WELCOMING: wandering Jews • wondering Jews • LGBTQIA+ folks • Jew-ish • interfaith relationships • people of
color • singles • couples • families • multiracial relationships • single parents • adult children of interfaith families •
Jews by choice • non-Jews • seekers • low-income households • multicultural relationships • cultural Jews • older adults •
High Holidays with Jewish Gateways: Schedule and Further Info
Outdoors Beneath the Big Tent
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Gathering outdoors allows us to connect with the natural rhythms of the High Holidays. As we watch the day shift to evening, we can embrace the opportunity to reflect on the changes we can make in our own lives.
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Services are accessible virtually and in person outdoors beneath a big tent in the backyard of the
Jewish Community Center of the East Bay in Berkeley.
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"Services were very moving, very meaningful. Loved the two-way discussion, the lucid explanations, the mix of seriousness and humor, the inclusion of children, the combination of Hebrew/transliteration/English, the contextualizing of a difficult story from the Torah, and being near the play structure, outdoors, in a tent."
Schedule for High Holidays with Jewish Gateways
All services will be held at the JCC East Bay & Online
(Family-Friendly Activities in Purple)
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Erev Rosh Hashanah • Evening Service for the New Year
Friday, September 15 • 7:00 - 8:30 pm PT
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Rosh Hashanah • New Year Day
Saturday, September 16
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9 - 9:45 am PT: Family service for children under 9 & their families*
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10:15 am - 12:00 pm PT: Hands-on holiday activities for children of all ages*
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10:30 am - 12:00 pm PT: Rosh Hashanah Service
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1:15 pm PT: Picnic (bring your own) & Tashlich (ritual to toss away regrets) at Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley *
Erev Yom Kippur • Evening Service for the Day of Atonement
Sunday, September 24 • 7 - 9:00 pm PT
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Yom Kippur Day • Day of Atonement
Monday, September 25
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9 - 9:45 am PT: Family service for children under 9 & their families*
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10:15 am - 12:30 pm PT: Hands-on holiday activities for children of all ages*
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10:30 am - 12:30 pm PT: Yom Kippur Morning Service
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1 - 2:30 pm: Learning & Discussion • Discovering Meaningful Judaism as an Adult: Join us as several Jewish Gateways community members share their experiences exploring Jewish traditions and practices as adults. They will reflect on what they’ve found personally meaningful and how it’s enriched their lives. Questions and an open discussion with Rabbis Bridget Wynne and Steph Kennedy will follow.
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4:30 - 5 pm PT: Healing Service
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5 - 5:30 pm PT: Yizkor • Memorial Service
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5:30 - 6:15 pm PT: Neila • Closing Service
Help Keep the Services Available to All
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Jewish Gateways High Holiday services are supported entirely by tax-deductible donations from those who attend. Our services are not funded by the Jewish Community Center, foundations, or major donors.
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We suggest a contribution of $70 per adult for each evening or day you plan to join, and of $35 per family for each family service.
We recognize that people have many levels of financial capacity. Our services are available to anyone regardless of financial resources. If you are able, please consider making as generous a tax-deductible gift as you can.
Donations cover our expenses, which include facilities, materials, video streaming, and our dedicated service leaders and staff.
Other Information
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In-Person Registration: If you plan to attend services in person and registration is closed, there will be a registration table on site. Walk-ups are always welcome and encouraged.
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Accessibility: The Jewish Community Center East Bay has an ADA-accessible entrance and restrooms. Please reach out to Stephanie, our Operations Associate, with any access needs.
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Covid protocols: Masks are not required, though they are encouraged indoors. Covid vaccinations are required. Anyone experiencing any symptoms of potentially contagious illness should remain at home and access our services virtually.
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Security: Security will be on-site before, during, and after services.
"We loved the mix of Hebrew and English, Rabbi Bridget’s excellent commentaries, and the beautiful music. Enough tradition but very contemporary and it spoke to us where we are. We felt at home."
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"Appreciated openness to interfaith families, LGBT, people of color, people with complicated relationships with their Judaism."
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"I felt like I understood what I was praying about for the first time and could personalize it."