. Nonmembers who join Beth El within six months after Yom Kippur will have their attendance fees applied to dues. Questions? Call 978-443-9622 or email templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.
We'd love to see you at Beth El during the High Holidays (or any time, for that matter!). Both members and nonmembers must register in advance. Fees are listed below. Questions? Call 978-443-9622 or email templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.
Services are free for:
Fees for other relatives and guests of Beth El members as well as the community at large are:
There is an aggregate maximum of $720 per member household. Nonmembers who join Beth El within six months after Yom Kippur will have their attendance fees applied to dues.
| Time | Activity | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am–12:45pm | Childcare available | Toddlers – grade 7 families |
| 2:00–4:00pm | Youth and Family program at the farm in Concord (rain date: Sept. 13 at 4:00pm). Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with the whole family at the farm! From toddlers to teens, everyone will enjoy a sweet afternoon of hands-on holiday activities, meeting and feeding friendly goats and chickens, exploring the farm, and welcoming the new year together in a fun, meaningful, and relaxed setting. | All ages, with parents |
1:00–2:00pm
Gray Conservation Area (Sudbury)
A simple, intimate tashlich experience close to our spiritual home. After second-day Rosh Hashanah services, take a step outside to cast away whatever is weighing you down. Rabbi Josh, Cantor Vera, and Arielle Sabot will guide a short walk out to Gray Conservation Area for the annual tashlich ritual. This ritual experience is for all people, and four legged friends are welcome to join. Meet in front of Beth El after services.
| Time | Activity | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00–9:30am | Family service | Toddlers – grade 7 families |
| 9:30am–12:45pm | Yom Kippur children's program | K-12 (without parents) and babysitting for toddlers-PreK |
| 2:30–3:30pm | Meditative walk with Rabbi Katy Allen — take a leisurely walk to and through Gray Conservation Area with stops along the way for poetry and tefillot on themes of teshuvah and connecting with the Mystery and the more-than-human world. Time for silent meditation will be provided. | Teens and adults. This walk is not suitable for people below 7th grade. |
Simchat Torah (Friday, Oct. 2)
See our Inclusion, Diversity and Accessibility page.
Enter and exit the synagogue through the east door next to the office, where volunteer greeters will welcome you, check your registration list, and admit you to the building. Since we are using online paperless registration, attendees will pick up their name tag outside the building as their “admission ticket.” Unregistered members with name tags still have to check in inside, and guests will get name tags outside.
During Rosh Hashanah, we use Chadeish Yameinu, Beth El’s Rosh Hashanah machzor (prayerbook). This year we have created a supplement to Chadeish Yameinu with transliterations of selected sections of the services. Links to PDF versions of both of these prayerbooks are below:
A Kindle version of Mishkan Hanefesh (the prayerbook used for Yom Kippur) is available on Amazon.
Beth El members who plan to attend remotely and would like to borrow a physical copy of the prayerbooks can do so during office hours (Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 9am–5pm, Tuesday 9am–3pm, Friday 9am–noon).
On Rosh Hashanah, small finger tuna or egg salad finger sandwiches as well as hummus and pita pockets will be available — please register here. In addition to sandwiches, there will be beverages, fresh fruit and chips will be served.
Please consider volunteering as an usher, greeter, or parking director — email our High Holidays coordinators.
With the current cutbacks in government subsidies the need for food and other essentials is greater than ever. On our day of fasting and atonement, it’s been our tradition to bring offerings of food for those in need for local organizations. Government supplements do not cover much-needed cleaning products, personal care items such as soap, shampoo or toothpaste, and sanitary products. In September we will update the list after contacting the following organizations to assess their greatest needs.
A Yizkor book will be compiled and distributed on Yom Kippur. If you have suffered a recent loss or if the name of a deceased loved one was inadvertently omitted from last year’s Yizkor book, please provide the name and the relationship of the deceased to templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.
If you are looking to attend a break fast or are able to host additional people at your break fast, please email the office by emailing templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.
105 Hudson Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
(978) 443-9622|Email Us
Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter,
Mah Chadash, in your inbox.