High Holy Days

Your Temple Beth-El clergy and staff are working to create a meaningful High Holy Day experience for this year. We look forward to celebrating the new year with you. The list of services is available here.

Tickets will be mailed to congregants for all adults and dependent children in the household. No action is needed on your part. All members will automatically receive links to participate in services over Zoom and dial-up. We are not currently broadcasting over Livestream or YouTube.

Please register your guests, for either in-person or Zoom, using this link. Temple Beth-El offers reciprocity for members of other congregations. If you are a visitor to Temple Beth-El, welcome! Please use this link to reserve your tickets for the holy days.

A change this year is that we are returning to our prayer books and using slides only sparingly. You can borrow a machzor (prayer book) if you will be participating remotely.

To help get you in the High Holy Day mood, here is a video of Cantor Wallach and Grace Amodeo singing a duet of Y’hiyu l’Ratzon, text from the end of the amidah. And here is a clip of Kathy Shanklin playing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur melodies.

What you need to do today:

Register Guests or Visitors Here            Remember Loved Ones Here

What you need to know:

I am a member. Do I need to register?
No. Congregants will automatically receive tickets for all adult members, children under the age of 26 and adult dependent children. Tickets will be mailed to congregants mid-August.

I am a member. Will I be able to arrange tickets for my guests?
Yes. You will be able to arrange for tickets for your guests to participate either in-person or online. Use this guest registration link. We request a donation of $100 per guest ticket to help defray the costs of the holy days. If arranged early enough, we will mail your guest tickets in the same package as your tickets. Otherwise, you or your guests can pick up the tickets anytime the office is open.

I am a member. Do I need to register to join online services?
No. All members will receive via email the links to the broadcast platforms. Guests must be registered in order to receive the links. Use this form to register your guests.

I am a member. I’m going to my family’s congregation for the holy days. How do I request reciprocal tickets from them? 
It’s nice that you’ll be with family. Contact the TBE office (908-722-0674) with the name/city of the congregation where you will be attending. We will then contact your family’s synagogue to attest to your membership at TBE.  If your family members are coming to you, ask that their home congregation contact us. 

I am having trouble with the form. What should I do?
Please contact the temple office (908-722-0674 or via email at info@templebethelnj.org) and we will be happy to assist. 

Where can I find the links to participate in the online services?
Links will be sent to all members and registered guests via email in early-September. Click here for a full schedule of services.

I am not a member. May I attend?
We will happily welcome you to participate in person or online. Use this form to register as a Visitor. We ask for a donation for in-person participation. Visitor tickets will be available for pickup.

Are there any COVID-related policies for onsite attendance?
A section of our seating in the large social hall will be designated as mask mandatory for those who wish to sit with others who are masked. The remainder of the sanctuary and social hall spaces will be mask and social distancing optional. 

I want to list my loved ones in the memorial listing. How does that work?
The memorial list has been closed and printed. We are unable to add more names.

I’m a new grandparent. Are we doing the baby blessing this year?
Yes! Among the many joyous rituals of the Holy Days is our temple’s custom on the first day of Rosh Hashanah to bless babies who have come into our temple family in the past year. If you are the parent (or grandparent) of a new arrival and haven’t been in touch with the temple office yet, email amyrubin@templebethnj.org and we’ll try to get your wee one’s name in the reading.

Are we doing a food drive?
Yes! Our annual High Holy Day Food Drive benefiting the The Food Bank Network of Somerset County is a cherished aspect of our community’s observance of the holy days.

I plan to participate online. Can I get a copy of the slides?
We are returning to using our prayer books and will use slides only sparingly. Please contact the office to arrange to borrow a machzor (prayer book) (908-722-0674 or info@templebethelnj.org).