Sign In Forgot Password

High Holidays 2021/5782

 
This page will be regularly updated leading up to and throughout the High Holidays.
 
 
Below you will find the following sections:
 
  • Information About In-Person High Holiday Services (including registration procedure)
  • How to Access Our Live(streamed) Services & Digital Machzor
  • Security
  • HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
  • High Holiday Family Services
  • Yizkor & Remembering Your Departed Loved Ones
  • The Blast!
  • Tashlich
  • Sig & Susan Cohen Book Giveaway
  • Annual High Holiday Food Drive
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Information About In-Person High Holiday Services
(including registration procedure)
 
Because health and safety remain our priority, we will limit in-person attendance at High Holiday services this year. Attendance will be limited to 100 individuals and masks required. Attendees will be socially distanced inside, filling roughly one-quarter of the sanctuary. 
 
We realize that this is a break from our long-held tradition of welcoming all who wish to attend our services -- but our hope is that this will be a one-time restriction, and that next year we can spend the High Holidays together, in person, without limitation.
 
In order to limit capacity, Hill Havurah will require registration for in-person attendance. Registration is open first to current members. The registration form is available here.  
 
In order to accommodate as many of our members as possible, if you would like to participate in person, we ask that you register to attend either Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur services. Once registered, you may attend as many services as you wish during that holiday.
 
We ask Hill Havurah members to submit your registration here by Sunday, August 22. We will email registrants during the week or two before Rosh Hashanah confirming your registration status. If we do not fill 100 seats, we will open registration to non-members.
 
Please note that protocols may change in the weeks leading up to the holidays. We will notify everyone as soon as possible should that happen.
 
August 25th Update -- We've reached our Covid capacity limit for Yom Kippur services. But there are still some seats available for Rosh Hashanah services.
 
August 27th Update -- We're sorry. We've now reached our Covid capacity limit for Rosh Hashanah services as well as Yom Kippur services. We hope that next year the pandemic will be over and we'll have room for everyone who'd like to join us in person!
 
 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How To Access Our Live(streamed) Services & Digital Machzor
 
In order to view our livestreamed services, just go to the Hill Havurah YouTube page from any computer or smartphone. Registration is NOT required to view our livestreams.
 
Once you get to our YouTube page, you will see the top video with a "LIVE" icon (during the service, and a few minutes beforehand); just click on that to watch.
 
If you are logged in with your Gmail account (YouTube is a subsidiary of Google), you can participate in the live chat below the video. (At times Rabbi Hannah may invite you to post in the live chat; but you'll never be required to.) If you don't already have a Gmail account, you can sign up for one here.
 
An online version of the Hill Havurah Machzor is available here. And you can find a special supplement focused on racial justice, crafted last year by Rachel Conway and Virginia Spatz in consultation with Rachel Faulkner, here -- and a short update to the Racial Justice Supplement here.
 
Hard copies of our machzor will be available to be picked up in front of Reformation (at 212 East Capitol Street, NE) on Sunday, September 5th, from 1:00-2:30 pm, and on Monday, September 6th, from 3:00 until 4:00 pm. If you'd like a machzor, click here to sign up.
 
 
If you have any questions, please email Executive Director Alan Shusterman at alan.shusterman@hillhavurah.org. Thanks.
 
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Security
 
We continue to be committed to your safety when you attend Hill Havurah services and events. You can find our updated security plan here.
 
This year, we ask that you refrain from bringing backpacks or other large bags to High Holiday services. We know that many of you bring items to occupy your children -- but please bring only a small bag, a tallis bag, or a small purse. We ask you to assist us in this way, so that everyone feels safe. 
 
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
High Holiday Schedule
 
 
Monday, September 6th
at 4:00 PM
THE BLAST
[See information down below.]
at 6:00 PM
EREV ROSH HASHANAH SERVICE 
(Sermon by rabbinic intern Jenna Shaw after the Amidah)
 
Tuesday, September 7th
at 10:00 AM
ROSH HASHANAH MORNING SERVICE
(Sermon by rabbinic intern Jenna Shaw before the haftarah reading)
 
at 3:00 PM
ROSH HASHANAH FAMILY SERVICE
at 4:00 PM 
ROSH HASHANAH TOT FAMILY SERVICE
[See information below.]
 
at 5:30 PM 
TASHLICH
[See information down below.]
 
-------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 15th
at 7:30 PM 
KOL NIDRE
(Sermon by Rabbi Hannah before Aleinu)
 
Thursday, September 16th
at 10:00 AM
YOM KIPPUR MORNING SERVICE
(Sermon by Hill Havurah member Jody Tick, Executive Director of Sunflower Bakery)
at 12:45 PM 
MEDITATION WITH RABBI HANNAH
[See information here.]
at 2:00PM 
FACILITATED DISCUSSION INSPIRED BY RABBI HANNAH'S SERMON
[See information here.]
 
at 3:00 PM
YOM KIPPUR FAMILY SERVICE
at 4:00 PM 
YOM KIPPUR TOT FAMILY SERVICE
[See information below.]
 
at 5:30 PM 
YIZKOR
at 6:00 PM 
NE'ILAH
(Sermon by Rabbi Hannah)
 
-------------------------------------------------------
 
A note about registration requirements: Our morning and evening services will be livestreamed (see information above); registration is not required for the livestreams, but is to attend in-person (and in-person registration is now closed). Our Family Services will be on Zoom (see information below); registration is required for those. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Alan at alan.shusterman@hillhavurah.org.
 
