We are thrilled to host all of the High Holy Days at our congregation's home, a tradition we haven't observed in over two decades. We anticipate the joy of being united in our familiar surroundings, we kindly ask for your understanding regarding parking and seating arrangements. We are eager to come together with you for a meaningful celebration and prayer. Welcome home!
A few things to know:
- All High Holy Day services will be held at Congregation Beth Israel
- All registration and ticketing will be through our new membership portal, ShulCloud. You must login to purchase tickets, request seating, and register for Erev Rosh HaShanah Dinner, Childcare & Youth Programming.
- Please note that twenty-five percent of your membership contribution must be paid (or on a payment plan), prior to receiving your tickets.
- There will be two different types of services this year. You are welcome to select one or to attend both.
- Please read the FAQs for additional information
Offered on Rosh HaShanah Morning, Kol Nidre & Yom Kippur Morning
Led By: Rabbi Stephen Kahn, Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin & Soloist Robert Erlichman along with teen vocalists.
CBI’s Traditional Service will provide members with a CBI High Holy Day experience in the way we’ve “always done it.” Our rabbis and soloist, Robert Erlichman, will be joined by CBI’s Music Director Jackie Huber, our volunteer and professional choirs along with our gifted teen vocalists in providing a worship experience which is familiar, uplifting and meaningful. We will use our Machzor (“HHD Prayerbook”) Mishkan haNefesh and select the liturgical melodies and readings in the style and tempo you have grown accustomed to in past years.
Offered on Rosh HaShanah Morning, Kol Nidre & Yom Kippur Morning
Led By: Rabbi Stephen Kahn, Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin & Soloist Robert Erlichman along with our Junior Choir and teen vocalists.
CBI’s Yachad (“Together”) Service is recommended for individuals of all ages and stages of life, our intergenerational families and members who love worshiping together at Services, both with and among members of the community who are ages 5 to 105. Yachad will include moments that are solemn and moments where you want to sing loud, clap or even dance. The Service will be led by our rabbis and vocalist Robert Erlichman, CBI’s Music Director Jackie Huber along with both teen vocalists and members of our youth choir. We will use our Machzor (“HHD Prayerbook”) Mishkan haNefesh, experiencing a blend of traditional texts and times for reflection, while incorporating musical styles that are both traditional and contemporary.
*PLEASE NOTE: As in the past, CBI’s Erev Rosh HaShanah, Second Day Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur Afternoon Services (including Yizkor and Ne’ilah) will primarily follow the style of our “Traditional Service.”
We welcome our smallest friends and their families to join Rabbi Mason-Barkin and Rabbi Kahn for a fun, musical, and story filled service to welcome the New Year. Our 'Tot Yontif' program is a great way for babies, preschoolers, and all of their grown-ups to welcome the Jewish New Year and engage with the meaningful themes of the High Holy Day season. Look forward to singing, dancing, laughing, playing, and praying all together! Each Tot Yontif service is approximately 30 minutes. On Rosh Hashanah it is followed by time for snacks and schmoozing.
When you register for your HHD ticket, you will choose your seating preference for the sanctuary. Your ticket will indicate the section you are allocated. On the day of the service, you will select your exact seat within the assigned section. If you have family or friends that you are wanting to sit by, it is recommended that you request to sit in the same section while registering for tickets. Arriving at the same time on the day of the event may enhance the likelihood of sitting together.
Parking may be tight and we ask your cooperation as we transition between services to not linger and free up parking spots for those attending the next service. Overflow parking will be available in the large lot across the street with golf-cart transportation to the CBI front door. We will have ample handicap spots reserved as well as VIP and designated reserved parking. Security guards will be available to assist with parking. Please consider carpooling or Uber/Lyft if possible.
Every High Holy Day season, we kick off the new year with a Mitzvah! Our annual Nourish Phoenix drive is underway. Grocery bags containing a list of essential items will be distributed during Rosh Hashanah services. Please take two, three, or as many bags as you can to support our community members in need. Donations will be collected at all Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services at CBI. Click Here to view the Nourish Phoenix Wish List.
Childcare will take place on the campus of Congregation Beth Israel in the Chanen Preschool facilities. *Pre-registration is required*
Click Here to register and for more information.
For any questions about Youth & Childcare programming during High Holy Days, contact Shaleen Hill shill@cbiaz.org or Rachael VanLandingham at rvanlandingham@cbiaz.org.
Congregation Beth Israel will continue its tradition of honoring the memories of loved ones throughout our community. The virtual Yizkor/Memorial book is available, where we express our affection and respect for our loved ones and share their blessed memory with our congregational family near and far. To view last years Yizkor Book and honor the memory of a loved one in this years book, Click Here. This is a wonderful time to purchase a memorial plaque. Please call the office and speak to Amy.
Customs & Traditions
("Head of the Year") is the beginning of the Jewish New Year and marks the anniversary of the creation of the world. This Holy Day begins on the evening of the first day of the Jewish Month of Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah marks a period called "The 10 Days of Repentance," which begins the Jewish High Holy Day season. During these days, the Jews take time to make a personal accounting of their souls ("Cheshbon haNefesh") wherein we evaluate our deeds, seek forgiveness from God and those we have wronged and forgive those who have wronged us and set a more meaningful and intentional course for ourselves in the year to come. Traditional practices include the addition of special prayers for repentance, sounding the Shofar (a ram's horn) and sharing in festive meals.
("Day of Atonement")...The 10 Days of Repentance end on Yom Kippur, which begins on the evening of the 10th Day of Tishrei. It is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur is a solemn day of fasting, prayer and repentance, where we seek forgiveness for the times we "missed the mark," in our acts and deeds against God and other people.
Many people think our High Holy Days are completed by the end of Yom Kippur, however...Sukkot & Simchat Torah (The "Festival of Booths" & "Festival of Torah") are both celebratory and begin a period known as Zman Simchateinu ("Our Time of Rejoicing"). Starting on the evening of the 15th of Tishrei and running through the 22nd of Tishrei, these are among the most festive days of the Jewish calendar. First we celebrate the beauty of the fall season by sitting in Sukkot, which symbolize the temporary dwellings of our ancestors during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel. The High Holy Day season concludes with a celebration of Torah (The Five Books of Moses) when we conclude the end of the Book of Deuteronomy and begin, again, with the Book of Genesis. Jewish tradition juxtaposes the serious and introspective work of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with the celebration of the grandeur of the natural world and the gift of Torah, bringing our souls closer to God and setting the course for a joyous new year.
