High Holidays 5785 / 2024
JRC’s High Holidays 5785 / 2024
Scroll down for JRC High Holidays FAQs
Pre-Days of Awe & Rosh Hashanah
Shofar Blowing Workshop: September 7, 1-2 pm
Held Indoors at JRC, no tickets required
Interested in learning about shofar blowing? New to blowing shofar? Want to learn the notes of the shofar calls? Interested in becoming one of our High Holy Day bleaters? Stan Cohn will be leading a shofar blowing workshop on September 7 right after the Community Oneg. He’ll help you become a shofar blower in no time! If you want to try blowing, please bring your own shofar if possible, as extra shofars might be limited. Come and join us, all ages welcome, we’ll have a blast!
Spiritual Preparation for High Holidays After a Difficult Year: September 17 & 24, 7-8:30 pm
Held Indoors at JRC, no tickets required
After this year of trauma, pain, loss, and challenge, how do we prepare ourselves for the New Year? What Jewish spiritual resources does our tradition have to help us let go, build capacity, and open our hearts to the year that is to come? Join Rabbi Rachel and Cantor Howard and our sacred JRC community in conversation, learning, and singing together.
Pre-Selichot Meditation: September 28, 7:45 pm-8:45 pm
Held Indoors at JRC, no tickets required
Come and join JRC members Ellen Rosen Kaplan and Marty Rosenheck before the Selichot service to engage in Jewish mindfulness meditation to awaken to who we are, why we are here, and what we will be doing as we prepare ourselves to transform by getting closer to our TRUE nature in order to serve life more wholly. This session is meant to deepen your experience of the Selichot service to follow.
Selichot Under the Stars at JRC: September 28, 9-10 pm
Held Outdoors at JRC and Facebook Live, no tickets required
Join us at JRC at 9pm to gather under the evening sky and open ourselves up to the themes and music of the Season of Teshuvah/Return. We will continue our tradition of personal reflection and private accounting of wrongdoings, which we share anonymously on Yom Kippur. Join us for the practice of Cheshbon Nefesh/Accounting of the Soul, as we open the High Holiday season. All are welcome to attend in-person or via Facebook Live.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Shofar Walk: October 2, 5-6 pm
Outdoors at Dawes Park & via Facebook Live, no tickets required
From Shofar to Shofar: We celebrate our gathering and the joy of the New Year! Greet friends and community of all ages as we walk a loop along the lakefront with 7 shofar stations. Sing with our clergy and the JRC Choir and sound the shofar across the community – bring a shofar and bring friends! – Note: this will be JRC’s only Erev Rosh Hashanah observance.
Want to be a Shofar Sounder? Please email info@jrctogether.org.
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Service: October 3, 10 am-1 pm
Indoors at First United Methodist Church of Evanston and live streamed, Tickets Required
We gather at “our church” for our JRC High Holiday Traditions. Connect with your community for Teshuvah (personal reflection and accountability), Tefillah (prayer and spiritual connection) and Tzedakah (commitment to repairing brokenness through justice).
Rosh Hashanah Youth & Teen Programming: October 3, 10 am-1 pm
Indoors at First United Methodist Church of Evanston, Tickets and Separate Signup Required (for all participants, including members)
Kindergarten–6th grade: Children will participate in our Hofshi festival, a semi-structured space supervised by adults and teens where children will participate in themed activities, games, and crafts. 7th–12th grade: During one hour, teens will explore the Jewish New Year’s effects on their lives through discussion, art, and reflection. During the rest of the program, teens can support the Hofshi festival, join services, or relax with friends.
In order to help us adequately staff and plan, please fill out this two-minute form to let us know your children will be participating. Thank you!
Children 4 years and younger: We will have a space available for collaborative childcare for young children. Caregivers should sign up for time to help out with their and other children. Sign up here.
Rosh Hashanah Family Services: October 3, 3:30-4:15 pm
Bring the family and join Rabbi Rachel Weiss and Cantor Howard Friedland for our camp-style service featuring singing, a StoryWalk®, and a multi-age celebration of the New Year. The entire community is welcome at this child-centered service. Children must be accompanied by their grown up.
