High Holy Days
L’shanah Tova, and Happy New Year!
Judaism’s gift to the world is hope – a vision and unwavering commitment to create a perfect world enveloped in shalom, in peace and wholeness. For over 2000 years, Jews have overcome remarkable challenges because we always remain optimistic. This year will be no different, even though nothing is the same as it was. As we face continued risk from COVID and in consultation with our ritual committee and Board of Trustees, we have made the difficult decision to hold High Holy Day services online. While we will miss being physically together, and even though we face many challenges, when we gather together as a community we can find optimism in the traditions that have supported our people generation after generation. read more
Watch to CMI President Michael Dimenstein deliver his annual Rosh Hashanah address.
Selichot
Saturday, September 12
7:00 p.m. Community Selichot Service
Memorial Service
Sunday, September 13
2:00 p.m. Memorial Service at CMI Cemetery
Rosh Hashanah
Friday, September 18
8:00 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah Service
Saturday, September 19
9:00 a.m. Rosh Hashanah TOT Program
10:00 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
2:00 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Family Service
Sunday, September 20
10:00 a.m. Second Day Tashlich
Yom Kippur
Sunday, September 27
8:00 p.m. Kol Nidre Service
Monday, September 28
9:00 a.m. Yom Kippur TOT Program
10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Morning Service
12:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Reflection Service
2:00 p.m. Adult Study with Professor Shelly Kagan
2:00 p.m. Yom Kippur Family Service
3:00 p.m. Yom Kippur Afternoon Service
4:45 p.m. Yom Kippur Yizkor (Memorial) and Ne’ilah (Concluding) Services
Tots Program
On both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur young families and everyone can join us at 9:00 a.m. for some singing with our talented song-leader Miss Elise Miller and a story with Michelle Goldstein.
Community Family Services
Family Services are held on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at 2:00 p.m. These services, led by Rabbi Immerman and Cantor Giglio, are open to the community and are appropriate for individuals of all ages. We encourage you to bring family and friends.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service: Saturday, September 19, 2:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur Family Service: Monday, September 28, 2:00 p.m.
Second Day Rosh Hashanah Tashlich
Sunday, September 20 • 10:00 am
Join us on the second day of Rosh Hashanah on the front lawn of CMI. We will have a brief service followed by the opportunity to symbolically cast away our sins by throwing pieces of bread into some water as we prepare ourselves for Yom Kippur. Bring your own bread. We will practice distancing and masks are required. This is open to the community, and all ages are welcome.
Yom Kippur Reflection Service
The reflection service provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the past, present, and future with the aid of original and thoughtfully selected writings and music by members of our congregation. Community participation is essential – to sign up please contact Stan Friedman at stan24@hotmail.com
High Holy Day Memorial Service
During Yizkor, we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us. We will read the names of our congregants who have passed away since the last High Holy Days. If you wish the names of others who have passed away since September 2019 to be read out loud at this Memorial Service, please call or send the names to Sarah Legassey by September 11.
The CMI Cemetery is located at 701 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT 06515.
High Holy Day Tickets
Due to the unique circumstances of this year, tickets are not needed to "attend" the HHD services. For the same reasons, we are encouraging levels of support for Congregation Mishkan Israel as we navigate these times together as a faith community. Please consider donating and offering your much valued and appreciated support.
Prayer books
In order to maximize participation, the prayers will all be on the screen, like Shabbat services. We will be using our prayer book Mishkan HaNefesh.
We know that some might want to follow along in the actual prayer book, so each slide will have the corresponding page number. If you wish to borrow a book from CMI, please contact the office.
We can lend books during two blocks of time for those who reserve in advance, with masks and gloves. Thursday, September 10 at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, September 11 at 9:00 a.m.
Annual Food Drive
As is our annual custom, we will be conducting a grocery gift card drive these High Holy Days. We do this in the hope of helping those whose fast will not end at sundown. This year, instead of asking for food donations we will collect gift cards to donate to local food pantries. Please consider donating to our Hunger Fund online at cmihamden.org.