Shana Tovah and hooray for 5783!
We can’t wait to welcome you home to Temple Israel.
High Holidays 2022:
A Chance to Reconnect to Our Community, to Our Building, to Ourselves
Shana Tovah! Each year we look forward to the high holidays with excitement. It’s a chance to emphasize renewal. We put difficult experiences behind us, we see friends new and old, and we harmonize to the best of our abilities. While our world continues to be far from normal, many of our 2022 holiday experiences represent a return to “normalish.”
Our High Holiday clergy team is Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg, Rabbi Emeritus Steven Garten and we welcome Student Cantor Ilana Mulcahy. Student Cantor Mulcahy is a second-year Cantorial student from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College. She brings a passion for Jewish music from her home congregation in New Jersey and is delighted to spend her first official experience as clergy with us in Ottawa. For our “traditional” services, we’re delighted to welcome our choir member back; they will be directed by accompanist Carol Gurofsky.
Since we are anticipating smaller crowds, we will host most of our services from the comfort of our beloved Temple Israel sanctuary. Please make sure to RSVP as we have a limited capacity. Participants must be symptom free – vaccinated. We require masks at all IN PERSON services for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. We’re grateful to you for your understanding and care as we navigate forward.
The tent is back and we will host a variety of creative services at this location. All of our sanctuary services will be livestreamed on Youtube so that you can continue to participate from the comfort of your home. Links will be provided upon registration. The Hellenic Centre parking lot is available for our use. The Temple parking lot will be CLOSED.
Print the Complete List of Services
The complete list of services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is available to download and print.
While many of our offerings will be livestreamed (see icons), please note each of these elements are also in
person at the specified location.
Sunday, September 25th
Family Fun Rosh Hashana (5:00-5:45 pm, Temple School Level):
This is a creative tot experience to celebrate the birthday of the world. Get set for songs, activities, stories and of course shofar blowing. Intended for children under 6 and their families. Led by Rabbi Mikelberg and Student Cantor Mulcahy.
Traditional Evening Service (8:00, Sanctuary):
We officially welcome the new year with erev Rosh Hashana worship services from the Temple Israel bimah. Rabbi Garten will deliver words of teaching.
Monday, September 26th
L’Dor v’Dor Morning Service (9:00-10:00 am, Tent):
An abridged and creative service including holiday liturgical highlights and Torah reading intended for school age children and their families as well as for those looking to be outdoors. Offerings will be accessible to both the young and the young at heart. Led by Rabbi Mikelberg and Student Cantor Mulcahy.
Traditional Morning Service (10:30 am, Sanctuary):
Features of the morning to include classic liturgy such as Avinu Malkeinu, Torah reading of the Binding of Isaac and a sermon by Rabbi Mikelberg.
Tashlich at Mooney’s Bay (4:00 pm):
Building on the success of the past two years, we will gather at the shore to cleanse our souls and start the year fresh. Meet at the Mooney’s Bay Parking Lot.
While many of our offerings will be livestreamed (see icons), please note each of these elements are also in
person at the specified location.
Tuesday, October 4
Family Fun Yom Kippur (5:00-5:45 pm, Temple School Level):
This is a creative tot experience centering on learning from mistakes and saying ‘I’m sorry’. With song, stories, and activities, we’ll explore the themes of this important day. Intended for children under 6. Led by Rabbi Mikelberg and Student Cantor Mulcahy.
Early Kol Nidre (6:30-7:30 pm, Sanctuary):
A slightly abridged service, accessible to all, that will include classical holiday liturgy as well as music from our instrumentalists: Dina Namer on piano and Paul Mareyn on cello performing Kol Nidre. Sermon delivered by Rabbi Garten.
Traditional Kol Nidre (8:00, Sanctuary):
We’ll begin our soulful journey with the stirring instrumental music of the day performed by Dina Namer on piano and Paul Mareyn on cello, followed by the festival liturgy. Sermon delivered by Rabbi Mikelberg.
Wednesday, October 5
L’Dor v’Dor Morning Service (9:00-10:00 am, Tent):
An abridged and creative service including holiday liturgical highlights and Torah reading intended for school age children and their families as well as for those looking to be outdoors. Offerings will be accessible to both the young and the young at heart. Led by Rabbi Mikelberg and Student Cantor Mulcahy.
Traditional Morning Service (10:30 am, Sanctuary):
The morning service includes classic liturgy such as Vidui Confessional, Torah reading on Choosing Life and a sermon by Rabbi Mikelberg.
Afternoon Healing Service (1:30 pm, Tent):
Led by Rabbi Garten and Lisa Hans, we’ll look to readings and music to walk the path of refuah (healing) at this season of renewal.
Jonah Reading and Text Study (2:45 pm, Sanctuary):
Mort Bercovitch will take us on a theatrical journey with his reading of Jonah. Rabbi Garten will continue with a textual study of this riveting tale of a naïve man trying to run away from his responsibilities.
Yizkor Memorial Service (4:45 pm, Sanctuary):
The holiday season can be difficult as we hold close our loved ones who have passed on. We will honour their memory as we grieve, reflect and carry the legacy of our loved ones forward.
Neila (6:00 pm, Sanctuary):
As the sun begins to set, we will join for our concluding prayers.
Outdoors Break-fast (6:45 pm, Tent):
After two years of yearning to schmooze and nosh with one another, let’s mark the end of Yom Kippur as a community in our tent.