Tashlich: October 3, 4:30-5:30 pm
Held outdoors at Dawes Park by the lakefront, no tickets required.
Gather at Dawes Park with Rabbi Rachel and Cantor Howard on the pier. This ritual of casting out sins, and the things we’re ready to let go of in the new year, is a ritual of release and renewal. In keeping with our Jewish value of caring for our climate and earth, rather than throwing bread we invite you to cast off birdseed, small stones, frozen corn and peas, or other bird-and-fish and environmentally friendly items.
Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Services: October 4, 10 am-12 pm
Indoors at JRC & via Zoom, no tickets required
Join Rabbi Rachel Weiss & Cantor Howard Friedland at home in our JRC sanctuary for our more relaxed and heimische 2nd Day service.
Please join us at JRC for a commemorative October 7th service featuring music and prayers. Monday, October 7 at 7 pm at JRC and via Zoom. All are welcome.
Unetaneh Tokef for Black Lives
As a community, we have been profoundly moved by the anti-racist activism and soul-searching inspired by the unforgivable murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, and continuing as we work to break down the racist systems and culture in which our country is steeped. Below, watch our 2020 Yom Kippur confession and repentance in our Unetaneh Tokef for Black Lives, read by Rabbi Rachel Weiss. To engage with JRC’s racial equity, and anti-racism efforts, connect with JRC’s Racial Equity Task Force.
Yom Kippur
Kol Nidre: October 11, 6:30-9 pm
Indoors at First United Church of Evanston & livestreamed, tickets required
We gather at “our church” to begin our 25-hour Yom Kippur spiritual retreat together. Rabbi Rachel Weiss and Cantor Howard Friedland lead us through our Day of Atonement and reflection with music, sermon, poetry, and liturgy.
Yom Kippur Morning Services, Including Yizkor: October 12, 10 am-1 pm
Indoors at First United Church of Evanston & livestreamed, tickets required
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, continues with our morning services weaving together Torah, music, teachings, and liturgy. The Yizkor service will take place following the Torah service, featuring time for individual remembrance.
Yom Kippur Youth & Teen Programming: October 12, 10 am-1 pm
Indoors at First United Methodist Church of Evanston, Tickets and Separate Signup Required (for all participants, including members)
Kindergarten–6th grade: Children will participate in our Hofshi festival, a semi-structured space supervised by adults and teens where children will participate in themed activities, games, and crafts. 7th–12th grade: During one hour of the morning, teens will explore the relevance of Yom Kippur on their lives through discussion, art, and reflection discussion, art, and reflection. During the rest of the program, teens can support the Hofshi festival, join services, or relax with friends.
In order to help us adequately staff and plan, please fill out this two-minute form to let us know your children will be participating. Thank you!
Children 4 years and younger: We will have a space available for collaborative childcare for young children. Caregivers should sign up for time to help out with their and other children. Sign up here.
Yom Kippur Open Mic: October 12, 1:30-2:30 pm
Indoors at First United Church of Evanston and on Zoom, no tickets required
Open Mic is a longstanding JRC tradition in which we invite members to share their Avodat HaLev/Offerings of the Heart. While the traditional Musaf service consists of special offerings for Yom Kippur, it is our JRC tradition that these short personal reflections comprise our offerings. Any JRC member may submit a reflection, but these should not be advertisements or promotions. Please contact David Tabak at tabak@mac.com by September 15 with your intention to participate. Submissions are due by September 25. Click here for more Open Mic details.
Join us in-person at FUMC or via Zoom
It is thoughtful reflections of diverse congregant voices that makes Open Mic so rich each year. We invite your participation.
Yom Kippur Contemplation & Connection: Member-Led Activities: October 12, 3:00-4:30 pm
Indoors and Outdoors at First United Methodist Church of Evanston, no tickets required
Join us for thoughtful, member-led programming, from meditation, to book discussions, to puzzles. Details to come.
