A Path to Renewal:
Discover → Explore → Synthesize
High Holy Days 2023/5784
The Elul (pre-High Holy Day) and High Holy Day rituals, traditions, and customs are replete with wisdom and practices that give us the opportunity to revitalize from within and prepare to jump into the new Jewish year ready to go! We have curated a dynamic and interactive line up of classes, services, and gatherings, along with resources to provide our community with spaces to connect, to learn, to rejuvinate, and to renew ourselves as we journey through the High Holy Day season.
Shana Tova! Here’s to a happy, healthy, and sweet 5784!
Elul: Pre-High Holy Day Warm Up
The Hebrew month of Elul (Aug 17-Sept 15), the month preceding the Jewish High Holy Days, is a traditional period for intensive spiritual reflection, introspection, and moral accounting. We look forward to gathering with you as we prepare for this High Holy Day season with the following offerings:
HiHo Hikes & Learning
Sundays - August 20, 27, September 10 • 10:00am-12:00pm
Jewish mystics retreated into nature as a way to experience a more profound sense of intention and attention to their lives. We’ll be guided on our hikes by our very own “hike captains” (nature lovin’ folks from the Den), followed by learning and discussion to get us warmed up for the season. BYO snack + water bottle. Meeting location will be shared with registrants; hikes will be centrally located and transit-accessible. All are welcome! View details and sign up here by the Friday prior to your hike.
A High Holy Day Prayer Journey:
DISCOVER: Structures of Prayer
Wednesday, Aug 30 • 7:15-8:45pm
To discover is to find knowledge and meaning that was previously unknown to us. In this class, we will uncover a deeper understanding of the structure of prayer, as well as the unique additions of the High Holy Day liturgy. This will include the origins of the High Holy Day prayer service, the service meaning, and physical choreography. All are welcome! Ready to jump in? Sign up here by Aug 29th.
EXPLORE: Themes of Prayer
Wednesday, Sept 6 • 7:15-8:45pm
To explore is to dive deeper into the meaning once you have discovered something new. In this class, we will navigate through the intentional spiritual content of the prayer service, uncovering and connecting to the thematic elements of the prayers. We will explore how to intentionally prepare for prayer, as well as two unique ways to organize prayer into three-part elements: Please, Wow, Thank you! AND Creation, Revelation, Redemption. No prior experience necessary. All are welcome! Sign up here by Sept 5th.
SYNTHESIZE: Beyond the Prayerbook
Monday, Sept 11 • 7:15-8:45pm
Join Rabbi Jenna for a fusion of elements of prayer, as we learn to foster personal spiritual experiences. We will learn how to craft personal spiritual space, for reflection and personally meaningful prayer during the High Holy days. Whether at home alone or within a congregational setting, you will walk away with ways to integrate personal prayer into your High Holy day experience. All are welcome! Looking to connect from within? Sign up here by Sept 10th.
Selichot: A Progressive Renewal Experience through Sound, Taste, Heart and Soul
Saturday, September 9 • 7:45pm - 9:45pm
Selichot = Prayers asking for forgiveness. On the Saturday night before we move into the new year, the season of renewal, it is an ancient custom to enter the week of the High Holy Days with the tunes of the season in our ears and on our hearts.
This year we're trying something new + exciting at the Den! Think progressive multi-course dining experience meets spiritual reflection space. We’ll gather for an artfully guided in-person Selichot experience, complete with Havdalah, multi-course deliciousness, soulful singing, and thoughtful reflection prompts that will invite us on an introspective journey to prepare for this season of renewal and return.
We will gather at a home in Bethesda that is Metro accessible, address will be shared with registrants. Everyone welcome!
We have reached maximum capacity. We look forward to seeing you at another gathering this season.
Knead 2 Know: RH Challah Bake. Learn. Discuss
Wednesday, September 13 • 7:00 - 9:00pm
Join Rabbi Aderet for an evening of connection, challah baking, and a meaningful learning experience that invites us to explore the ways we can take action in the new year to impact change in our lives and in the world around us. We’ll begin with learning how to braid a variety of different round and sweet Rosh Hashana challahs then enjoy an evening of meaningful learning and discussion. We will gather in Bethesda. All are welcome! Sign up for this event has closed. We look forward to seeing you at another gathering this season.
Rosh Hashana: the Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashana Services
Please reach out if you’d like us to help you find a service near you or one that speaks to your interests.
Rosh Hashana Community Meals
If you’re looking to host or attend a community meal during Rosh Hashana, you can sign up through OneTable. OneTable provides “financial nourishment” and ritual resources for your meal.
Aseret Yemei Teshuva: the Days Between
[the 10 days between Rosh Hashana + Yom Kippur]
Book of Jonah: A High Holy Day Journey
Monday, September 18 • 7:15pm - 8:45pm
Who is Jonah, what is his story, and why do we read this book on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)? Jonah goes on a tumultuous journey that leads him to spiritual clarity… or does it? Join Rabbi Jenna to study this short story and its implications for the spiritual journey we all take during the High Holy Day season. All are welcome! Sign up here by Sept 17th.
An Inventory of the Soul: Teshuva as a Mindfulness Practice
Wednesday, Sept 20 • 7:00-8:30pm
During the High Holy Day season we take an inventory of our inner world as we examine facets of our lives and set intentions for how we want to live in the new year. Join Rabbi Aderet for an evening of communal learning, guided meditation, and mindfulness skill-building during this uniquely liminal space between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. No experience necessary. All are welcome. We will gather in Bethesda. Sign up here by Sept 9th.
Kayaking Tashlich on the Potomac River
Sunday, September 24 • 10:30am - 12:30pm
Join Rabbis Aderet + Jenna on the Potomac River for a meaningful and fun way to take part in the powerful ritual of Tashlich. Tashlich, or “casting away”, is performed during the Ten Days between the start of Rosh Hashana and the beginning of Yom Kippur. We’ll experience this ritual together on the water, then folks are welcome to enjoy the riverside scenery and eat lunch together. We’ll meet at the Wharf Boathouse for introductions + intention setting before heading out on the water together. Please reserve your kayak for one hour from 11am-12pm. All are welcome! Sign up here by Sept 21st.
High Holy Day Resources
High Holy Day Blessings + Ritual Guide - We put together this resource for your holiday celebration and observance to take you from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur, including Tashlich! We include candle lighting times, explanations of rituals, as well as all blessings in Hebrew, transliteration, and English translations. Enjoy!
the Den's Symbolic Foods of Rosh Hashana Guide - We designed this easy-to-follow, printable guide to the most common symbolic foods of Rosh Hashana. Each food has a blessing/intention that you say along with it! You can use this on Rosh Hashana, to add more intentionality to your festive meal.
View this powerful new year blessing - a video from our friends at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (it’s from 5782 - but we love it so much so we included it this year!) Enjoy!
The Blue Dove Foundation has a collection of mental health resources for the High Holy Days. Highlights include a Chesbon Hanefesh - Accounting of the Soul, and a Mental Health Tashlich.
Looking to join or host a Shabbat meal on Shabbat Shuvah, the Shabbat of Return (9/22), between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? Check out OneTable’s Shabbat Shuvah. This is a unique weekend, offering an incredible opportunity to reflect on the year that was and welcome the year to come.
Mizrahi and Sephardic Rosh Hashana recipes from our friends over at JIMENA, an organization dedicated to educating and advocating for Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa.
Or HaLev, a Jewish spirituality + meditation organization, has a 7 minute Forgiveness Meditation for the High Holy Day season.
Check out this Shana Tova Coloring Book from Haggadot.com - 11 pages you can print out at home for your little ones to follow along with Rosh Hashana!