Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur 2025 with Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation

Our secular services for Rosh Hashanah (literally “Head of the Year”) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) modernize our Jewish traditions to be meaningful to today’s diverse Jewish families. We are thrilled to be able to offer both in-person and virtual High Holiday Services to non-members this year. Registration is required. 

9 Ways Kol Hadash Does High Holidays Differently

1. We believe that we are in charge of our own lives, so we do not pray to a supernatural being.
2. Our High Holiday Services are open to everyone.
3. We provide a comfortable home for individuals and families who identify as Culturally Jewish, Just Jewish, Jew-ish, Jewish and . . . , Half-Jewish, Interfaith, Jews by Choice, Multicultural, Not Religious, Secular, Humanistic, Atheist, and/or Agnostic. No prior knowledge or Jewish literacy is needed; come as you are!
4. English readings with Hebrew songs means that everyone can participate.
5. Services are no more than 90 minutes (even on Yom Kippur!).
6. We recognize that wisdom comes from many sources, so our Ark contains Jewish literature and poetry in addition to the Torah.
7. Fasting on Yom Kippur is optional because each person chooses to Do Jewish in a way that is meaningful to them.
8. We don’t distract from these meaningful services with a fundraising request.
9. Our members genuinely look forward to our Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Services – inspiring sermons, uplifting music, and warm community!

Registration Deadline for in-person attendance: Wednesday, September 17

Rather than selling ticket to our services, we ask guests to register online and make a donation of their choice.
Typical price of guest tickets for all services for 1 person $250
Typical price of guest tickets for 2 services for 1 person $180

The Family Services (in-person only) and Yom Kippur Memorial and Concluding Services are free, open to the public and do not require registration.

 

Mon, Sept 22, 7:30 PM – Rosh Hashana Evening Service
Humanism and Human Rights
In an era of rising ethnocentric nationalism, compassionate humanism is out of fashion. The formerly unthinkable is very real: political murder, militarized immigration and law enforcement, mass suffering and dehumanization. How can we deal with the damage?

Tues, Sept 23, 10:30 AM – Rosh Hashana Morning Service
Judaism in Crisis
The Jewish world is fractured. Zionists and anti-Zionists (and the conflicted center), the Orthodox versus everyone else, the indifferent and the engaged, looking back in despair or looking forward in hope. Is “peoplehood” enough to keep us together?

2:00 PM – Family Service
Our Family services are aimed at children ages 4-11 though all are welcome to attend. These services are free and open to everyone.

Wed, Oct 1, 7:30 PM – Yom Kippur Evening Service
Conflict Without, Conflict Within
The world outside is in turmoil, and so is our psyche. Relationships crumble, the tension rises, family ties are fraying, stress is everywhere and always. Antisemitism and public unrest adds to our fear, and fear erodes our empathy and rationality. Is it time to give up, or to flee, or to face the challenge?

Thurs, Oct 2, 10:30 AM – Yom Kippur Morning Service
Hope in Dark Times 
Jewish history has not always been disaster after disaster, but we have experienced our share of trauma, and then some. If the faith in divine favor that sustained our ancestors no longer resonates with us, where can we find the confidence to light our own way forward?

2:00 PM – Yom Kippur Family Service
Our Family services are aimed at children ages 4-11 though all are welcome to attend. These services are free and open to everyone.

3:30 PM – Yom Kippur Memorial Service
Remembering the Good
It can be hard to forget the last, difficult weeks of a loved one’s life and to remember the good years before them. Anger, resentment, alienation do not simply disappear when someone dies. Looking back and living forward, how can we find the silver linings?