Service & Program Details

Selichot Dinner, Film Screening and Service
We begin our High Holy Day season with Selichot, a traditional night of introspection and prayer that draws us into the Days of Awe and Renewal. With support from the Larry Hodes Jewish Film Fund, we are pleased to present a screening of the heartwarming Israeli film Ushpizin (guests). Through humor and humanity, the film explores themes central to this sacred season in a way that is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. The film is based on a story written by Shai Agnon, Israel’s only Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. The film screening and dinner will be followed by a discussion and a meaningful Selichot service, during which we will hear the sounding of the shofar and change the Torah covers to white in preparation for the High Holy Days. Sign up by August 12.

Programs for Children, Tweens and Teens
We offer age-appropriate programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the High Holy Days, creating meaningful experiences for children and teens of all ages.

Children’s Programming (Pre-K–Grade 4)
Children in Pre-K through Grade 4 are invited to join us for engaging programs on Rosh Hashanah (Days 1 & 2), Kol Nidrei, and Yom Kippur Day. Each session includes singing, movement, storytelling, and hands-on learning in a fun, welcoming environment.

NEW! Tween Room (Grades 5–8)
Students in grades 5–8 are invited to join our supervised Tween Room. Activities include games, crafts, and a community service project designed especially for this age group.

Registration is required for Children’s Programming and the Tween Room. Space is limited. Sign up by August 12.

Teen Volunteers (Grades 9–12)
Students in grades 9–12 are invited to assist with our children’s programming. Teen volunteers will work alongside our staff to help facilitate activities for younger children. Please apply by August 12.

Please Note: During High Holy Day services, all children, tweens and teens must either attend services in the sanctuary with their parents or guardians or participate in an age-appropriate supervised program. Students may not congregate in hallways, lobbies, or other common areas of the building.

Services for Families with Young Children
Join clergy and our High Holy Day song leader for a family service on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur afternoons designed for children under six and their adults. These special services will include singing, movement, storytelling and learning.

Rosh Hashanah Potluck Lunch
Spend the first afternoon of the new year with us as we gather together to enjoy a potluck lunch immediately following morning services. Register and sign up for your potluck contribution by August 12.

Tashlich
Tashlich is our annual chance to symbolically cast off our misdeeds as we seek a fresh start for our Jewish new year. This short service takes place at Pomps Pond in Andover, and gives us an opportunity to gather outdoors as we symbolically cast away our sins, worries and wrongs into the water. Bring a bit of stale bread to crumble and toss into the pond.

Cemetery Services
Annual High Holy Day cemetery services will be held at the Temple Emanuel Cemetery in Lawrence and the Children of Israel Cemetery in Haverhill. We will honor the memories of our loved ones as well as pray for a time of peace.

Yom Kippur Healing Service
Yom Kippur is a time to discover the places of brokenness in our lives and find healing and hope through reflection and prayer. This creative liturgy will help restore the sense of balance and wholeness we seek.

Yom Kippur Mincha Service with Jonah Speaker
We continue our tradition of inviting members of our community to share meaningful, personal stories, stories of transformation and reflection. We are honored to welcome Karen Lipshires, who will share her Jonah story—reflecting on how faith and spirituality have become an integral part of her journey while living with a chronic, progressive and often fatal illness. Everyone has a story. This is a story of resilience, meaning and hope in the face of profound challenge.

Yom Kippur Break Fast
Immediately following Neilah (approximately 6:30 P.M.), meet and connect with friends for a delicious dairy break fast. Break fast includes bagels and lox, egg salad, tuna salad, dessert and more. Registration is required. Sign up by August 12.

Policies & General Information

Tickets and Admission
Temple Emanuel membership includes High Holy Day tickets for adult members. Tickets are not required for members’ children under the age of 30; however, children under 30 must enter the temple with the parent or guardian member(s) through whom they are admitted and present their tickets together at the entrance. Members in the Family and Next Chapter dues categories are entitled to complimentary High Holy Day tickets for your children, regardless of their age.

Tickets will be mailed to members in good standing by September 1 and must be brought to services.

Membership and Payment Deadlines
To be considered in good standing and to receive tickets or purchase guest tickets, all past years’ dues and fees must be paid in full, and a minimum payment of $540 toward 2026-2027 dues must be paid by August 12.

If you need to request a confidential adjustment to your membership dues, please email Michelle Gamliel at mgamliel@templeemanuel.net. All adjustments, along with the required initial payment, must be submitted by August 12.

Online Access
Links to access services via Zoom will be emailed to Temple members in good standing five days before Rosh Hashanah.

Prayer Books for Online Participants
We recommend that online participants borrow or purchase a machzor (prayer book) to enhance your High Holy Day experience and aid in your participation during services, as prayers will not be displayed onscreen. To borrow Mishkan HaNefesh from the temple, please sign up by August 12. You can order your own print versions of Mishkan HaNefesh in standard and large print formats at www.ccarpress.org or an ebook version on Kindle. Note: there are separate prayer books for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Tickets for Members’ Guests
Members are welcome to purchase High Holy Day tickets for out-of-town guests. To purchase guest tickets for in-person or online ticket-required services, complete the order form by August 12. Guest tickets are $180 per person for in-person services for guests over the age of 18 and $180 per household for online access. College students and active military personnel are entitled to complimentary guest access.

Participation in Temple Emanuel’s Benefactors Society may include complimentary High Holy Day guest tickets. To access these tickets, please complete the order form by August 12.

