High Holidays 5786 (2025)

This year, Rosh Hashanah begins the evening of Monday, September 22. Yom Kippur begins on Wednesday, October 1. We are pleased to offer services each day for the entirety of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as programming for children and teens during morning services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. We’re especially excited to announce our new outdoor programming with Rabbi Katy Allen and Arielle Sabot! Both Members and nonmembers must register in advance. Tickets cover all services for both holidays. 

Scroll down for the schedule and registration link. For details on children’s activities, fees, accessibility accommodations, etc., check out our High Holiday Details Page. Any further questions can be addressed by calling the office at 978-443-9622 or emailing templeadmin@bethelsudbury.org.

Schedule

Yom Kippur Schedule

  • Wednesday, October 1
    • 7:30–9:30pm — Kol Nidre
  • Thursday, October 2
    • 9:00–9:30am — Family service with rabbi and cantor
    • 9:45–11:15am — Shacharit (indoor and outdoor options available)
    • Torah service — 11:30am to 12:45pm 
    • 1:00–2:30pm — Musaf service (indoor option starts at 1:00 and outdoor option starts at 1:15)

    — Break — 

    • 3:15pm — Mincha service
    • 4:45pm — Yizkor service
    • 5:30pm — N’ilah service

Presentations during Break: 2:30pm

  • Linda Hirsch – Kolel: Linda Hirsch will offer a gentle, brief, deep meditation focused on opening the heart & mind to a sense of equanimity. We will sit together in an oasis of calming poetry, reflecting together on our blessings.
  • Bernie Horn – Library: “For sins between a person and God, Yom Kippur atones. But for sins between one person and another, Yom Kippur does not atone, until the one who has done wrong appeases the other.” I will present an intriguing interpretetation of the principle by the Hassidic master,  Sefat Emet (Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter of Ger, 1847-1905). – Study Guide
  • Judy Spicehandler – Zoom: The Book of Life : We will be looking at a variety of sources: biblical,  Midrashic, Hasidic and Contemporary to attempt to stretch our understanding of the meaning of “The Book of Life “.  Is it something more than an ancient idea of a ledger in which God records who will live and who will die in the coming year? – Study Guide

Children and teen programming for K-12 (including an exciting outdoor program!), and complimentary babysitting for kids 5 and under are available on both holidays from 9:30am-12:45pm

High Holiday Registration

🎉 All tickets are good for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, for all services. Please note that there is no charge for tickets to the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah.  If you only plan to attend RH 2nd day, we ask that you register for that day only, so that we know who to expect. For more details, please check out our High Holidays Details Page.

SELECTING YOUR TICKETS

You will see that there are several categories of tickets. Review them carefully and enter the number of tickets in each category that you are requesting. You will then be asked to enter separate information for each individual in your party.

NOTES ABOUT PAYMENT

At the end of the payment section, before you enter your payment information, you will be asked to make a donation to Zeffy, and there is a prefilled donation of 15% of your total. Zeffy is an online platform that processes payments for nonprofits, and charges no fees to the nonprofit, so donations support their being able to provide that service.  This is not required. If you do not wish to make a donation to Zeffy, click on the dropdown menu where the amount is prefilled, select “Other” and you can enter 0 or an amount of your choice.

Volunteer for High Holiday Services

Our volunteers are the backbone of our High Holiday experience at Beth El – your assistance is essential to make sure everything runs safely and smoothly. 

Our volunteer opportunities are for Parking DirectorsGreeters, and Ushers. Please review the schedule sign-up here and sign up for one or more available slots. If you have any questions, please contact Esther Heimberg.

Thank you!

Sign Up!

Rosh Hashanah Lunch - Closed

Nosh and celebrate the New Year with us! Regular lunches are $10 and  lunches for young children are $1.80. Registration closed, contact Esther with any questions.

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