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Understanding the HIGH
HOLY DAYS
Quick Links:
High Holy Days Schedule 2008 (PDF, 54KB)
High Holy Days General and Ticket Information
Yom Kippur Memorial Book
The High Holy Days most often refers to the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on the Jewish calendar. In Hebrew they are called Yamim Noraim, or Days of Awe. These are the holiest days of the Jewish year, a time for self-examination, introspection and teshuvah (repentance and turning) in preparation to be better people in the new year. But creating the mood for serious spiritual cleansing takes time and effort and the Days of Awe are preceded by a month of preparation, the Hebrew month of Elul.
Elul - Sounding of the Shofar
The Hebrew month of Elul serves as a preparatory period -- a time to turn our thoughts and souls to the meaning of the upcoming High Holy Days; a time to consider the conduct of our lives and how we may not have always hit the mark of being the best possible people we could be. The shofar (ram's horn) is sounded at the end of morning services during the month of Elul as a wake-up call that is designed to rouse us from our complacency. Take time during Elul to do an accounting of the soul or self-assessment.
Selichot - September 20, 2008
Many consider the Selichot service to be the most moving and beautiful of the year. Offered in the evening the Saturday before Rosh Hashanah, this service captures the spirit and previews the beautiful music of the season. Selichot, a Hebrew word meaning "forgiveness," refers to the special penitential prayers recited by Jews throughout the High Holy Days.
CBI's CBI Selichot service is an evening of music, study and prayer on our CBI campus that begins with Havdalah at 7:30 p.m., followed by a study session and desert reception. The climax of the evening is the 9:30 p.m. Selichot service. All are invited to this warm up for the High Holy Days.
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Rosh Hashanah - September 30 - October 1, 2008
Rosh HaShanah (literally, "Head of the Year") refers to the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The holiday marks the beginning of a ten-day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance, known as the Days of Awe, which culminate on the fast day of Yom Kippur. While there are elements of joy and celebration, Rosh Hashanah is a deeply religious occasion. The customs and symbols of Rosh Hashanah reflect the holiday's dual emphasis, happiness and humility. Special customs observed on Rosh Hashanah include; the sounding of the shofar, using round challah (bread), eating apples and honey and other sweet foods for a sweet new year.
CBI's Rosh Hashanah observance includes a September 30 service in the Civic Theatre at 9:30 a.m. and a Family Service at the same time in Golden Hall adjacent to the Civic Theatre. Tickets are required for these off-campus services. At 4:00 pm a Tot Roshashah at CBI allows preschool children to appreciate the holiday. At 6:00 p.m. our Tashlich service takes place at La Jolla Shores (see next item). The following morning we hold a Second Day Observance at CBI at 9:30 a.m. followed by a light Kiddish lunch. All are welcome and no tickets are needed for services on the CBI campus.
Tashlich Service at La Jolla Shores - October 1, 2008
 Tashlich, the mitzvah of casting one's sins into the water, offers a less formal, more child-friendly opportunity for a spiritual experience. All are welcome to meet at La Jolla Shores Beach at 6:00 p.m after Rosh Hashanah services to symbolically cast your sins (in the form of breadcrumbs) into the water and enjoy this tradition that is a favorite of young and old alike. Dress casually. Bring your bread or use ours.
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Kever Avot Annual Cemetery Memorial Services -
October 8, 2008
It is a mitzvah to visit the graves of our ancestors. A traditional way to fulfill this mitzvah is to visit the graves of our loved ones during the days leading up to the High Holy Days, a tradition called Kever Avot, literally "Graves of our Fathers." CBI offers a meaningful service of remembrance led by our clergy at Sol Stone Chapel at Cypress View at 11:00 a.m. and at El Camino Memorial Park at 12:30 p.m. on October 5. You do not have to have a loved one at either memorial park to attend in memory of your loved ones.
Kol Nidre - October 8, 2008
For many Jews, the essence of the Yom Kippur service takes place at the very beginning of the holiday, at the evening service that ushers in Yom Kippur. It is called Kol Nidre, the name derived from the first major piece of the Yom Kippur prayers. The Kol Nidre music, dramatically played by a lone cellist, is hauntingly beautiful. Kol Nidre means "all vows" and the prayer asks God to release us from vows we may make to God (not people) in the coming year that are made under duress or in times of stress.
Our CBI Kol Nidre service will be held at the Civic Theatre on October 8. There will be an early service at 6:00 p.m and a later one for CBI members and their families only at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are needed for these off-campus services.
Yom Kippur - October 9, 2008
Yom Kippur is the "Day of Atonement," a day of fasting, prayer and repentance. This is considered to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Fasting is seen as fulfilling a biblical commandment for self denial and also enables us to put aside our physical desires to concentrate on our spiritual needs. It is customary in the days before Yom Kippur for Jews to seek out friends and family whom they have wronged and personally ask for their forgiveness.
Our CBI Yom Kippur services run from 9:30 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Theatre. Tickets are needed for these off-campus services.
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Sukkot - October 14-20, 2008
Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning "booths" or "huts", refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest, as well as the commemoration of the forty years of Jewish wandering in the desert after Sinai. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei, and is marked by several distinct traditions. One tradition, which takes the commandment to "dwell in booths" literally, is to build a sukkah, a booth or hut. A sukkah is often erected by Jews during this festival, and it is common practice for some to eat and even live in these temporary dwellings during Sukkot. Join us on October 13 at 6:00 p.m. for an Erev Sukkot service, followed by a Sukkot Picnic at 7:00 p.m. in our CBI Sukkah, which is constructed by the Men's Club in our courtyard every year. We will also have a Sukkot servce on October 14 at 10:00 a.m., followed by light Kiddush lunch.
Simchat Torah Service
Simchat Torah, Hebrew for "rejoicing in the Law", celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life and demonstrate a living example of never-ending, lifelong study. Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue. During the Torah service, the concluding section of Deuteronomy is read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B'reishit as it is called in Hebrew, is read. CBI's Erev Simchat Torah Service is held at CBI and includes joyful hakafot (Torah parades), an Oneg
and Israeli dancing. Religious School families are invited for pizza
dinner before the service.
Atzeret Simchat Torah Yizkor Service
The service remembers our departed loved ones and is followed by a light Kiddush lunch.
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