2021/5782 High Holy Days

At United Hebrew, 5782 will be a year of gratitude! An opportunity for us to look around and recognize the myriad of blessings in our lives. An opportunity for us to take a deep breath and to say, “thank you, God, for bringing us to this moment.” Together we’ll cultivate the middah (the Jewish value) of HaKarat HaTov: Gratitude “Finding the Good” and of recognizing the often overlooked moments of blessing and thanks in our lives.

This year, when we gather for the High Holy Days it will truly be a Shehecheyanu moment – a moment of pure gratitude and blessing.

How to Participate in Services

We are excited to once again have services in-person for the High Holy Days and are looking forward to welcoming you back into our building. All services will be held in the Millstone Sanctuary with the exception of Children’s Services which will be virtual only 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.

Reservations

At this time our High Holy Day services are open to members only.
We ask that you make a reservation by August 10 so that we have a sense of who will be coming into the building. We know not everyone will be ready to pray in a large group. You may reserve your space by filling out the form on the UH website or by calling 314-469-0700. We will take a waiting list for guests and non-members who attend using a reciprocal form from another URJ congregation. Guests will be informed after August 15 if space is available.

UH Member Reservations

Guest Reservations

Covid Protocols

At the time of publication, we still require masks inside of our building to protect the youngest members of our congregation, ages 11 and under, who are not yet eligible for vaccination. We will continue to watch COVID updates over the next couple of months and if our mask requirement changes before the Holy Days, we will let you know.

Name Tags

In mid-August we will send out name tags that will serve as your ticket and proof of membership. When you arrive for High Holy Day services, please present your nametag (just like a ticket) to an usher.

Prayer Books

We will use our High Holy Day machzor, Mishkan HaNefesh. The 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 Rd. only
If our lot is full, you will be directed where to park.

Valet parking for those with a Disabled Placard will once again be available, thanks to the Betty and Eugene Wolff Transportation Fund. Drop-off will be at the sanctuary entrance and pick-up will be at the religious 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 August 9. Submit your entry here.

The book will be available on the UH website, as well as in print at the Memorial/Yizkor Services. 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.

Elul Programs

During the month of Elul it is traditional to begin the process of reflection and repentance in preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This year 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, August 28

Young Family Selichot Parking Lot Program
3:00 p.m.—UH Parking Lot
Join us for an afternoon Shabbat sing-a-long for young families outside at United Hebrew. We’ll celebrate Shabbat and prepare for Selichot by “chalking” the parking lot (assigned spaces) with our transgressions of this past year and our wishes for the upcoming year! We will use the parking spaces and fill them with our own words of teshuvah and hopes. Please make your reservation on the UH website or by calling Angie Klenke at 314-434-3404.
Register

Rosh Hashanah Seder
Due to the Recommendation from UH’s Covid Advisory Committee, this program has been canceled. We are working on a video Seder to send out for those who wish to participate at home at their own convenience.
A Rosh Hashanah Seder? When it comes to celebrating holidays we think of our own family traditions and assume they are the “Jewish” way to celebrate, when really they are one of many “Jewish” ways to celebrate. Many Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews have the tradition of a Rosh Hashanah Seder. The origins of this ritual date back to the Talmud (Horayot 12a), where Abaye discusses omens that carry significance, and suggests that at the beginning of each new year, people should make a habit of eating and blessing certain foods that express our wishes for the new year, like bounty, strength, and peace. Join us for an evening of talking and tasting, as we explore this Rosh Hashanah ritual.

Selichot Service
8:30 p.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
On the Saturday evening preceding Rosh Hashanah we begin Selichot – penitence.
This evening, we set the mood and tone for the coming Days of Awe. We change the covers of our Torah scrolls from beautiful blues and vibrant colors to the symbolic white covers of the season. The Selichot service introduces us to the melodies and prayers of the season and concludes with the sounding of the shofar.

Rosh Hashanah

Erev Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 6

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
7:30 p.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
Traditional service led by UH clergy

Rosh Hashanah Day: Tuesday, September 7

Children’s Service
7:30 a.m.— Livestream & Facebook
Join UH Artist-in-Residence, Rick Recht virtually for a lively and fun children’s service which will include singing, basic prayers, a story and the sounding of the shofar.

Morning Service
10:00 a.m.—Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook
The UH clergy will be joined by Rick Recht for a service appropriate for all ages. This service is a hybrid between our former multigenerational service and the traditional service.

Rosh Hashanah in the Orchard
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.—Eckert’s Millstadt Farm
2719 Eckert Orchard Lane, Millstadt, IL 62260
Bring a picnic lunch and join us at Eckert’s Farm 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 one small bag of apples per family if you RSVP by September 1. After that date you will need to purchase apples on your own if you choose to pick in the orchard. To make a reservation, please visit unitedhebrew.org or contact Angie Klenke at aklenke@unitedhebrew.org or 314-434-3404.
Register

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah: Wednesday, September 8

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.

Memorial Service at United Hebrew Cemetery

Sunday, September 12

Memorial Service at UH Cemetery
10:00 a.m. – United Hebrew Cemetery
7855 Canton Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63130

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidrei: Wednesday, September 15

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: Thursday, September 16

Yom Kippur Learning Sessions

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Simple Solution for More Happiness in Your Life with Susie Berg- Zoom only Register

1:30-2:30 p.m. – The Kloset Kabbalist’s Guide to GRATITUDE with Cantor Ron Eichaker – Zoom and UH Library
The Quiet Kabbalist resides in YOU! We all function with some aspect of Kabbalism on a daily basis. Join a discussion and exploration on how Kabbalah has featured “Gratitude” as one of its core concepts for leading a “good life”. You may learn more about why and how you think the way you do, and could relate certain life practices to being more Jewish than you may realize. Register

2:30-3:30 p.m. – “Are Hobbits Jewish?: Finding Tolkien Characters in Jewish Mythology” with Rabbi Adam Bellows – Zoom and UH Library
“Are Dwarves stand-ins for Jews? Do Hobbits’ values match Jewish values? Explore Jewish influences on Tolkien literature.” Register

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

Monday, September 20

Sukkot Service in the UH Parking Lot
6:30 p.m.—UH Parking Lot, Livestream & Facebook
Join us in front of the UH Sukkah for a fun outdoor service. The theme for our sukkah this year is Out of This World. At this event, we will have telescopes available to view the night sky.

Tuesday, September 21

Sukkot Morning Service
9:00 a.m. – UH Parking Lot, Livestream & Facebook

Simchat Torah

Monday, September 27

Erev Simchat Torah
6:30 p.m.—UH Parking Lot, Livestream & Facebook
Join us as we unroll the Torah completely and begin our transition from the end of the Torah to the beginning.

Tuesday, September 28

Simchat Torah Morning Service and Yizkor
9:00 a.m. – Millstone Sanctuary, Livestream & Facebook

Additional Resources

United Hebrew’s 2021 High Holy Day Brochure

Rosh Hashanah Home Ritual

Yom Kippur Home Ritual

ReformJudaism.org’s Holy Day Pages

High Holy Days