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
High Holiday Family Services
 
Our High Holiday Family Services will be virtual via Zoom, at the following times:
 
  • Rosh Hashanah Family Service (K-5th grade families) -- Tue., Sept. 7th, at 3:00 pm -- register here.
  • Rosh Hashanah Tot Family Service -- Tues., Sept. 7th, at 4:00 pm -- register here.
  • Yom Kippur Family Service (K-5th grade families) -- Thur., Sept. 16th, at 3:00 pm -- register here.
  • Yom Kippur Tot Family Service -- Thur., Sept. 16th, at 4:00 pm -- register here.
 
The services will be led by Rabbi Julie (Hill Havurah's former Yavneh Director & Rabbi Educator) and the very talented Ari Jacobson.
 
Also, to discover all kinds of great activities and learning opportunities, you can visit our "Hill Havurah Family Resources to Celebrate the High Holy Days" document, put together by Rabbi Julie.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yikzor & Remembering Your Departed Loves Ones

As the High Holy Days approach, our thoughts and actions turn towards remembrance. On Yom Kippur, the Yizkor service, traditionally held four times a year, is our opportunity to combine remembrance with renewal -- and also to combine remembrance with action to honor the memory of loved ones who have left us. 
 
This year, we will not be publishing our traditional Book of Remembrance; however, we will resume publishing next year. This year, we are planning to create an online remembrance compilation before Yom Kippur that will be coupled with a slide show to be shown during the Yom Kippur Yizkor service (potentially with photos).
 
If you'd like your loved one(s) to be included, click here. The deadline for submissions in September 8th.
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The BLAST -- Monday, September 6th, 4:00 pm

Hill Havurah is a co-sponsor of “The Blast” -- an opportunity for the Washington Jewish community to welcome Rosh Hashanah with city-wide shofar blasts -- again this year. Hill Havurah will have a shofar blower (or two) participating in front of Reformation (at 212 East Capitol Street, NE); we'd be happy to have you stop by to join us for that.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Tashlich -- Tuesday, September 7th, 5:30 pm
 
 
We'll gather at 5:30 pm on the Kayak Dock in Yards Park (along the Anacostia River) for tashlich on September 7th. With tashlich, we'll reflect on the pieces of the past year that we want to move forward from.
 
In an effort to preserve the ecosystem of the Anacostia, we’ll be using dissolvable paper with messages written on it. So, there's no need for you to bring breadcrumbs. (Unless you really want to, which would be fine.)
 
The Kayak Dock (not to be confused with other docks where you may see kayaks) is along the Riverwalk close to the 4th street entrance to Yards Park just west of the Navy Yard gates. And it's a short walk from The Yards LOT Q.
 
If you'd like to join us, please register here.
 
If you have any questions, please email Alan at alan.shusterman@hillhavurah.org. Thanks!
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Sig & Susan Cohen Book Giveaway
 
 
Hill Havurah founders Sig and Susan Cohen recently donated a large number of selections from their collection of Jewish books to the Havurah, and they will be displayed and available at our High Holiday services for the taking. 
 
If you are not going to be attending our in-person services but are interested in these books, you can email Alan at alan.shusterman@hillhavurah.org.
 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annual High Holiday Food Drive
 
 
Join Hill Havurah as we partner with the Lutheran Church of the Reformation for our annual High Holiday food drive. With a return to in-person services this year, we're asking members to consider dropping off food pantry bags to donate to Reformation's Food Pantry
 
The bags can be dropped off at the following in-person gatherings taking place at Reformation (212 East Capitol Street, NE) in September:
 
  • Erev Rosh Hashanah Service – Mon., Sept. 6th, at 6:00 pm
  • Rosh Hashanah Morning Service – Tue., Sept. 7th, at 10:00 am
  • Kol Nidre – Wed., Sept. 15th, at 6:00 pm
  • Yom Kippur Morning Service – Thur., Sept. 16th, at 10:00 am
  • Sukkah Party – Sun., Sept. 26th, at 4:00 pm
  • Simchat Torah Celebration – Tue., Sept. 28th, at 6:00 pm
 
The bags should include:
 
  • 2 –14 oz cans of corn
  • 2 –14 oz cans of green beans
  • 2 –14 oz cans of fruit
  • 1 - 16 oz can baked beans
  • 1 -6 oz can tuna
  • 1 –18 oz jar peanut butter
  • 1 box breakfast cereal
  • 1 box saltines
  • 2 packages (Ramen Noodles)
  • 2 –7 oz boxes macaroni and cheese
  • 1 box, pouch, carton dried milk (can be shelf safe milk)
 
The Reformation Food Pantry has long helped ensure that our neighbors on Capitol Hill and beyond have access to food. The need is very high this year, so we very much encourage you to donate. Every year during the High Holidays, we have supported the pantry by supplying bags of food. Hill Havurah's Tikkun Olam Committee is proud to continue this partnership. 
 
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Nate Allen at Nate.DF.Allen@gmail.com. Thank you for your generous and thoughtful support.
 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 
 

Mon, March 18 2024 8 Adar II 5784