2023/5784 High Holy Days

The High Holy Days are a journey that we take together as a community. This journey is a great celebration as we welcome in the new year and all the future has in store for us. We reconnect with old friends. We make new links as we meet people coming to the community for the first time. We feel a spirit of connection as we join together in song, prayer, and learning. The High Holy Days provide us, as does much of Jewish life, with an opportunity to plug into something greater than ourselves and to reach out to other people in our community. We hope you meet someone new this holiday season, as that simple step helps our Jewish community to grow and develop. We also hope that you are replenished by the energy of people coming together to worship and reconnect with the faith and heritage of our ancestors.

We look forward to seeing you during the holy days!

How to Participate in Services

We are looking forward to celebrating the Holy Days with you. All services will be held in the Millstone Sanctuary except for Children’s Services which will be in the school hallway and Erev Sukkot which will be outside in front of the UH sukkah. We will also livestream on our website, YouTube and Facebook. Once a service is finished, it will be available to watch again from the beginning.

Name Tags

In late August we will send out name tags that will serve as your ticket. When you arrive for High Holy Day services, please present your name tag (just like a ticket) at the door. Children in grades 12 and under are not required to have a name tag. College students need only to show their student I.D. for admission.

We know the holidays are a time where families and friends wish to be together, and all are invited to worship with us. To allow us to prepare for larger than usual attendance and for security purposes, all adults must have a name tag, members, and guests alike. Therefore, we ask that you obtain guest name tags in advance of the High Holy Days for any non-members attending services with you. Please call the office at 314-469-0700 to arrange for name tags for your guests. Be prepared to provide their names and contact information.

Prayer Books

We will use our High Holy Day machzor, Mishkan HaNefesh. Prayer books will be provided at all in person services. We understand that some will still feel more comfortable participating in services from the comfort of your own home. If you are watching from home and wish to use a prayer book, there are three options to choose from:

Purchase books from Unique Treasures for $44 per set.
Purchase an ebook of Mishkan HaNefesh from Amazon that you can view on your computer, iPad, tablet or phone.
Members may check out books (as you would from a library) and return them after the High Holy Days.

You may also contact 314-469-0700 for assistance.

Parking for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Enter the sanctuary parking lot only via the Old Woods Mill entrance.
Exit the sanctuary parking lot via Conway Road.
If our lot is full, you will be directed where to park.

Valet parking will once again be available for those who need it, thanks to the Betty and Eugene Wolff Transportation Fund. Drop-off will be at the sanctuary entrance and pick-up will be at the school entrance.

Transportation

Do you need a ride to UH for a service or program? United Hebrew provides transportation for those who are unable to drive, compliments of the Betty and Eugene Wolff Transportation Fund.
Contact 314-469-0700 to arrange your ride.

Memorial Book

Our Yizkor book contains the names of our dearly departed and it is a source of comfort for the entire year, with special readings, prayers, and the Kaddish.

2023 Memorial Book

If you are unable to attend services and would like a print copy, please contact Esther Olson at eolson@unitedhebrew.org or 314-469-0700.

HHD Food Drive

Start the New Year off right! Let your first mitzvah be to support the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry and UH’s Backpack Buddies.
Please bring your food donations to the chapel lobby before Yom Kippur services.

HHD Childcare

United Hebrew will be hosting children’s programming during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services for children age 2 through 1st grade. Childcare is $5 a child per session.
Registration for Rosh Hashanah dates must be received by Monday, September 11 and Yom Kippur by Tuesday, September 19. No exceptions.
Register

Joseph Bags

We offer activity bags that may be checked out in the main office for young children who are attending services with their parents.

Elul Programs

During the month of Elul, we are called to begin the process of reflection and repentance in preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are offering many opportunities for all ages to reflect and study throughout the month.

Click here for a list of all of our classes and programs.

Holy Days Schedule

Selichot

Saturday, September 9

Young Family Program with PJ Library
11:00 a.m. – UH Parking Lot
Join us for a Shabbat sing-a-long for young families in the main parking lot at United Hebrew. We’ll celebrate Shabbat, complete a story book walk, and prepare for Selichot by “chalking” the parking lot (assigned spaces) with our wishes for the upcoming year!
Register

How Can You Order Your Happy New Year?
7:00 p.m. – Spielberg Chapel and on Zoom
Happiness can be a challenge to measure since it’s so dependent upon circumstances controlled and uncontrolled. It is possible to identify that which makes you happy as much as you can identify what makes you unhappy. Just because you have some unhappiness doesn’t mean that you cannot be happy at the same time. Cantor Eichaker has received certificates from Harvard University and the University of California – Berkley on the Science of Happiness. He will explore the latest researched backed approach to identifying and separating happiness and unhappiness through an engaging and informative program. Participants will come away with their own happiness journal that they can bring to all the services from Selichot to Simchat Torah so they can create and keep a High Holy Days Happiness Journal. The questions and exercises can be revisited all year if you choose.
Register

