High Holiday Services @ Chabad

To avoid confusion, please read all the information below very carefully.

Deadline for members bookings is Monday, 7 September at 5:00 pm. After this time seats will be opened to non-members (on our waiting list).

We are certainly all looking forward to the New Year.

Many in our community have faced real challenges this past year, as well as many great blessings too. We have absolute faith that the year to come will be a step upwards and a turn for the better for all of us. We pray that the entire world will come out of this challenging time with a renewed commitment to goodness and love.

We are Chabad North Shore are here for you. We are offering spiritual connection for everyone in our community for this coming holidays, in a way that is appropriate for each person's individual needs and levels of comfort.

There will be a range of services, and you can choose which suits you best. Some services will include children, and others not. We will repeat Shofar blowing on second day Rosh Hashana (no Shofar on first day as it’s Shabbat) and holding additional Yizkor services on Yom Kippur, so anyone who wishes can attend.

We fully understand that not everyone is comfortable to attend services. We will be providing packages of inspiration and a guide on how to pray at home and make these High Holidays special, even if very different to usual.

The booking process is more complicated this year. To help make it clearer, here are the four options you can choose from:

1. Attend a full service. If you’d like to attend the entire service on Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur, we will be running an early morning complete service (see times below).
2. Attend a short service. If you’d prefer a briefer option, we will run shorter services which will include a segment of the service, sermon and the Shofar (on second day of Rosh Hashanah).
3. Shofar Experience. If you’d just like to hear the Shofar with your family, join one of our Shofar experiences during the afternoon on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
4. Pray at home. For those not comfortable to attend services, we will provide an inspirational package of prayers and thoughts to make your High Holidays more meaningful.

We want to assure you that we are doing our very best to accommodate as many congregants as possible within the government guidelines. We ask for your support and understanding during this time.

• All members will be entitled to a seat in either the Shule or the Function Room (for at least 1 service on Rosh Hashanah and 1 service on Yom Kippur).
• Single members will be entitled to one seat, family members will be entitled to two seats.
• All paid members will receive a unique access code and link (included below) to book for services.
• A limited number of seats will be available for purchase for dependent children of members over Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
• Only the named recipient may occupy their seat.
• A limited number of children will be able to attend certain services, however, they will not be allocated a seat in Shule. In addition, a special children’s program will take place on the afternoon of the second day of Rosh Hashanah to accommodate more children and families (details to follow).
• Visitors, friends and non-members may sign-up to a waiting list, pending space availability. Fees apply.
• If you book for a service, we request you attend from the beginning of that service.

We continue to pray for the health and wellbeing of all people and look forward to ushering in the New Year, which will be blessed with only revealed good health, happiness, peace and prosperity.

On behalf of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Nochum and Fruma Schapiro we wish you a K'Tiva Vachatima Tova – to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet new year.

  

ROSH HASHANAH SERVICE TIMES:

First Evening, 18 Sep:
5:45-6:30 pm - Complete Service. Children welcome.

First Day, 19 Sep:
7:30-11:00 am - Complete Service. Children welcome.
11:30 am – 2:00 pm - Shorter Service. Adults only.

Second Evening, 19 Sep:
6:30-7:15 pm - Complete Service. Children welcome.

Second Day, 19 Sep:
7:30-11:00 am - Complete Service. Children welcome.
11:30 am – 2:00 pm - Shorter Service. Adults only.

On second day both services will include Shofar.

YOM KIPPUR SERVICE TIMES:

Kol Nidrei, 27 Sep:
5:45-7:45 pm - Complete Service. Adults only.
8:15-10:15 pm - Complete Service. Adults only.

Yom Kippur Day, 28 Sep:
8:30 am – 1:30 pm - Complete Service. Children welcome.
2:00-4:00 pm - Shorter Service. Adults only.

Both services will include Yizkor.

YK Conclusion, 28 Sep:
4:30-6:30 pm - Complete Service. Adults only.

  

COVID protocols will be maintained throughout the High Holidays.

• Only booked congregants will be allowed entry onto the campus.
• There will be allocated seating (1.5m distance between seats) with a map in the entry.
• All congregants must sit in their allocated seat only, and must maintain the 1.5m physical distancing rule at all times.
• There will be dedicated COVID Marshals who will be ensuring everyone is following the safety protocols.
• There is to be NO congregating on or outside the campus.
• There will be no singing or chanting in Shule by the congregants, only by the Chazan. (We are well aware that will be very challenging, however, we must follow the NSW Health regulations.)
• We encourage and recommend congregants to wear masks.
• One must not attend if you are feeling unwell in any way.
• One must not attend if you have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive to COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
• One must not attend if you are awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.
• One must sanitise their hands upon entry.