High Holy Days

2025/5786 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 early September 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:

  1. Purchase books from Unique Treasures for $50 per set.
  2. Purchase an ebook of Mishkan HaNefesh from Amazon that you can view on your computer, iPad, tablet or phone.
  3. 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. Submissions for this year’s book are due by Friday, August 22. If you would like to make a new submission, keep your submission the same, or make changes, please click here.

The Book of Remembrance will be available at Yom Kippur Services on October 2 as well as on our website.

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.
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 $10 for members and $20 for non-members per child per session.
Registration coming soon

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.

Holy Days Schedule

Selichot

Saturday, September 13

Selichot Service
9:00 p.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, LivestreamFacebook
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.

Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 22

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

Rosh Hashanah Day: Tuesday, September 23

Children’s Service
9:00 a.m.— School Hallway, LivestreamFacebook
Join UH Clergy 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, LivestreamFacebook
Celebrate with the UH clergy 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.—Eckert’s Millstadt Fun Farm
2719 Eckert Orchard Lane, Millstadt, IL 62260

Bring a picnic lunch and join us at Eckert’s in Millstadt, IL for an afternoon of apple picking.  At 2:00 p.m., there will be a sing-a-long with Cantor Shirel Richman and the UH clergy. This is perfect for the whole family and friends. Non-Members are welcome!

Registration coming soon.

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah: Wednesday, September 24

Morning Service
10:00 a.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, LivestreamFacebook
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.

Memorial Service at United Hebrew Cemetery

Sunday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m.

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

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidrei: Wednesday, October 1

Kol Nidrei Service
7:30 p.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, LivestreamFacebook
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: Thursday, October 2

Children’s Service
9:00 a.m.— School Hallway, LivestreamFacebook
Join UH Clergy 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, LivestreamFacebook
Celebrate with the UH clergy where we’ll sing, rejoice, and pray as one. Our worship services are a joyous combination of our traditional and contemporary styles.

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

Yom Kippur Moments of Meaning
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. A series of offerings will be available to assist in reflection. List coming soon. 

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

Sukkot

Monday, October 6

Pizza in the Hut
5:30 p.m. – UH Sukkah
Enjoy a pizza and salad dinner outside by the UH sukkah. Cost is $5 per person. Register by Tuesday, September 30 so that we may know how much food to provide.

Mascots in the Sukkah
5:45 p.m. – UH Parking Lot in front of Sukkah
Mascots Fredbird and Louie from the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues respectively will join us for 30 minutes prior to the sukkot service and help us “shake our lulav.”

Erev Sukkot Service in the UH Parking Lot
6:30 p.m. – UH Parking Lot, LivestreamFacebook
Join us in front of the UH Sukkah for a fun outdoor service.

Tuesday, October 7

Sukkot Morning Service
9:00 a.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, LivestreamFacebook

Simchat Torah

Monday, October 13

Erev Simchat Torah & Consecration
6:30 p.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, LivestreamFacebook
Join us as we unroll the Torah completely and begin our transition from the end of the Torah to the beginning. We will also consecrate the youngest members of our congregation as they begin their religious school studies.

Tuesday, October 14

Simchat Torah Service and Yizkor
9:00 a.m.  – Millstone Sanctuary, LivestreamFacebook

Additional Resources

United Hebrew’s 2025 High Holy Day Brochure coming soon

Rosh Hashanah Home Ritual

Yom Kippur Home Ritual

ReformJudaism.org’s Holy Day Pages

 

Contact Us

13788 Conway Road
St. Louis, MO 63141
314-469-0700 (Main Office/Clergy)
314-434-3404 (School Office)
temple@unitedhebrew.org

Office Hours

Monday - Friday,
8:30 am - 5:15 pm

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