Guest Tickets for Local Residents
Nonmembers who are new to the area may purchase guest tickets for onsite services. A guest ticket is $360 per person and covers attendance at all High Holy Day services. If guests become temple members during the fiscal year, the ticket cost will be applied toward dues. For more information, please contact the temple office at 978-470-1356.

College students and active military personnel are welcome to worship with the congregation at no charge.

Reciprocal Tickets
Temple Emanuel offers complimentary guest access to members in good standing at other congregations affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). If you have a guest desiring reciprocal tickets, please contact the Temple office by August 12 to request the appropriate form. Temple Emanuel members in good standing who would like to secure reciprocal tickets at a fellow URJ congregation should contact the temple office by August 12.

Seating
There is no reserved seating. In consideration of your fellow congregants, we ask that you do not save seats.

Parking
Traffic flow in our parking lot will be facilitated by Temple Emanuel staff and volunteers. If you do park on nearby roadways, please be mindful not to block traffic or residential driveways. See the Accessibility section below for information about accessible parking accommodations.

Accessibility
Temple Emanuel makes every effort to make our High Holy Day services accessible to all. Vehicles displaying a handicap placard will be directed to a designated accessible parking area. Reserved seating in the sanctuary is available for those who need it, and large print prayerbooks and hearing amplification devices that connect directly to our sound system are also available. If you would like to discuss specific accessibility needs before the High Holy Days, please contact our executive director, Michelle Gamliel, at mgamliel@templeemanuel.net so we can best support you.

Safety
To uphold our commitment to safety, as in prior years, security professionals will be present during all services and programs

Traditions & Additional Ways to Participate

Ushering
All ushering is performed by Temple Emanuel members. We have a wonderful corps of ushers coordinated by the Brotherhood. We hope you will join our group of ushers in performing this mitzvah. If you are interested in being an usher, please sign up by August 12

Yizkor Book of Remembrance
Our tradition calls upon us to honor the memories of our departed loved ones during Yizkor, recited on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. Our Book of Remembrance is created as a loving tribute to those we have held close to our hearts. May their precious memories inspire us to live ever more vibrant and meaningful lives. We remember their love, their support, and their values—and in doing so, we continue to make their memory a blessing.

Temple Emanuel honors these sacred memories as we recount the names and deeds of those who brought greater light into the world. A meaningful way to honor your loved one is to join the recitation of Yizkor with the mitzvah of tzedakah. Your generosity at this season and throughout the year helps ensure that the vibrant, dynamic Judaism our ancestors bequeathed to us lives on for the next generation.

Importantly, even if you have submitted names to our Book of Remembrance in the past, please do so again this year. To participate, please complete the form by August 12.

Prayer Book Bookplates
To honor or remember those you care about – or express lasting appreciation to Temple Emanuel – consider purchasing beautiful bookplates for our High Holy Day prayer books.

For a gift of $180, a set of two bookplates will be customized with your dedication – one for the Rosh Hashanah and one for the Yom Kippur prayer book. Your generosity will also be recognized in our donor newsletter.

To order bookplates please complete the form by August 12.

Orders received by August 12 will be inserted in prayer books used during 2026 High Holy Day Services. If you miss this year’s deadline and still wish to participate, bookplate purchases may be made throughout the year.

Yom Kippur Food Drive
Each year, in the spirit of tikkun olam, Temple Emanuel hosts a Yom Kippur food drive to benefit Bread & Roses, dedicated to fighting hunger and hardship in Lawrence. To make participation easy, we are offering a hybrid approach to participation. You may donate online or bring a grocery bag of non-perishable food or paper products to the temple on Yom Kippur. Paper bags for non-perishable donations will be available in the lobby from Rosh Hashanah through Kol Nidrei. We welcome donations such as ground or instant coffee, tea, sugar, sweetener, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, canned vegetables, tomato sauce, soup, pasta, cereal, napkins, paper towels, toothpaste, bars of soap and dishwashing liquid. Please ensure that all items are unopened and withing their expiration date; we cannot accept glass containers or diet products. Temple volunteers will deliver the bags to Bread & Roses, and monetary donations received will be contributed by the temple directly. Thank you for your continued support of our neighbors in need and this cherished holiday tradition.

Sukkot Produce Drive
In the spirit of Sukkot and the harvest season, we gather the bounty of the earth to share with others. Help beautify the sukkah with your contributions of fruits and vegetables that will be given to Lazarus House Ministries in direct support of individuals facing homelessness and food insecurity. We welcome donations of apples, squash, cabbage, carrots, onions, zucchini, and Brussels sprouts. Items may be dropped off in the temple lobby at Friday night services on September 25th or at the sukkah through Monday, September 28th. Thank you for helping transform this season of gratitude into acts of care and generosity.

Challah Orders
Enjoy round kosher challot for the High Holy Days and the convenience of pick-up at temple. Please complete the form by August 12.

• Rosh Hashanah challot pick-up times:
  
  • Thursday, September 10, 10 am – 6:30 pm
  • Friday, September 11, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Yom Kippur challot pick-up times:
  • Thursday, September 17, 10 am – 6:30 pm
  • Friday, September 18, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

College Student Care Packages
Temple Emanuel’s Sisterhood helps keep your college students connected to our community. Care packages are sent for the High Holy Days and Pesach to college students who are children of Sisterhood members or children of those who make a $54 donation per student to Sisterhood’s college student program.

Please complete the form by September 3 to have a High Holy Day package sent to your college student(s).