High Holy Days 2010
Who should attend Ohel Ayalah?
Nature of Services
Rabbis and Cantors
2010 High Holidays Schedule
Tashlich – new in 2010
Reservations NOW OPEN!
Testimonials - 2009
Ohel Ayalah offers a free, walk-in service to meet the needs of many Jews, in particular young Jews, who do not have a place to pray on the High Holidays.
Most synagogues require the purchase of a ticket to attend their High Holiday services. Ohel Ayalah does not. Ohel Ayalah believes the Jewish public should be able to worship at services that are free and open to all. Every Jew should be embraced. However, we respect the need of synagogues to charge fees to help defray the costs of their High Holiday services.
Many Jews in New York City do not attend services on the High Holidays. Ohel Ayalah seeks out these Jews, whether they are young people in their 20s and 30s who do not feel comfortable in an established synagogue, whether they are Israelis or Russians who feel separated from established Jewish life, or whether they are interfaith couples or Jews-in-the-making. We want to offer all such Jews a communal prayer experience and make it possible for them to live Jewishly on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
At Ohel Ayalah, it is possible for a Jew to wake up on Rosh Hashanah morning (Jewish New Year) or Kol Nidrei night and say, “I feel like going to the synagogue today and being with other Jews.”
The free, walk-in service at Ohel Ayalah means that a Jew can join a celebration of the High Holidays without having to decide in advance. Every Jew should feel welcome in a synagogue on the High Holidays, whether or not he or she is a member, whether or not he or she made advance arrangements to attend, and whether or not he or she purchases a ticket. This is the mission of Ohel Ayalah.
Who should attend Ohel Ayalah?
Ohel Ayalah reaches out to people who are not already connected to the Jewish community or its institutions. We imagine that there are many American-born young people, in their 20s and 30s, no longer on campus, who might, spontaneously, decide to “do Jewish” on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We imagine there are many Israelis and Russians who also may choose, at the last moment, to find a place to spend “Jewish time” on the High Holidays. Ohel Ayalah will create an instant community for those Jews who celebrate the High Holidays with us. We have room for 230 people. One hundred people may reserve in advance, but there will be plenty of seats for walk-ins. We are not offering this worship service to people who already attend a synagogue. Inter-faith couples are welcome.
Nature of the Service
The service will be egalitarian — both men and women will lead – and traditional. The prayers will be chanted in Hebrew, their language of composition, but there will be interspersed English explanations, comments, and readings. We will sing together, talk together, remain silent together, laugh together, break bread together, and study together. The service will aim to be awe-inspiring (literally), and, at the same time, warm and engaging. Your participation will be a key component in creating a community and a meaningful atmosphere.
Rabbis and Cantors
In Manhattan:
Rabbi Judith Hauptman, a professor of Talmud at the Jewish Theological Seminary, will lead the services, together with Cantor Josh Gorfinkle and Hazzan Sheni, Stan Alpert.
In Brooklyn:
Rabbi Josh Cahan will lead the service as both the Rabbi and Cantor.
Schedule
This year, Ohel Ayalah will offer High Holiday services in two locations: one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. The services vary slightly, so please read carefully.
For those observing the Yom Kippur fast, it starts on Friday, September 17 at 6:45 p.m. and ends on Saturday, September 18 at 7:45 p.m.
MANHATTAN
In Manhattan only: On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Thursday, September 9, the services will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end about 12:15 p.m. After services, there will be a (free) light lunch. Following lunch, people are welcome to join the Rabbi on a walk to the Hudson River for the custom of Tashlich (read more below).
On Kol Nidrei night, Friday, September 17, there will be a choice of two services. The first will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end about 8:15 p.m. The second will begin at 8:30 p.m. and end about 10:15 p.m. The second service is all walk-in.
Note: Yom Kippur morning services will be held only in Brooklyn. See below for information.
At the end of Yom Kippur, on Saturday, September 18, the Yizkor Memorial Service will begin at 4:45 p.m. followed by a Study and Reflection Session at 5:15 p.m. and concluded with Ne’ilah at 6:15 p.m. A (free) bagel break-fast follows.
BROOKLYN
Note: Rosh Hashanah services will be held only in Manhattan. See above for information.
On Kol Nidrei night, Friday, September 17, there will be only one Kol Nidrei service, at 7:30 pm. 100 seats may be reserved. The rest are for walk-ins.
In Brooklyn only: On Saturday, September 18, there will be a Yom Kippur morning service at 9:30 a.m. All walk-in. Kol Nidrei moved you? Come back for more.
At the end of Yom Kippur, on Saturday, September 18, the Yizkor Memorial Service will begin at 4:45 p.m. followed by a Study and Reflection session at 5:15 p.m. and concluded with Ne’ilah at 6:15 p.m. A (free) bagel break-fast follows.
Tashlich
It is an old Jewish custom on the first day of Rosh Hashanah to go to a flowing body of water and throw in some bread crumbs. As the crumbs disappear, we recite a short paragraph expressing the wish that our sins or misdeeds float away as easily.
Join us after services and after Kiddush/lunch, at 1 p.m., on Thu Sept 9, as we walk from 12 W 12 St. (First Presbyterian Church) to the Hudson River for this short ritual. A one mile trek. Just for fun, we will then walk the Highline Park which begins at the very place where we are going for Tashlich. The word itself means, Cast away!, and is addressed to God, asking God to hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.
Reservations
Reservations will open on Monday, August 30, 2010. If you want a reminder add your name to the OA email list.
RESERVATIONS ARE NOW OPEN. CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW!
At the Rosh Hashanah service in Manhattan, on Thursday September 9, 100 seats may be reserved. Reservations will be held until 9:50 a.m. All other seats are for walk-ins.
M A N H A T T A N On Kol Nidrei night, Friday September 17, 100 seats may be reserved for the first, 6:30 p.m. service. The rest are for walk-ins. The second Kol Nidrei service at 8:30 p.m. is all walk-in.
B R O O K L Y N On Kol Nidrei night, Friday September 17, 100 seats may be reserved for the 7:30 p.m. service. All other seats are for walk-ins.
All other events - Yizkor, Study and Reflection Session and Ne’ilah service with break-fast – in both locations, are all walk-in.
High Holidays, 2009, Testimonials
Excerpts below:
“It was everything I could want in a service; the stories were meaningful, the energy was good, and the cantor had a striking voice. Thank you so much for making a difference in my life.”
“My friend and I weren’t sure if we would go to a service this Yom Kippur, but yours came up when we googled “free yom kippur service nyc,” and we knew it would be perfect for our situation. So thank you for providing a free, non-membership, youth-friendly, reform-friendly atmosphere tonight–it was a great way to reconnect to that part of my life.”
“For the first time in a long while, I began to remember what had drawn me to search for a stronger understanding about Judaism. Your services, approach and careful consideration of how to engage (what I imagine is) a largely unaffiliated group of young Jewish people is thoughtful, intelligent and purposeful.”
“I was the one who came up to you at the end of the 6:30 Kol Nidrei service and let you know that you are the only Rabbi, EVER, that has made going to Temple enjoyable! So, thank you, thank you, thank you and L’Shana Tova.”
“I moved to New York City three years ago, after graduating from college, and spent the past two years searching for a welcoming, spiritual (and, of course, budget-friendly) high holiday service. I finally found it this year at Ohel Ayalah. Both the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services were reminiscent of ancient traditions and relevant to modern day, a spiritually-meaningful, community-based experience.”