High Holy Days
High Holy Days 5784 / 2023
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our High Holy Days 5784 / 2023 so engaging, beautiful and moving. Our clergy, staff, lay leadership, volunteers, choir, musicians and so many other dedicated people worked behind the scenes for months to make it all possible.
And, most importantly, thank you to our members and their guests who came in person and on Zoom to join together as a community.
We Need Your Help
Your synagogue has been there for you for life's simchas and challenges, to help raise the next generation of the Jewish people, to help create Jewish life with depth and meaning. And you have been there for your synagogue – with your annual membership commitment, with your words and deeds of support. Thank you for all the ways in which you have strengthened our community.
But now we are asking you to help bridge the gap between membership contributions and our full need. In order to sustain our synagogue and the important work we do, we must raise more than one-third of our budget through additional donations beyond members' annual commitments. As our High Holy Day season draws to a close, please consider making a donation HERE.
The information below is from our last High Holy Days. This information will be updated in the summer of 2024 for our next High Holy Days.
• Looking for our FREE TE Family programs for the Holy Days? Start HERE
We look forward to days of reflection and celebration with our Temple Emanu-El family. Everything you need to know about participating in our High Holy Day services and programs can be found here. Any important last-minute information or late-breaking developments will be posted at the top of this page.
Contents
Click a title to jump to that section or scroll down.
A. How do I Participate?
B. High Holy Day Schedule
C. Get Help
How Do I Participate?
Step 1. Membership Renewal
Your membership contribution helps us to build our Temple Emanu-El family and to keep our community strong. Annual commitment forms for 2023-24 were emailed at the beginning of July from Randi Feldman. If you did not receive your form, please check your spam/junk folder. If you still can't find it, please contact our Bookkeeper, Ilona Meron, at ilona@templeemanuel.ca. If you have questions about the content of your annual commitment, please email Executive Director, Randi Feldman at randi@templeemanuel.ca.
Step 2. Member Registration
Temple Emanu-El members: click HERE to register.
There will be no physical tickets sent this year. Members in good standing are welcome to attend all of our High Holy Day services and programs. Registration is strongly encouraged to give us an idea of how many people to expect in-person this year and ensure we have enough seats. Please register by Thursday, September 14 (registration for child care and to purchase an individual dinner on Erev Rosh Hashanah is now closed.
Please note that separate registration is required for Sing Yeladim, Rosh Hashanah Day 2, and Child Care. More information and links are below.
Step 3. Guest Registration
We welcome your family and friends to join us online or in-person. Guests are required to register.
In-person guest registration is reserved for the immediate family of Temple Emanu-El members. Click HERE to register your guests. Please register by Thursday, September 14 (registration for child care and to purchase an individual dinner on Erev Rosh Hashanah is now closed).
Young Family Guests: We have many FREE options for young families that are available through separate registration. See our new TE Family page HERE for a full list or see the Detailed Schedule below. Programs include: Sing Yeladim Rosh Hashanah • Rosh Hashana Family Service • Rosh Hashanah Day 2 @ Toronto Botanical Gardens • Sing Yeladim Yom Kippur • Yom Kippur Family Service
High Holy Day Schedule
This section will be updated periodically. Please check back!
General Information:
• Please make sure you are registered (using the links above) before the deadline of Thursday, September 14.
Members in good standing are welcome at any or all of our services and programs. Registration is encouraged to help us know how many people to expect and ensure we have enough seating.
• Some services and programs require separate registration and are noted on the registration page and the schedule below (e.g. Childcare, Sing Yeladim, 2nd Day RH).
• All services will be indoors at Temple Emanu-El unless noted.
• All services will be hybrid (in-person and Zoom) unless noted.
• All members and registered guests will receive a personal Zoom link for online services, even if you have indicated you will join in-person (in case you feel unwell on the day of the service or your plans change). Please DO NOT SHARE this personal link. If your unique link is being used by someone else, you will not be able to access our online services.
Note that your one personal Zoom link will provide you with access to ALL of our online services. Wondering what services you can access online? Visit our FAQ page HERE.
• Bring the kids! NEW THIS YEAR! "Quiet Kits" for children will be available for pickup in the lobby on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur mornings.
Detailed Schedule:
EREV ROSH HASHANAH • Friday, Sept. 15
- Erev Rosh Hashanah Service and Optional Dinner • 5:30 pm
- 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm • Service (Temple Emanu-El - outdoor and on Zoom)
- 6:00 pm • Optional Dinner (Temple Emanu-El - outdoor, in-person only)
- You can join us for the program and no meal.
- You can bring your own meal (Dairy, Vegetarian or Parve & Nut-Free)
- You can purchase an individual catered dinner • $25 each • (Salmon Teriyaki, Grilled Vegetables, Salad - With our apologies, no substitutions. Dietary restrictions? Please bring your own meal.)
