Welcome
L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu!
Congregation B’nai Israel warmly welcomes you to our High Holy Days services. Our programming and learning opportunities are designed to fit the diverse spiritual needs of our congregants and guests. Many services this year will be offered both in person and via YouTube Livestream. Please refer to the schedule below for location details and Livestream links when applicable.
We recommend bookmarking this page and checking back for the latest updates!
Helpful Details:
- For our CBI members:
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High Holy Days name badges will be available for pickup at CBI starting Thursday, September 19. Badges may be picked up during our regular office hours, at Shabbat Services on Friday evenings, on Sunday mornings at Kulanu, or at the Hospitality Table prior to each High Holy Days service. We strongly encourage you to pick up your badge(s) in advance to avoid lines on arrival at services.
- CBI member children under 13 do not need a name badge; member children ages 13–26 will be provided with a name badge.
- CBI single-member households may request one complimentary guest pass by completing the Guest Pass Request Form at least one week prior to the service(s).
- Traveling and need to attend services at another temple this year? Please complete the Reciprocal Ticket Request Form by Thursday, September 12, to allow time for processing.
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- For our guests:
- If you are not a member and would like to join us for services, please click here for information about guest passes.
- Active duty military, National Guard, and Reserve personnel on extended active duty may attend our worship services at no charge with a valid military ID card. Please email exec-assistant@bnais.com at least a week in advance to let us know what service(s) you are planning to attend, so we can have a complimentary pass/name badge ready for you.
- College students may attend our worship services at no charge with a valid student ID card. Please email exec-assistant@bnais.com at least a week in advance to let us know what service(s) you are planning to attend, so we can have a complimentary pass/name badge ready for you.
- Interested in becoming a CBI member? Learn more and join now!
- For all:
- We are pleased to offer the Apples & Honey Youth Program for children ages 3–10 while their adult(s) attend(s) services. Please click here to learn more and register.
- Please contact our office for any special accommodations needed (e.g., listening devices, large print siddurs, or reserved parking).
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New this year: On Yom Kippur, the Conference Room will be a “Non-Fasting Space” for those that cannot fast yet want to spend the day at temple.
- As we prepare to gather for the High Holy Days, please be mindful of the following:
- Bag policy: For everyone's security and protection, we kindly ask that you refrain from bringing large totes, backpacks, or oversized purses to services. All bags are subject to search. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
- If you are not feeling well, please err on the side of caution — stay home, take care of yourself, and join us via YouTube Livestream. Thank you for your consideration. Very best wishes for a healthy, happy new year!
SCHEDULE
► Leil S’lichot
Saturday, September 28
7:30 PM: Potluck Dessert, Wine, and Coffee Reception – please bring a dessert or bottle of wine to share.
8:00 PM: Havdalah with Rabbi Mona Alfi and Cantor Alexandra Kurland
8:15 to 9:45 PM: “S’lichot Slam” Study Session
S’lichot are poetic prayers for repentance, and it's a tradition to read them the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah to reflect, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Led by Lauren Silva, Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning, along with CBI's Adult Education Committee Co-Chairs Jessica Zisser and Marissa Stein, we’ll learn the history behind S’lichot, read through a few poems, and then put pen to paper to write our own and perhaps even perform them (optional)! So bring your words, your creativity, your spirit, and your power, and join us for this noncompetitive S’lichot poetry slam.
10:00 PM: S'lichot Service with Rabbi Alfi and Cantor Kurland | In-Person & YouTube Livestream
► Erev Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, October 2 – CBI office closes at Noon
7:30 PM: Erev Rosh Hashanah Service | In-Person & YouTube Livestream
Apples & Honey | Childcare program for ages 3–10. Check-in begins at 7:15 PM. Please register in advance.
► Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, October 3 – CBI office is closed
9:00 AM: Family Service with blessing of all babies born since High Holy Days 2023. | CBI Sanctuary
All congregants and guests are welcome for Family Services – tickets and registration are not required.
10:00 AM: Rosh Hashanah Service | In-Person & YouTube Livestream
Apples & Honey | Childcare program for ages 3–10. Check-in begins at 9:50 AM. Please register in advance.
10:00 AM: Teen Service led by BISY (for grades 8 and up)
1:15/1:30 PM: Rosh Hashanah Reception (immediately following the service) hosted by Women of B'nai Israel
3:00 PM: Tashlich | Mayor Anne Rudin Peace Pond, Land Park | In Person & YouTube Livestream
► Rosh Hashanah Day Two/ Shabbat Shuvah
Friday, October 4 – CBI office is closed
7:30 PM: Shabbat Evening Service | In Person & YouTube Livestream
Shabbat/Saturday, October 5
10:30 AM: Shabbat Morning Service | In Person (Harry M. Tonkin Memorial Chapel)
► Community Memorial Service – Kever Avot
Sunday, October 6
11:00 AM: An annual memorial service for all whom we mourn. Sponsored by Einstein Jewish Community Services and the Sacramento Board of Rabbis. | Home of Peace, 6200 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, 95824
► Kol Nidrei
Friday, October 11 – CBI office closes at Noon
7:30 PM: Kol Nidrei Service | In Person & YouTube Livestream
Apples & Honey | Childcare program for ages 3–10. Check-in begins at 7:15 PM. Please register in advance.
