The Jewish calendar is filled with holidays and festivals that commemorate important milestones in our history. These occasions are an integral part of Temple Emanuel and provide opportunity for us to pray, learn and celebrate as a community. For each holiday we strive to create meaningful and spiritual worship for all members of our congregation.
High Holy Days
Learn more about our 2024/5785 High Holy Day services and programs. Rosh Hashanah begins Wednesday, October 2.
The High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time for reflection, introspection, prayer and re-connection. Rosh Hashanah, which translates to “head of the year,” marks the start of the Jewish New Year. It’s a time marked with celebration and reflection. Yom Kippur, or “day of atonement” in Hebrew, is a holiday that culmiates ten days after Rosh Hashanah with rituals of fasting, repenting and asking for forgiveness.
Come and join our congregational family for a spiritually deep High Holy Day experience. We offer a variety of services to meet the spiritual needs of our diverse community. Review the schedule of services for a list of dates, times and locations of services and special High Holy Day programming.
Sukkot
Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning “booths” celebrates both the period of time during which the ancient Israelites lived in temporary booth as they traveled from Egypt to Israel, as well as the end of the harvest season. 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. Each year, members of the Temple Emanuel community come together in our own sukkah where we hold services, classes and other programs.
Click here for a list of Sukkot events.
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah is the “rewinding” of the Torah. It occurs a week after Sukkot. It’s the day Jews finish the annual reading of the Torah and go back to the beginning. Since the Torah is written on a scroll rather than in a book with pages, this means rewinding it.
Chanukah
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates a miracle in the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It starts on the 25th day of Kislev (late November to late December). Though the holiday is traditionally celebrated at home, there are also many celebrations at Temple Emanuel; please join us. Explore these Chanukah resources to enhance your observance.
Purim
This early spring holiday occurs on the 14th of Adar and celebrates the events described in the Book of Esther. Queen Esther saved the Jews of Persia from a plot to destroy them by the king’s minister, Haman. Children love to drown out the evil Haman’s name with their groggers and to eat hamantaschen, cookies shaped like his hat. Join us for our Purim Shpiel and other festivities to celebrate the holiday.
Passover
Passover starts on the 15th of Nisan (in March or April). It celebrates God’s redemption of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt as described in the book of Exodus. Occurring in the spring, it also celebrates the rebirth of life in that season. The seder (the ceremony and dinner) is traditionally celebrated in the home. However, we invite you to join the annual Temple Emanuel congregational seder.