Temple Sinai of Roslyn Heights - High Holidays At A Glance

High Holidays At A Glance

Schedule for High Holy Days and other Festival Services

Schedule For High Holy Days

Selichot

Takes place on the Shabbat prior to Rosh Hashanah.

Ends the Hebrew month of Elul, a month spent beginning the process of intrispection and inner reflection.

Comprised of a late night service of prayers of "selichot," prayers of pardon.

Music and themes of the service resemble those of the High Holy Days.

At Temple Sinai We

We observe Selichot services at 10:30 pm the Shabbat prior to Rosh Hashanah.

We offer a Havdalah program of study and introspection prior to service.

Rosh Hashanah

Literally means "Head of the Year."

Occurs on the 1st day of the Hebrew month of Tishre.

Biblically Rosh Hashanah is referred to as a sacred assembly marked by the blowing of the Shofar, the ram's horn.

Also the occasion beginning the aseret yemay teshuvah, the Ten Day of Repentance leading up to Yom Kippur. According to tradition, one should spend those ten days performing acts of teshuvah, repentance, tefillah, prayer and tzedakah, righteous giving so that one is prepared to face God with a pure soul on Yom Kippur.

At Temple Sinai We

Observe two days of Rosh Hashanah.

In addition to children's services, we offer babysitting for toddlers and parallel children's programming for young children. Call the Religious office for details.

On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah we hold a Tashlich service at either Hempstead Harbor Beach or Bar Beach. At this special, informal service we throw bread crumbs in the water to symbolize our desire to cast off our sins.

On the Sunday which falls between Rosh Hasanah and Yom Kippur, the congregation is invited to gather at New Montefiore Cemetery to remember and say kaddish for their loved ones in a service called Kever Avot.

Yom Kippur

Literally means "Day of Atonement."

Most sacred and solemn day of the Jewish year.

Traditionally one spends the evening prior and the day of Yom Kippur in prayer and study.

One also observes a 24 hour fast from sundown the night before to sundown on Yom Kippur day, depriving ourselves of physical enjoyment that we may concentrate on our prayer and repentance.

The liturgy reminds us that on Yom Kippur we are sealed in the Book of Life, if our intentions and our deeds merit blessing.

Yizkor services are recited on Yom Kippur afternoon.

The day concludes with a long blast of the shofar, and Havdalah services.

It is traditional to break-the-fast with friends and family.

At Temple Sinai We

In addition to children's services, we offer babysitting for toddlers and parallel children's programming for young children. Call the Religious School office for details.

After the Yom Kippur morning services, all are invited to study for an hour with one of the rabbis.

On Yom Kippur Day, we hold our annual YOM KIPPUR FOOD DRIVE to benefit Long Island Cares, a food collection organization which serves Long Island residents. We ask that everyone who attends services bring a shopping bag full of food, to give away to the needy what one would have eaten.

Sukkot

Literally "Booths"

Begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month Tishre, the full moon.

A week long festival commemorating the harvest season in Israel and during which time we shake the Lulav (made from willow, palm, myrtle) and the Etrog, four species all of which grow in Israel. As we shake them, we pray to God will bless the land with water for another good harvest.

Sukkot also reminds us of the time the Israelites wandered in the desert in temporary dwelling called "Sukkot".

Observances include building a Sukkah, decorating it with seasonal plants, flowers and handmade decorations.

It is also traditional to eat inside of a Sukkah and some people even sleep inside of it, fulfilling the mitzvah of dwelling in a Sukkah.

In addition to having family and friends share in one's Sukkah, for each night of the festival, there are special "guests" one invites symbolically to the Sukkah (i.e. Abraham).

At Temple Sinai We

We build our own Sukkah. Families and children have various opportunities to decorate, worship and eat inside of it during Religious School hours and during the week of Sukkot.

Sukkot services are family services which take place inside of the Sukkah and are preceded by a family dinner.

On Sukkot morning after services the congregation is invited to a lucheon inside the Sukkah.

Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah

Literally "Rejoicing with the Torah"

In Reform tradition, falls on the 7th day of Sukkot, which is the 21st day of Tishre.

Celebrates the ending of the cycle of reading Torah, and beginning it anew.

As with all festivals and Yom Kippur, Yizkor is recited for love ones who have passed away.

At Temple Sinai We

Offer family service the evening of Simchat Torah and devote morning services to the observance of Yizkor.

At evening services, we unroll a Torah scroll into the congregation as the reading of the end of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Genesis are chanted by members of the congregation.

We also honor various members of the congregation with hakafot, carrying the Torah in circuits around the congregation.

And we have a Klezmer band, graciously provided for us by the Brownstein family. They play not only during services but also afterwards as the congregation procedes into the main hall for Israeli folk dancing.

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