High Holidays

High Holiday 5784 Schedule
Get a printable PDF of our High Holidays Schedule here.

Virtual Attendance
If you would like to attend any of the available services online, you will need to register in advance for our Zoom sessions in order to get access. You can find all of the Zoom links below. Should the website crash for any reason, we will have links posted to our Social Media pages. 

S'lichot  
Saturday, September 9 
7 p.m. | Get to Know Rabbi Sharff (IP)
8 p.m. | S'lichot Service (IP)(Z)

We invite you to enter the High Holiday season with the beauty and grandeur of our S’lichot service. We will begin the evening with a get-to-know-you oneg for our new senior Rabbi, Benjamin Sharff, followed by the ceremonial changing of our Torah covers from their year-round colors to the symbolic white of the season. Dive into the liturgy and spirituality that challenges us to change, to turn, and to return.

Find the prayer book for this service here. Watch this year's recording here: 

 

Rosh Hashanah
As we celebrate the beginning of our new year, 5784, we add in the joy of Shabbat to our sacred day. Together we will focus on relationships of all kinds. We will contemplate relationships long-held and storied, relationships in need of renewal, and the beauty of new relationships with new friends, congregants, and clergy. 

Friday, September 15 
7:30 p.m. | Erev Rosh Hashanah Service (IP)(Z)
 

Saturday, September 16
9:30 a.m. | Tot Rosh Hashanah Service (IP)(Z)
You're invited to the birthday celebration of THE WORLD! Please join the clergy and education team for singing, (shofar) blasting, and Torah as we gather to learn about the story of creation and celebrate the World's birthday together.

10:30 a.m. | Morning Service with Torah Reading (IP)(Z)



10:30 a.m. | Youth Programming (IP)
While your parents are upstairs in the sanctuary, we’re going to be partying like it’s 5784! There will be activities! There will be fun! There will be snacks! In lieu of gifts, please bring your creativity and imagination. Activities are planned for grades (pre-K through 2nd) and (3-5). We encourage 6th grade and up to attend the main service upstairs.

Kever Avot v'Imahot (A Memorial & Cemetery Service)
Sunday, September 17
1 p.m. | at Temple Israel Cemetery (IP)
Join us at the Schrager Memorial Chapel for a congregational service to honor the memories of our loved ones who have died and say Kaddish for them.

Immediately following services, everyone will have an opportunity to visit the graves of their loved ones.

The Temple Israel Cemetery is located at: 
6500 N 42nd Street
Omaha, NE 68112

Shabbat Shuvah & Tashlich
Friday, September 22
5 p.m. | Bring Your Own Picnic at the Gene Leahy Mall (IP)
6 p.m. | Service & Tashlich Ceremony at the Gene Leahy Mall (IP)

Shabbat Shuvah is a service of returning that takes place between Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur. As part of that process, we ask ourselves and everyone in attendance to think about how we might have missed the mark.

Tashlich is a ceremony with a physical reminder to cast away your sins, representing our hope that we can "cast off" our misdeeds. In ancient tradition, those participating in Tashlich would turn out their pockets into bodies of water to empty out and let go of their sins.

Grab your family, friends, and neighbors to join us. We encourage community and conversation from 5-6 p.m. with a "Bring Your Own" Picnic, with a Shabbat Service to follow. Following service, we will offer an environmentally friendly version of Tashlich as well (Think of it as a second-chance at those New Year's resolutions)!

We will have New Orleans Sneaux on-site following Services for a special, complimentary dessert. The cost of the dessert has been graciously covered by an Anonymous Donor. 

To enjoy the downtown scenery during this event:

• Please bring your own blankets and chairs, as provided seating will be limited.
• There’s an amazing playground nearby!
• Feel free to bring your own picnic dinner.
• Coolers are allowed
• Glass and Grills are NOT allowed.
• Please feel free to bring your children and your pets.

For our regular Temple Israel congregants, please note that there will be NO SERVICES at Temple Israel on September 22. We are also unable to offer an online option at this time, so please join us downtown! There will be an in-person and online service on Saturday Morning, September 23 at 10:30 a.m. Please join us. 