Deadline to register for a catered dinner is Friday, Sept. 8. - Please register for this service through our general High Holy Day registration. Please register by Sept 14. Not yet registered? Register here: MEMBERS • GUESTS
ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1 • Saturday, Sept. 16
- NEW! Rosh Hashanah Young Families • 9:00 am
It's a whole new year for young families at Temple Emanu-El and you're invited! Join us for one of these two great concurrent programs. Then, if you like, bring your child to join us in the main service at 10:30 or drop them off to childcare (if you are registered for childcare). Can't come in person? Enjoy our special Young Family Rosh Hashanah video from 2021 HERE.- Sing Yeladim (for 0-3 yr olds) • 9:00 am (in-person only)
Join Risa Waldman, Temple Emanu-El member and founder of Making Music Together, for a Rosh Hashanah musical sing-along for newborns to age 3 plus 1 or 2 caregivers. Separate registration is required for Sing Yeladim. Register HERE. - Family Service (for 2-6 yr olds) • 9:00 am (in-person only)
FREE! All are welcome!
Join Rabbi Debra Landsberg and Cantor Judy Adelman Gershon as we celebrate the birthday of the world! Members and their Family Guests – If you have registered for services this year (members • guests), you're good to go! General Community Friends, and family guests only attending the family service: Register HERE.
- Sing Yeladim (for 0-3 yr olds) • 9:00 am (in-person only)
- Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Service • 10:30 am (note new time this year)
- Please register for this service through our general High Holy Day registration. Please register by Sept 14. Not yet registered? Register here: MEMBERS • GUESTS
- Child Care Available at $10 per child (per service) for children up to age 6. Separate registration is required by September 8. Register HERE.
- Children's Program (ages 7-12) begins at the beginning of the Torah service in-person only. If there is anything we need to know about your child for the program (severe allergies, special needs) or if you have any questions, please get in touch with our CJLL Director, Cassie Moscoe-Sweet HERE.
- Tashlich • Immediately Following Services (Temple Emanu-El, outdoor, in-person only)
What is Tashlich? Learn more here.
ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2 • Sunday, Sept. 17
- Community Rosh Hashanah Day 2 @ Toronto Botanical Gardens • 10:00 am
OUTDOOR (in-person only) • FREE and fun for all ages. Separate registration is required; limited spots. Information and registration are HERE. Registration will close when capacity is reached. If we have reached capacity, please email Cassie Moscoe-Sweet to join a waitlist (cassie@templeemanuel.ca).
KOL NIDRE • Sunday, Sept. 24
- Kol Nidre Service • 8:00 pm
Please register for this service through our general High Holy Day registration. Not yet registered? Register here: MEMBERS • GUESTS
YOM KIPPUR • Monday, Sept. 25
- NEW! Yom Kippur Young Families • 9:00 am
Join us for one of these two great concurrent programs. Then, if you like, bring your child to join us in the main service at 10:30 or drop them off to childcare (if you are registered for childcare). Can't come in person? Enjoy our special Young Family Yom Kippur video from 2021 HERE.- Sing Yeladim (for 0-3 yr olds) • 9:00 am (in-person only)
Join Risa Waldman, Temple Emanu-El member and founder of Making Music Together, for a Yom Kippur musical sing-along for newborns to age 3 plus 1 or 2 caregivers. Separate registration is required for Sing Yeladim. Register HERE. - Family Service (for 2-6 yr olds) • 9:00 am (in-person only)
FREE! All are welcome!
Join Rabbi Debra Landsberg and Cantor Judy Adelman Gershon for a special family-friendly Yom Kippur observance with music, storytelling and participation.
Members and their Family Guests – If you have registered for services this year (members • guests), you're good to go! General Community Friends, and family guests only attending the family service: Register HERE.
- Sing Yeladim (for 0-3 yr olds) • 9:00 am (in-person only)
- Yom Kippur Morning • 10:30 am (note new time this year)
- Register for all Yom Kippur services (not Sing Yeladim) through our general High Holy Day registration. Not yet registered? Register here: MEMBERS • GUESTS
- Child Care Available at $10 per child (per service) for children up to age 6. Separate registration is required by September 8. Register HERE.
- Children's Program (ages 7-12) begins at the beginning of the Torah service in-person only. If there is anything we need to know about your child for the program (severe allergies, special needs) or if you have any questions, please contact our CJLL Director, Cassie Moscoe-Sweet HERE.
- Music & Meditation • 1:30 pm
- Jonah: Fishing for Insights with Rabbi Debra Landsberg • 3:30 pm
- Yizkor / N'ilah Service • 5:00 pm
- Break Fast • Immediately Following Services
Please stay and join us for coffee cake and tea as we break our fast together.
Need Help?
Start with our HHD•FAQ: High Holy Day Frequently Asked Questions HERE.
Want to connect with a real person? We are HAPPY to help you if you're having trouble registering or if you have any special accessibility requirements. Please contact:
Carli Portman
carli@templeemanuel.ca
416-449-3880 ext. 215
If you need help and Carli is unavailable for the Holy Day, you will receive an automated response that will include other help options.
