High Holy Days 5787 | 2026

 

High Holy Days 5787 | 2026

This High Holy Day season, we invite you to join us in prayer, reflection, and celebration with our Temple Emanuel community. Services will be held both at Temple Emanuel and nearby Kensington Cabin Park, offering meaningful opportunities to gather with family and friends. For those who are unable to attend in person, many services will also be available via live stream, allowing everyone to be part of the experience wherever they are.

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 choose to join Temple Emanuel later this fall, the cost of your guest tickets will be deducted from your membership commitment.

If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director Alissa Miller.

CLICK HERE FOR HHD 5787: Purchase Member and Non-Member Guest Tickets, Book of Remembrance Entries, and RSVP for all required HHD events

Sukkot 5787: RSVP for Sukkot Events or Purchase a Lulav / Etrog

SERVICE SCHEDULE:

Some events will require tickets or registration

  • Elul Shabbat Services
    • Friday August 14 6:30pm, Elul 1
    • Friday August 21 6:30pm, Elul 2
    • Friday August 28 6:30pm, Elul 3
    • Friday September 4 6:30pm, Elul 4
  • Saturday September 5:
    • 7:00pm, Slichot Short Film and Service

 

  • Erev Rosh Hashanah: Friday September 11 7:00pm (tickets required)
    • Rabbi Emeritus Warren Stone will give the sermon
  • Rosh Hashanah: Saturday September 12
    • Family Service 8:30am, (RSVP requested) will include a blessing for all babies born or adopted in the past year
    • Main Sanctuary Service 10:00am (tickets required)
      • Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser will give the sermon
    • Afternoon Service 1:00pm led by our KESTY teens (RSVP requested)
    • Tashlich (immediately following Afternoon Service, at approximately 2:15pm)

 

  • Shabbat Shuvah:
    • Friday September 18 6:30pm led by WRJ
  • Kol Nidre: Sunday September 20 7:00pm (tickets required)
  • Yom Kippur: Monday September 21
    • Family Service 8:30am (RSVP requested)
    • 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)
    • Healing Service 4:00pm
    • Yizkor 5:00pm
    • Neilah 5:45pm, bring your shofar!
    • Congregational Break-the-fast ~6:30pm
  • Sukkot
    • Erev Sukkot Shabbat Under the Stars Friday September 25, 6:30pm  All New Members receive a special blessing!
    • Sukkot Sing-A-Long in the Sukkah for young families and tots Saturday, September 26th 9:00am
    • Sukkot Festival Service Saturday September 26 10:00am at Temple Sinai
    • Sukkot Open House Saturday September for TE Members  (RSVP required)
    • If you would like to purchase a lulav and etrog set, the purchase deadline is September 10. The cost for the set is $50. Purchase link
  • Simchat Torah
    • Pizza Dinner Friday October 2, 5:30 pm (RSVP Required)
    • Erev Simchat Torah and Kabbalat Shabbat Service Friday October 2 6:30pm at Temple Emanuel
    • Festival Service Saturday October 3 10:00am at Temple Shalom

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, $45/set. (Online purchase link)

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 by September 1. (Online Link)

Parking
Please allow ample time for parking. If you have accessibility needs we suggest arriving early. Auxiliary parking is available across Connecticut at the Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church parking lot; please cross only at Washington Street. 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 bins will be in the parking lot. 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

  • 8:30am on Rosh Hashanah (Saturday, September 12): Katan Family Service  (designed for families with children aged 2nd grade and younger) (RSVP requested) Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser and Cantor Emily Short 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): Katan Family Service  (designed for families with children aged 2nd grade and younger) (RSVP requested) Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser and Cantor Emily Short 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) 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 as children’s services will be outside- weather permitting
  • On Yom Kippur, Neilah service in the Sanctuary at Temple Emanuel, 5:45pm bring your shofars!

Childcare

We hope to have childcare available this year for the morning Main Sanctuary services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for children age 2 and up. $50/child/day. Children who are not currently enrolled TE ECC students must be fully potty trained to participate. Programming will be designed for children in early childhood. Children must be signed in and out by parents/guardians, they cannot leave on their own. Limited spaces available, reservation requests will be confirmed via email.  Reservation deadline is September 1. Online reservation link

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

Cantor Emily Short
eshort@templeemanuelmd.org

Lisa Reff, President
president@templeemanuelmd.org

Alissa Miller, Executive Director
amiller@templeemanuelmd.org