WEATHER PLAN!!!
We are aware that there is rain in the forecast for Friday! We are keeping tabs on this! By Noon on Friday, we will make a decision. If we decide that the weather is an issue, we will have our Shabbat Shuvah & Tashlich in the Social Hall at Temple Israel! We will still have a "bring your own" picnic and New Orleans Sneaux will be on-site! We will make all announcements via our Shabbat email, the Temple Israel website, and our social media pages. 

Saturday, September 23
Shabbat Morning Service | 10:30 a.m. (IP)(Z)
 

Kol Nidre
Sunday, September 24 | 7:30 p.m. (IP)(Z) 
We will stand before God as we hear the haunting melody of the Kol Nidre prayer. As we consider our imperfections, we ask ourselves how and why we go astray. We will begin our prayers of confession and atonement, seeking forgiveness from ourselves and others.

Yom Kippur
Monday, September 25

If you would like to have the names of your loved ones read at the Yizkor service, please contact the Temple Israel office at 402-556-6536, by Thursday, September 21.

9:30 a.m. | Tot Service (IP)(Z)
A Yom Kippur experience of family and forgiveness. Please join the clergy and education team for engaging songs, Story time, and practice making (and accepting) apologies.

10:30 a.m. | Morning Service with Torah Reading (IP)(Z)
As we conclude the days of awe, we recognize that we are imperfect creatures. We seek to open our hearts, to perceive ourselves and others with open eyes. We ask ourselves how we can open ourselves to change, to renewal, and to new opportunities in this new year. 

 

10:30 a.m. | Youth Programming (IP)
While your parents are upstairs in the sanctuary, join us downstairs for more stories and engaging activities! Featuring Jonah, a whale, and more surprise guests. We’ll also be looking ahead to the holiday of Sukkot. Activities are planned for grades (pre-K through 2nd) and (3-5). We encourage 6th grade and up to attend the main service upstairs.

12:15 p.m. | Feeding the Hungry: Food Packing (IP)

 

The words of the Prophet Isaiah challenge us on Yom Kippur to not just fast, but to also feed the hungry. We are once again partnering with the Foodbank of the Heartland for our Annual Food Drive. We invite you to participate in a variety of ways!

DONATE: Beginning on Rosh Hashanah, we will be handing out brown paper bags! Please fill it with the requested items below and return it on or before our Yom Kippur services!

VOLUNTEER: Following our Morning Worship on Yom Kippur, we will need all hands on deck! Beginning at 12:15 p.m., we will be preparing the collected food to be taken to the food bank. We would love your help with this part! Whether it is sorting, weighing, or packing the food, this is a great way to get involved and help out in a hands-on and fun way. With your help, we can supply Food Bank for the Heartland with thousands of pounds of nutritious food.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS:

• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Tuna
• Canned Chicken
• Canned Fruit
• Peanut Butter
• Rice
• Canned & Dry Beans
• Cereal
• Pasta

2 p.m. | Ask Rabbi Sharff (IP)(Z)
Take a moment to meet Senior Rabbi Benjamin Sharff and ask any questions you might have.

 

3 p.m. | A Service of Healing (IP)(Z)
A more contemplative service with a focus on prayers and songs of healing: healing of the body and healing of the spirit. We will pray for strength for those who are ill and strength for the caregivers among us.

 

4 p.m. | Yizkor (IP)(Z)
Join in our traditional prayers of remembrance and add your personal memories to share in the power of community.

 

5:15 p.m. | N'ilah (IP)(Z)
Before the gates close, we join in our final worship service focusing on forgiveness.

6 p.m. | Grab-n-Go Community Break-the-Fast (IP)
Join us following service for a Motzi & Kiddish of Challah, fruit, and juice to break the fast.

Sukkot
Sukkot is one of the Shelosh Regalim, one of three pilgrimage festivals where in ancient days, the Israelites would bring their sacrifices to the Temple in Jerusalem. It also commemorates the fall harvest and the 40 years in the wilderness where the Israelites built temporary structures: Sukkot. It is a fun fall celebration where we take up the lulav & etrog and invite family & friends to join us in al fresca dining under the stars. We also invite Ushpizin, sacred guests, to join us in the Sukkah as well. Please come back for updated details!

