High Holy Days 5783 (2022)

Download this year’s High Holy Days prayer booklets.

Join Us Online and In-Person for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

As we celebrate the Days of Awe together, we will hear the Shofar blast that calls us to connect with our Jewish heritage and with our ancient traditions. More than any other time, the High Holy Days are a wonderful opportunity to connect with friends, both old and new, and to share with each other our hopes and aspirations for the future.

On this page:

• Schedule of Services & Events
• How to Watch Online
• Special Prayerbooks for Our 2022 High Holy Days
• About Our Services & Programs
• Resources for Observing the High Holidays at Home
• Frequently Asked Questions

This year marks the third High Holy Days since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are holding our services in-person this year, but our ongoing protections remain place. Particularly, masks must be worn while inside the synagogue in most circumstances. See our COVID-19 Policy for all of the details. We will continue to live stream all our services for those who aren’t able or aren’t yet comfortable coming to Solel for services in-person.

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High Holy Days Schedule

Selichot

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Rosh Hashanah

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Shabbat Shuva

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Yom Kippur

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How to Watch Online

Here’s how you can watch Solel’s High Holy Days services via our live stream if you don’t plan to attend in-person.

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Special Prayerbooks for Our 2022 High Holy Days Services

This year we will be praying our new liturgy that we began developing in 2020 rather than using our traditional machzor, Gates of Repentance. Instead, we have a different printed booklet for each of our services. Most of our prayers are found in these booklets and there will also be some additional prayers displayed on the screen in our sanctuary. If you are attending in-person, we will have copies ready for you. If you are attending via live stream, we have a limited number of hard copies that you can pick up from Solel. You can also download your own soft copies on our High Holy Days Downloads page.

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Solel’s High Holy Day Services & Programs

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Resources for Observing the High Holidays at Home

We have some more resources to help you have a meaningful and fun High Holidays. Download these documents to help you prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:

• Preparing Your Own Home Sanctuary – A helpful guide for preparing the space in your own home where you will participating in our High Holy Day service live streams. Make the occasion more special and meaningful by preparing your home and yourself for the spiritual power of the High Holy Days.
• High Holy Day Scavenger Hunt – Have some fun learning about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by looking for the things on this scavenger hunt worksheet. Share your results with your Solel friends on Facebook or Instagram or email them to Rabbi Pollack and Arliene Botnick to show us how you did!
• Do It Yourself Tashlich – Courtesy of Rabbi Robin Nafshi, here’s a helpful guide to participating in the age-old tradition of Tashlich – the symbolic banishment of our sins.
• A Prayer for One Who Cannot Fast on Yom Kippur – This meditation may be recited by anyone who – for whatever personal reason – is unable to fast in the traditional way.
• Are You a Young Jewish Adult living away from your home synagogue and looking for a place to celebrate the High Holy Days? Solel Congregation of Mississauga is a partner with Synagogue Connect which offers free access to Jewish young adults for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Visit them at www.synagogueconnect.org and search for a synagogue near you. Of course, you’re also welcome to participate in Solel’s virtual High Holy Day services and programs from wherever you are!

High Holy Days – Frequently Asked Questions

When do we wear a Tallit?
A Tallit is normally worn at morning services only. The exception is Yom Kippur Evening, for two reasons. First, it’s a way to acknowledge the special holiness of this day. Second, in earlier times it was a custom to come to synagogue on Erev Yom Kippur and to stay throughout the night and next day to the conclusion of Ne’ilah; thus worshippers would bring their Tallit that evening. We aren’t planning such a marathon, but it’s still appropriate to wear the Tallit on Erev Yom Kippur.

Why do the Torah scrolls have white mantles?
White represents purity, which we seek for our souls during the Days of Awe. It is also appropriate to wear white clothing during this time, including a white Kippah if you wish.

How do I decide whether or not to fast on Yom Kippur?
From the age of 13 onward, it is a mitzvah to fast from sunset to sunset. Children approaching this age might try to fast for as long as they can manage. If fasting would make you ill, or if you are taking medication that requires food, Jewish law rules that you should not fast.

Why do we have group aliyot at this time?
It is our way of honouring the many Solelniks who devote their time and effort to our congregation all year long. Therefore, we have a group Aliya for members of our Bet Sefer Solel teaching staff, for the officers of our Board of Directors, for committee members, for the ushers who serve our congregation all year, and for grandparents and great-grandparents. This year, to preserve physical distancing, group aliyot are done by individual representatives of each group.

Why is the High Holy Day prayer book called a Machzor?
The word “Machzor” means a returning cycle, referring to the cycle of seasons that we celebrate each year. The High Holy Days are a time to take stock of our deeds over the past year and, with God’s help, to plan the next chapter in our Book of Life. It is also a time to celebrate the vital role that community plays in our lives. Surrounded by fellow Solelniks now and throughout the year, we never need to feel alone.

 

Find out more about the High Holy Days and get great tips for food and family fun at ReformJudaism.org.