High Holy Days 5786 | 2025
High Holy Days 5786 | 2025
At this year’s High Holy Day services there will be many opportunities for us to pray together as a community and with our families. Services will be held on-site at Temple Emanuel and at nearby Kensington Cabin Park. Many will also be available for Live Streaming for those unable to attend in person.
Not a current TE member? We would love to have you join us for the High Holy Days! We offer a variety of services and programs, including some specifically geared for families and young children. Tickets or registration are required for some programs. If you would like to be notified when our registration materials are ready, please click here.
If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director Alissa Miller.
SUMMARY OF SERVICES:
Some events will require tickets or registration
- Elul Shabbat Services: Fridays August 29, September 5, 12, and 19
- Friday August 29 6:30pm, Elul 1
- Friday September 5 6:30pm, Elul 2, Board Installation and Guest Speaker Ahmed Alkhatib
- Dinner after the service, (RSVP required, link to come)
- Friday September 12 7:30pm, Elul 3 (5:30pm Tot Shabbat)
- Friday September 19 6:30pm, Elul 4
- Saturday September 13:
- 10am Elul Simchat Shabbat Kickoff
- 7:00pm, Selichot Short Film and Service
- Erev Rosh Hashanah: Monday September 22 7:30pm (tickets required)
- Rosh Hashanah: Tuesday September 23
- Family Service 8:45am, (RSVP requested, link to come) will include a blessing for all babies born or adopted in the past year
- Main Sanctuary Service 10:00am (tickets required)
- Rabbi Emeritus Warren Stone will give the sermon
- Afternoon Service 1:00pm led by our KESTY teens (RSVP requested, link to come)
- Taschlich (immediately following Afternoon Service, at approximately 2:15pm)
- Shabbat Shuva:
- Friday September 26 7:30pm
- Shalom Shabbat Shuva: Saturday September 27 10:00am
- Community Memorial Services at Garden of Remembrance: Sunday September 28 10:00am and 2:00pm
- Kol Nidre: Wednesday October 1 7:30pm (tickets required)
- Yom Kippur: Thursday October 2
- Family Service 8:45am (RSVP requested, link to come)
- Main Sanctuary Service 10:00am (tickets required)
- Discussion Group 1:00pm
- Afternoon Service 2:30pm, led by our KESTY teens for families and all (RSVP requested, link to come)
- Healing Service 4:00pm
- Yizkor 5:00pm
- Neilah 5:45pm, bring your shofar!
- Congregational Break-the-fast ~6:30pm
- Sukkot
- Erev Sukkot Pizza in the Hut Monday October 6, 6:30pm (RSVP info to come)
- Sukkot Festival Service Tuesday October 7 10:00am (location TBD)
- Sukkot Under the Stars Service Friday October 10 7:30pm, all new members receive a blessing
- Sukkot Open House Saturday October 11 (rain date October 12) (RSVP info to come)
- Simchat Torah
- Service Monday October 13 6:30pm
- Festival Service Tuesday October 14 10:00am (location TBD)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Prayer Books
Temple Emanuel uses the Reform Movement Machzorim – High Holy Day Prayer Books. This includes separate volumes for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with updated translations, full transliteration, rich commentary and a beautiful selection of poetry. We encourage you to purchase one set per household adult. (Online purchase link to come)
Book of Remembrance
We recall the memories of the departed at the Yizkor (Memorial) Service held on the afternoon of Yom Kippur. The annual Temple Emanuel Book of Remembrance contains the names of members’ relatives and friends whose memory we wish to honor. If you are a current Temple Emanuel member and wish to add names to the Book of Remembrance, please send your submissions online or via hard copy. (Deadline and link to be announced)
Parking
Please allow ample time for parking. Auxiliary parking may be available some days at local churches; details will be confirmed with the ticket mailing. Please respect any “No Parking” signs and do not park where spaces have been blocked.
Donation Drive For Manna Food Center
Each year on the High Holy Days, Temple Emanuel collects food for the Manna Food Center. Food insecurity is a continuing and serious problem in Montgomery County. Last year we collected over 4000 pounds of food. The food we donated only lasted a few weeks because the need is so great. We will be handing out bags at Rosh Hashanah services. Please take them home and fill them with nonperishable food items and return them on Yom Kippur morning. The Manna truck will be in the Temple parking lot before, during and after the morning service. We will have volunteers available to help unload your car. We hope we can count on your support again this year.
Services for Children and Families
- 5:30pm on September 12, Tot Shabbat for the third Friday in Elul
- 8:45am on Rosh Hashanah (Tue Sep 23) at Kensington Cabin Park: Katan Family Service (designed for families with children aged 2nd grade and younger) (rsvp requested, link to come) Rabbi Adam and Cantor Lauren will lead the service along with our Kol Ruach Jr. Choir, and Dana Robinson, Director of Early Childhood, will share a story. We will also bless all babies and children born and/or adopted in the past year. The service will be followed by an apples and honey snack.
- 8:45am on Yom Kippur (Thu Oct 2) at Kensington Cabin Park: Katan Family Service (designed for families with children aged 2nd grade and younger) (RSVP requested, link to come) Rabbi Adam and Cantor Lauren will lead the service along with our Kol Ruach Jr. Choir and Laura Naide, Director of Congregational Learning, will share a story. The service will be followed by a craft.
- KESTY Family Services on Rosh Hashanah (1:00pm) and Yom Kippur (2:30pm) (designed for families with children in 3rd-6th grades) composed and led by our KESTY teens. (RSVP requested, link to come) These services will emphasize music and creativity and will provide an age-appropriate worship experience for elementary-age students and are open to all looking for creative worship opportunities.
- Please bring your own blankets or chairs to services at Kensington Cabin Park
- On Rosh Hashanah, Taschlich service at the creek at Kensington Cabin Park (immediately following the KESTY Family Service)
- On Yom Kippur, Neilah service in the Sanctuary at Temple Emanuel, 5:45pm bring your shofars!
Childcare
If childcare is available this year, details will be shared via email and High Holy Days mailings.
Quiet Space
During Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services a quiet space (“Shalom Space”) will be available for individuals or families who would like to take a sensory or movement break. Children should be accompanied by an adult to utilize the sensory tools and movement options.
A social story about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Temple Emanuel can be found here.
Shana Tova,
Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser
arosenwasser@templeemanuelmd.org
Interim Cantor Lauren Adesnik
ladesnik@templeemanuelmd.org
Andrew Stavisky, President
president@templeemanuelmd.org
Alissa Miller, Executive Director
amiller@templeemanuelmd.org
