High Holy Days 5782
Welcome to your High Holy Days 5782 Information Center!
May you be inscribed for a sweet new year!
We are thrilled to be able to welcome you back to our sanctuary for High Holy Days this year! We will be following a number of COVID safety precautions to ensure that everyone can attend services as safely as possible:
- All members and out-of-town family guests must register to attend services.
- Non-members are welcome to join us online; please use the links in the sidebar to register.
- We will not be mailing paper tickets; instead, we will be checking everyone in at the door.
- Vaccination is required for all indoor, in-person services. We will not be asking anyone to provide their proof of vaccination – we will take our members and guests at their word on this very important issue that affects everyone.
- All attendees must be fully masked at all times while indoors. We request that you wear your mask outdoors as well.
- Indoor capacity is limited. Chairs in the sanctuary and social hall will be socially distanced and we will have outdoor seating under a large tent for those who are uncomfortable being indoors, or if we need overflow seating.
Vaccination is required for everyone coming indoors. Jewish law and tradition obligate us to protect human life, which makes vaccination a mitzvah (a commandment). We will not be asking anyone to provide their proof of vaccination – we will take our members and guests at their word on this very important issue that affects everyone.
Requiring vaccination means that children under age 12, who are not eligible for vaccination, cannot come into the sanctuary for High Holy Day services. This decision was tough and painful; we made it after much deliberation, research with local congregations, and a small poll that showed so many families have already decided not to come to the sanctuary. Our rationale is based on the fears of breakthrough infections for vaccinated but medically vulnerable individuals, or the possibility that the vaccinated population will transmit the virus to unvaccinated people.
Fortunately, technology and creativity have given us so many ways to express our Judaism and achieve our spiritual goals. Therefore, for almost every High Holy Day experience, we will be offering multiple attendance options:
- In person in our sanctuary: small groups of chairs will be spaced throughout the sanctuary and social hall, which means capacity will be limited. You must register to attend in person in advance. We ask you to register only for services you are sure you will be attending. Registration is first-come, first-served, and we hope to honor all attendance requests, but if we have a long waiting-list, we may have to limit the number of services any one family can attend indoors.
- Outdoors in a very large open-sided tent: this space will allow for more flexible seating, a setting for those who need to move around, and an opportunity to be together and hear other voices, even though the service will be on a screen depicting the sanctuary. And yes, we will pray for beautiful weather.
- Online, with our Zoom community or a YouTube stream: We have learned many online worship techniques in the last 18 months, and we will provide a high-quality video option for those who feel safer at home. Zoom links will be emailed to registered participants closer to the time.
If you will be visiting NVHC for the High Holy Days and are a member of another Reform congregation in good standing, click here to download and complete the URJ’s Reciprocal Seating Form. Please send your form to Mozelle Stanton at mozelle@nvhcreston.org or 1441 Wiehle Ave, Reston VA 20190.
Important Links
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, September 15
8:00pm – Kol Nidre, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, and on YouTube
We are all observing Yom Kippur in many ways this year, as individuals and families, in person and online. As part of your observance of Yom Kippur, and perhaps especially if you are not able to attend services in person, please look at this guide for other ways that you can prepare your heart and your family for the reflective experiences of the day. This guide is relevant for all ages and we hope it will help bring meaning to the day for you.
Thursday, September 16
8:00am – Early Morning Service, on Zoom and YouTube
9:00am – Tot Service, in person in the Tent and on Zoom (Please note that only the service leaders will be visible on Zoom.)
We are going back to our Jewish roots for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year, gathering in a big tent outside in our parking lot! Welcome the new year with us as we sing, dance, pray, and learn about these very special holidays. Stay after for a craft project, schmooze with friends and meet some new ones too! Our format is best for children up to about age 6 and their families, but all are welcome. We invite you all to wear white, symbolizing the new beginnings of this season, when we join in joy and solidarity. We require that children over the age of two and adults wear masks. Families will be seated in distanced spacing for safety.
10:15am – Morning Service for All, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, and on YouTube
This service is for our entire community, of all ages including families with younger children, for us to share together the powerful worship experience of Yom Kippur morning. Our tent will be a sacred space for those who choose to be outside and safe for all those not (yet) vaccinated. For those outside with younger people, there will be a space just beyond the tent where children/families will be able to stretch, move about, and participate in a quiet craft project if desired, even as the service continues in the tent.
11:00am – Torah Reading for All, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, and on YouTube
11:30am – Morning Service for All Continued, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, and on YouTube
12:45pm – Interactive Zoom Study with Rabbi Holzman, on Zoom only [please note the time change]
12:45pm – Silent Reflective Time in the Sanctuary, in person only [please note the time change]
12:45pm – Meditative Walk, in person only [please note the time change]
1:45pm – Yizkor, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, and on YouTube [please note the time change]
2:30pm – Contemplative Movement, on Zoom and in person indoors
3:30pm – Afternoon Service, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, on Zoom, and on YouTube
4:45pm – Study, in person only
5:00pm – Silent Reflective Time in the Sanctuary, in person only
6:00pm – Neilah, in person indoors, in person in the Tent, and on YouTube
We need your support!
Drop off your items for either or both collections inside the lobby at NVHC any time between now and Yom Kippur. The Cornerstones van will be at NVHC on Yom Kippur, and we will also take your collections there.
Support NVHC’s Annual High Holiday Food Drive!
Our neighbors need our help! Again this year during the High Holy Days, we will be collecting non-perishable food and toiletries for the Cornerstones Emergency Food Pantry. Click here to see what items they need. Remember that low sodium, low fat, sugar free, and organic items are appreciated for their clients with dietary concerns.
Help Afghan Evacuees
The evacuees from Afghan also need our support. We are collecting household items for Lutheran Social Services, one of the lead refugee resettlement organizations in our area. Listed here are some of the needed household supplies provided to families when they arrive. Thank you for helping to welcome new neighbors to this country. The items must be NEW with the exception of sewing machines.
Thanks in advance for your support! Questions? Contact: ShowClick Here to View Contact Information.
Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 6th
8:00pm – Evening Service, in person and on YouTube
Tuesday, September 7th
8:00am – Early Morning Service, on Zoom and YouTube
9:00am – Tot Service, in person in the tent and on Zoom. (Please note that only the service leaders will be visible on Zoom.)
We are going back to our Jewish roots for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur this year, gathering in a big tent outside in our parking lot! Welcome the new year with us as we sing, dance, pray, and learn about these very special holidays. Stay after for a craft project, schmooze with friends and meet some new ones too! Our format is best for children up to about age 6 and their families, but all are welcome. We invite you all to wear white, symbolizing the new beginnings of this season, when we join in joy and solidarity. We require that children over the age of two and adults wear masks. Families will be seated in distanced spacing for safety.
10:15am – Morning Service, in person and on YouTube
10:15am – Family Service, in person in the tent and on Zoom (Please note that only the service leaders will be visible on Zoom.)
11:00am – Torah Reading for All, in person and on YouTube
11:30am – Morning Service Continues, in person and on YouTube
3:00pm – Shofar Sounding, in person at NVHC, Floris United Methodist Church, ADAMS, or on Zoom
4:00pm – Tashlich, in person only at Lake Fairfax Park
Make A Rosh Hashanah Seder
A Rosh Hashanah seder is a special ceremony at home during which we read texts and recite blessings over a variety of foods that symbolize our wishes for the year ahead. We hope you will add this beautiful ritual to your Erev Rosh Hashanah observance!
Click the video below to watch Cantor Caro’s workshop on how to make a Rosh Hashanah seder, and click here to download a Rosh Hashanah seder PDF.