Yom Kippur Family Service: October 12, 3:30-4:15 pm
Held outdoors at Dawes Park by the lakefront and Facebook Live, no ticket required
Bring the family and join Rabbi Rachel Weiss and song leader Megan Gendelman for our camp-style service featuring singing, a StoryWalk®, and a multi-age observance of the Day of Atonement. The entire community is welcome at this child-centered service. Children must be accompanied by their grown up.
Yom Kippur Mincha Torah Service: October 12, 5-5:45 pm
Indoors at First United Methodist Church of Evanston & livestreamed, no tickets required
Hear readings from the Book of Leviticus and the Book of Jonah chanted in Hebrew and English by Cantor Howard Friedland.
Ne'ilah By The Lake: October 12, 6-7 pm
Outdoors at Dawes Park by the lakefront and Facebook Live, no tickets required
As the sun sets and the gates close, we close the holidays with singing, Havdalah, and one final shofar sounding. A good and sweet year to all!
High Holidays 5785 / 2024 FAQ’s
I'm a JRC member. How will I get my tickets (nametags)?
We have found that the postal service is less than reliable, so in an effort to avoid losing nametags in the mail, we ask that you please pick up your nametags at JRC during the following times:
If none of these times work for you, please email our office to arrange another pickup time. Nametags that are not picked up will be available in the church lobby, but we are hoping to avoid long lines and wait times, so we would be very grateful if you are able to pick them up in advance. Thank you!
As a safety measure, we ask that all adults attending JRC’s High Holidays wear JRC-provided nametags. Nametags will be printed for adults who have renewed their 2024-2025 membership and members’ children who are 18-26. Please fill out this nametag form for your 18-26 year old children who will be attending. Please allow 5-7 days after form submission for your adult children’s nametags to be printed.
Can I attend JRC's High Holidays as a guest?
Yes! We are so happy to welcome you to join our community for High Holidays. Guest tickets may be ordered online.
- Children of Members Ages 0-26: No Charge (please fill out this form for any 18-26 year old children of members who may be attending High Holidays so we can print name tags for them. Thank you)
- Children of Non-Members Ages 0-17: No Charge
- Non-Members Ages 18-36: $18
- Non-Member Guests of JRC Members Ages 37 & Older: $270
- Non-Members Ages 37 & Older: $396
If you would like to explore the possibility of becoming a member, Micky Baer, our Executive Director, would be happy to connect and answer any questions. Guests who purchase tickets and join JRC before December 1, 2024, will receive full credit for the cost of their individual tickets toward membership fees. Click here to learn more about joining JRC.
I purchased guest tickets. How will I get them?
Please pick up your Guest High Holiday Tickets (nametags) at JRC, 303 Dodge Ave. Evanston, during the following times.
If none of these times work for you, please email our office to arrange another pickup time. Nametags that are not picked up will be available in the church lobby, but we are hoping to avoid long lines and wait times, so we would be very grateful if you are able to pick them up in advance. Thank you!
If you would like to explore the possibility of becoming a member, Micky Baer, our Executive Director, would be happy to connect and answer any questions. Guests who purchase tickets and join JRC before December 1, 2024 will receive full credit for the cost of their individual tickets toward membership fees. Click here to learn more about joining JRC.
How can I access High Holidays remotely?
Services will be livestreamed on JRC’s website homepage (the one exception is Rosh Hashanah Day 2, which will be accessible via Zoom), no tickets required. Look to JRC’s calendar for additional details.
Where should I park for services at FUMC?
I'm interested in learning about JRC membership. Who should I contact?
JRC’s Executive Director, Micky Baer is a great place to start! She would be happy to talk with you and answer any questions you have about JRC. And you should feel welcome to attend any program or event on our calendar. That’s the best way to get a feel for our wonderful community and clergy. If you would like to learn more about Kehillah, our religious school for tots through teens, reach out to Lauren Reeves, JRC’s Director of Education.