Youth Learning Programs will be celebrating Sukkot all week long with different activities and celebrations on 9/27, 10/1 and 10/4. Visit the YLP homepage for a link to YLP communications if you haven't already joined!

Friday, September 29
6 p.m. | Festival Shabbat Service (IP)(Z)

Saturday, September 30
10:30 a.m. | Morning Service (IP)(Z)

6:30 p.m. | Sushi in the Sukkah with the 20-Somethings (IP)

Thursday, October 5
12 - 1 p.m. | Bring Your Own Lunch in the Sukkah with our Clergy Team (IP)

Consecration & Simchat Torah
Friday, October 6

5:30 p.m. | Integrated Dinner, Shabbat, Torah Celebration & Consecration Experience (IP)
This is our congregational Simchat Torah Service. This integrated Shabbat dinner will also celebrate kindergartners and older students who have never been consecrated. As they participate in this special service, they will formally recognize their families' commitment to Jewish education.

The cost to attend is only $5 per family as this dinner is generously sponsored by the Irv Blumkin Family in honor of Hayley's Consecration. 

RSVP here by September 29. 

Shemini Atzeret
Saturday, October 7
10:30 a.m. | Service & Yizkor (IP)(Z)
Following Torah Study, we will have a Shemini Atzeret & Shabbat Morning Service, including Yizkor. This causal worship will conclude and restart the Torah as we also commemorate all of our deceased loved ones. The cycle of life continues with remembering as the cycle of the Torah begins again.

Machzorim
We are once again loaning out Machzorim, our High Holiday Prayer Book. If you are attending services virtually and would like to borrow a set, please reach out to the Temple Israel Office, 402-556-6536, to arrange a time for pick-up. Returns are required by October 6. If they are not returned, fees will be assessed. If you would like to own your very own Machzor, you can find that information here. We highly recommend either borrowing or purchasing a set as text will not be on screen during our Zoom Services.

Book of Rememberance
In August, you received a letter asking if you would like to add names to the Book of Remembrance, a compilation of tributes to our dearly departed whose memories are consecrated on Yom Kippur. Please return your form to Temple Israel by Friday, September 1 to ensure inclusion of your remembrance. If you have any questions, please contact the Temple Israel Office, 402-556-6536.

Childcare
We will again be recruiting staff from our local Jewish schools to watch over children ages 0-4. They will have fun playing with each other in a safe environment, listening to stories, and hearing the shofar blast. Sitter service will be available for Rosh Hashanah morning (Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.), as well as Yom Kippur morning (Monday, September 25, 10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.). Childcare will take place downstairs in the Education Wing. Adults - please walk your children down to sign them in upon drop-off and out for pick-up. Reservations are required. Please RSVP online by:

• Wednesday, Sept. 13 for Rosh Hashanah
• Thursday, Sept. 21 for Yom Kippur

Walk-ins will not be accepted.

Accessibility

• If you would like mobility assistance for services, please contact Mindi Marburg to make arrangements. We will have ushers with wheelchairs available who are more than happy to help!
• Large print books as well as listening devices will be available at the entrance to the Sanctuary for all services.
• For those looking for space to walk around or release energy, alternative seating and open spaces will be available in the social hall where we will be streaming services.

URJ Reciprocity 
The URJ suggests that when space allows, members of URJ congregations who will be traveling during the High Holidays be welcomed to worship at fellow URJ congregations. Please note that High Holiday seating is based on the discretion of the host congregation and is not intended as URJ policy. If you are travelling to another congregation, please reach out to Temple Israel Office to fill out a Reciprocity Form for you!

Get Involved! 
We are always looking for more volunteers during the High Holidays! If you are interested in greeting, ushering, assisting in the Food Drive, please contact Mindi Marburg, (402) 556-6536 or mmarburg@templeisraelomaha.com.

Elul Thoughts
This year, we once again participated in Elul Thoughts, a collaborative project among several rabbis, cantors and educators of daily thoughts in preparation for the High Holidays. If you've missed any editions of Elul Thoughts, you can revisit them on the Temple Israel Blog. If you'd like to receive the remainder in your e-mail, you can subscribe to Elul Thoughts through your Shulcloud Settings.