► Yom Kippur
Shabbat/Saturday, October 12
9:00 AM: Family Service | CBI Sanctuary
All congregants and guests are welcome for Family Services – tickets and registration are not required.
10:00 AM: Yom Kippur Morning Service | In-Person & YouTube Livestream
Apples & Honey | Childcare program for ages 3–10. Check-in begins at 9:50 AM. Please register in advance.
10:00 AM: Teen Service led by BISY (for grades 8 and up)
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Choice of Afternoon Enrichment Sessions
- Panel Discussion: To Be Announced | In Person (Sanctuary) & YouTube Livestream
- Study Session with Laura Rosenthal | In Person (Sosnick Library)
- Meditation Session with Rabbi Deni Deutsch Marshall | In Person (Harry M. Tonkin Memorial Chapel)
2:45 PM: Yom Kippur Afternoon Service | In-Person & YouTube Livestream
5:00 PM: Yizkor (Memorial) Service | In-Person & YouTube Livestream
5:30 PM: Neilah Service | In Person & YouTube Livestream
Join in the call of the shofar! Everyone is welcome to bring their shofars (real ones, please; not plastic) to the Neilah Service.
6:30 PM: Break-the-Fast (immediately following the service)
► Erev Sukkot Harvest Festival Dinner
Wednesday, October 16 – CBI office closes at 2:00 PM
5:30 PM: Dinner | 6:00 PM: Sukkot Program
Join us for festival blessings and a potluck dinner in the Opper Courtyard! Fun for all ages!
CBI will provide a delicious main dish; last names beginning with A–L, please bring a side to share; last names M–Z, please bring a dessert to share.
► Sukkot Yizkor
Wednesday, October 23 – CBI office closes at 2:00 PM
10:00 AM: Yizkor (Memorial) Service with Rabbi Mona Alfi and Cantor Alexandra Kurland | Harry M. Tonkin Memorial Chapel
► Simchat Torah Celebration – Rejoice with the Torah!
Wednesday, October 23 – CBI office closes at 2:00 PM
5:30 PM: Dinner and Live Music | 6:15 PM: Simchat Torah Program
Rejoice with the Torah at our outdoor Simchat Torah Celebration with dancing and festival fun for all ages on 11th Avenue!
RESOURCES
- Celebrate in Your Sukkah with a Lulav and Etrog
To order your set of lulav and etrog, please email the Jonas Goldman Judaica Gift Shop. The price per set this year is $52.50, with a 10% discount for all WBI members. All orders must be received by Thursday, September 19 – no exceptions. Pickup will be on or after Friday, October 11. You will be notified as soon as your order arrives at B’nai Israel.
- New Year – The Jonas Goldman Judaica Shop Is Back in Action
Special hours in the Jonas Goldman Judaica Shop: Tuesdays, September 10 and September 17: 2:00 to 5:00 PM; and Sunday, September 15: 12:30 to 3:30 PM with a showing in the conference room of the work of jewelry designer Hadas Kol, as well as new items in the gift shop.
On Sunday, September 22, the Jonas Goldman Judaica Shop will resume its regular hours on Sundays and Tuesdays. Note: we will be closed during the High Holy Days when the CBI office is closed.
The gift shop has a wonderful selection of Rosh Hashanah items, including shofars (in various sizes) and honey dishes. For more information, please visit cbisacramento.org/giftshop. Chag sameach and we hope to see you soon.
GIVING
A CBI High Holy Days Tradition –
Help Support the Central Downtown Food Basket
Every year at this time, for over three decades, our congregation has filled our foyers with donations of canned goods and nonperishable food items for the Central Downtown Food Basket (CDFB). Thanks to CBI and other supporters, the CDFB feeds over 3,700 households in the greater Sacramento area. They host monthly food distributions and Pop-Up Pantries to meet the needs of families, seniors, Sac State students, and others in our community who are food insecure.
This year, in order to have the most impact, we encourage you to help "fill our foyers" with your generous support by making a monetary contribution directly to the CDFB. For every $1 donated to CDFB, they can obtain $20 worth of food. Donations can be made on the CDFB website (www.cdfb.org), or by dropping off a check (made payable to: Central Downtown Food Basket) in the collection boxes in our Sanctuary foyers. Bags of canned goods and nonperishable food items are still welcome.
In addition to supporting CDFB, please consider making a donation to Congregation B’nai Israel’s Caring Community Fund to support our fellow congregants.