Selichot Service
9:00 p.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
On the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashanah, we gather together for a very special service to help us prepare for the upcoming High Holy Days. The service is called “Selichot,” named for our prayers for forgiveness that we begin to offer at this time. The Selichot service introduces us to the themes, liturgy, and music of our Yamim Nora’im (Days of Awe), thus helping us to get ready for this most holy and important time of year. During this service, we change the covers of our Torah scrolls from beautiful blues and vibrant colors to the symbolic white covers of the season and our service concludes with the sounding of the shofar. There will be a dessert reception immediately following the service.

Memorial Service at United Hebrew Cemetery

Sunday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m.

United Hebrew Cemetery
7855 Canton Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63130

Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah: Friday, September 15

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
7:30 p.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
Our worship services are a joyous combination of our traditional and contemporary styles.

Rosh Hashanah Day: Saturday, September 16

Children’s Service
9:00 a.m.— School Hallway, Livestream & Facebook
Join UH Clergy and Artist-in-Residence, Rick Recht for a lively and fun children’s service where we’ll sing, pray, and hear the shofar.

Morning Service
10:00 a.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
Celebrate with the UH clergy and Rick Recht where we’ll sing, rejoice, and pray as one. Our worship services are a joyous combination of our traditional and contemporary styles.

Rosh Hashanah in the Orchard
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.—Centennial Farms and Orchard
199 Jackson Street, Augusta, Missouri 63332

Bring a picnic lunch and join us at Centennial Farms for an afternoon of apple picking. At 2:00 p.m., there will be a sing-a-long with UH Artist-in-Residence Rick Recht and the UH clergy. This is perfect for the whole family and friends. There will also be a tashlich experience. Non-Members are welcome!

United Hebrew will cover the cost of admission. If you would like to purchase apples, you may do so at your own expense. Please bring blankets or chairs to sit on. RSVP by September 11. To make a reservation, please visit unitedhebrew.org or contact Sari Levy at slevy@unitedhebrew.org or 314-469-0700.
Register

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah: Sunday, September 17

Morning Service
10:00 a.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
This beautiful morning service has a slightly more traditional feel without the accompaniment of instruments. Led by UH clergy.

Tashlich
12:00 p.m.—Lake on Ladue Rd.
Join us on the second day of Rosh Hashanah to observe Tashlich.

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidrei: Sunday, September 24

Kol Nidrei Service
7:30 p.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
Join us for this inspiring service which begins with the beautifully haunting melody of Kol Nidrei played on the cello. The lights are dimmed as we reflect on the melody of this powerful prayer.

Yom Kippur: Monday, September 25

An early Memorial Service will follow directly after the morning service.

Yom Kippur Moments of Meaning

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. – “How can bad things lead to a good life?”
Millstone Library
A discusion with Suzy Berg of Sound Mind Therapy.

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.: Moment of Remebrance for 50th Anniversary of Yom Kippur War
Millstone Sanctuary

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. – Singing Bowls Meditation
School Hallway
UH member, Maretta Shaw will lead us in this opportunity for reflection and meditation. Singing bowls are used to invoke meditation or relaxation through the resounding vibrations and pleasant sounds it emanates when played. Singing bowls can also be used in sound therapy to induce healing of mind, body, and spirit.

2:45 – 3:30 p.m. – Sermon Reflection and Extension
Millstone Sanctuary
From presentation to conversation: come discuss this year’s holy day sermons with our clergy

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. – Hakarat Hatov
Millstone Library
A discussion with Dr. Michelle Hastings on how can we acknowledge and appreciate the good in others, ourselves, and the blessings in our lives (even in difficult times)

Afternoon, Memorial and Concluding (Neilah) Services
4:00 p.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
Yom Kippur and our day of fasting will end with the sounding of the shofar.

Sukkot

Sukkot Service in the UH Parking Lot
Friday, September 29
6:30 p.m.—UH Parking Lot, Livestream & Facebook
Join us in front of the UH Sukkah for a fun outdoor service.

Sukkot Morning Service
Saturday, September 30
10:30 a.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook

Simchat Torah

Erev Simchat Torah
Friday, October 6
6:30 p.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
Join us as we unroll the Torah completely and begin our transition from the end of the Torah to the beginning.

Simchat Torah Shabbat Morning Service and Yizkor
Saturday, October 7
10:30 a.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook

Additional Resources

United Hebrew’s 2023 High Holy Day Brochure

Rosh Hashanah Home Ritual

Yom Kippur Home Ritual

ReformJudaism.org’s Holy Day Pages

High Holy Days