Looking to bring meaning to these unusual High Holidays in 2020? As the Jewish year begins, My Jewish Learning and our partners at 70 Faces Media make it easy to learn, pray, and enjoy every stage of the High Holidays. Browse through our offerings below and register to join our FREE classes, prayer services, moments for reflection, and more.
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with Us
Friday, September 18, 2020: Rosh Hashanah Eve
5:30 p.m. ET: Rosh Hashanah Eve Family Service. Join Kveller and musician Alicia Jo Rabins to welcome Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat with a family-oriented service.
Saturday, September 19, 2020: Rosh Hashanah Day 1
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11:00 a.m. ET: Rosh Hashanah Speed Service. Learn about and recite all the must-know Rosh Hashanah prayers and songs, and even hear some of the Torah portion, all in an hour’s time! Don’t miss this unique prayer service led by Rabbi Benjamin Resnick.
1:00 p.m. ET: Torah Study. Explore the story, themes, and characters of the Rosh Hashanah torah portion, Genesis chapter 21. Led by Israeli Rabbi Efrat Rotem.
2:00 p.m. ET: Rosh Hashanah: The Day of Remembering. Why is Rosh Hashanah known as Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembering? Explore the importance of memory on this day, with popular teacher and speaker David Gottlieb.
3:30 p.m. ET: Traditional Poems of Repentance for Rosh Hashanah. The Rosh Hashanah liturgy is filled with beautiful piyutim, or poems chanted during services. Learn some of these and sing with Margo Hughes-Robinson.
Sunday, September 20, 2020: Rosh Hashanah Day 2
11:00 a.m. ET: Shofar Service. Watch and listen to the shofar service streamed live on My Jewish Learning’s Facebook page.
2:00 p.m. ET: Shofar Service. Watch and listen to an additional shofar service streamed live on My Jewish Learning’s Facebook page.
Throughout the Day: Catch an Inspiring High Holiday Sermon. Watch sermons from rabbis across the Jewish spectrum and across the country, streamed on My Jewish Learning’s YouTube channel.
Don’t miss a moment of these special free Rosh Hashanah programs. Click here to sign up for updates, notifications, Zoom links, and more.
Observe Yom Kippur With Us
Sunday, September 27, 2020, Yom Kippur Eve
7:00 p.m. ET: Kol Nidrei Service. Welcome Yom Kippur with this moving, haunting evening service. Led by Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky. Streamed live on My Jewish Learning’s Facebook page.
Monday, September 28, 2020, Yom Kippur Day
11:00 a.m. ET: Yom Kippur Speed Service. Learn about and recite all the must-know Yom Kippur prayers and songs, and even hear some of the Torah portion, all in an hour’s time! Don’t miss this unique prayer service led by Rabbi Benjamin Resnick.
1:00 p.m. ET: Jonah: A Prophet Who Argues With God. Explore the Book of Jonah, traditionally read on Yom Kippur afternoon. This class will focus on the character of Jonah, a prophet who hears God, but doesn’t much like what he hears. Led by Rabbi Sara Brandes.
2:00 p.m. ET: The History and Mystery of Yizkor. Yizkor provides people with a chance to remember and honor deceased loved ones, especially on a day we are reminded of our vulnerability and mortality. Learn more about the tradition of Yizkor with Reb Simcha Raphael.
3:30 p.m. ET: Traditional Poems of Repentance for Yom Kippur. The Yom Kippur liturgy is filled with beautiful piyutim, or poems chanted during services. Learn some of these and sing with Margo Hughes-Robinson.
7:15 p.m. ET: Neila Service. The final service of Yom Kippur, which marks the closing of the day, culminates in one long Shofar blast. Complete your Holiday experience with this beautiful prayer service led by Rabbi Benjamin Resnick.
Don’t miss a moment of these special free Yom Kippur programs. Click here to sign up for updates, notifications, Zoom links, and more.
More Classes, Events, and Rituals as the Holidays Approach
My Jewish Learning is offering a wide range of classes and events throughout the Holiday season. Click on the link provided to register for a specific class.
Exploring the Hebrew Calendar: Elul – Thursday, August 20, 2:00 p.m. ET: Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores the unique characteristics of the month of Elul, and how to connect these traditions to our lives today. We will discuss biblical teachings, early rabbinic texts, Kabbalah, and the Chasidic masters. Monthly classes at 2pm EDT, on or near the first of the Hebrew month. Register here for Zoom link and updates.
Daily Shofar blasts for the month of Elul: Friday, August 21 – Friday, September 18 ET: Hear the shofar on every day of Elul, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Click here to join on Facebook.
Shofar: The Piercing Cry: Monday, August 24, 12:00 p.m. ET: Rabbi Menachem Creditor explores texts and thoughts about the shofar, the most primal sound in Jewish tradition. What is it about the shofar that touches so deep? And how do the sounds compel us to pay attention? Click here to register.
Pathways of Teshuvah: Mondays August 24 and 31, and September 14, at 3:00 pm. ET: In this 3-part class with My Jewish Learning, Jewish educator Abby Eisenberg explores diverse aspects and approaches to teshuvah. Translated literally as ‘returning’ and often understood as ‘repentence,’ teshuvah is a process of reflection, introspection, and change. In these weeks before Rosh Hashanah, we will learn various nuanced approaches to teshuvah, and consider ways to integrate these into our lives during these challenging times and beyond. Click here to register.
How to Celebrate the Holidays at Home: Tuesday, September 1, 12:00 p.m. ET: Join Rabbanit Dasi Fruchter and Marc Fein for this interactive workshop to help you create a meaningful High Holidays experience at home. Click here to register.
Rosh Hashanah: The Day of Remembering: Wednesdays, September 2 and 9, 12:00 p.m. ET: In this 2-session class, David Gottlieb explores how our memories are revised at this time of year. What do Torah and liturgy say about what we should remember? Why is Rosh Hashanah called Yom Hazikaron, “The Day of Remembrance”? Click here to register.
Challah Baking for Rosh Hashanah with Shannon Sarna: Monday, September 14, 10:30 a.m. ET: Registration coming soon!
Selichot: A Meditation for Forgiving Ourselves and Others: Wednesday, September 16, 4:30 p.m. ET. Come experience Selichot with My Jewish Learning and Rabbi Marc Margolius from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Selichot is a collection of penitential prayers traditionally recited in the days leading up to the Jewish New Year. Rabbi Margolius will introduce us to these central prayers, and lead a creative, guided meditation on the spiritual practice of surrender: releasing harsh judgments of ourselves and others for the ways in which we have “missed the mark” over this past year. Click here to register.
Tashlich: A Ritual Experience: Monday, September 21, 2:00 p.m. ET. Join Rabbi Lee Moore for a meaningful, virtual Tashlich ritual — either from a body of water in your neighborhood or from home. Tashlich is traditionally performed on or after Rosh Hashanah, by casting bits of bread, leaves, or sticks into a body of water, symbolically shedding misdeeds or whatever we don’t wish to bring into the new year. Click here to register.
Spiritual Practice for the Days of Awe: Monday through Friday, September 21-25, 12:00 p.m. ET: In this 5-day class, Rabbi Dorothy Richman invites us to tap into new awareness during the days that bridge Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish year, and Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the calendar. Each session will include text, discussion and a spiritual practice for this transformational time. Click here to register.
Reminder: Register for services and programs on the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays here.
