Major Holidays

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Rosh Hashanah: Monday, October 3, 2016 (1 Tishri, 5777)
Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of the world and is a time for reflection and self-evaluation. It is one of the Jewish tradition's holiest days, when Jews most commonly attend services at synagogue.

At Solel, we gather as one community for Rosh Hashanah worship when the holiday begins on Sunday evening, October 2 at 8:00 in the evening, and we continue the following morning at 10:00. Family services are held at 2:00, and a Rosh Hashanah family reception follows the family services at 3:00 p.m. Each year, we hold a special Simply Shabbat for Rosh Hashanah—geared for younger children who cannot read and their families—though all are welcome! Check the calendar for details.

Tashlich
Sometime between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, it’s customary to throw breadcrumbs into a body of water as a symbolic act of repentance. Most Jews do Tashlich the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashana. Family and friends gather together at the waterfront to "cast away" the sins of the past year and resolve to be a better in the year to come.

Tashlich is a way to admit our own faults and symbolically shed the baggage of last year's mistakes. In the face of our own personal conflicts, we affirm our closeness to humanity and to God. At Solel, the timing for Tashlich varies. We always include a family picnic and/or very special oneg in our Tashlich celebration. Check the calendar for details.

Yom Kippur: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 (10 Tishri, 5777)
At the end of Yom Kippur, we blow the shofar one last time before proclaiming "Next year in Jerusalem." That blast is a tekiah gedolah—an extended version of the normal tekiah.

At Solel, we gather as one community for Kol Nidre worship when the holiday begins on Tuesday evening, October 11 at 8:00, and we continue the following morning at 10:00 for Yom Kippur worship. Family services are held at 2:00. Yom Kippur afternoon worship continues at 3:00, flowing into the Memorial (Yiskor) Service and the beautiful Concluding Service at approximately 5:00.