2022 High Holy Days
Welcome and L’Shana Tova! This year, our goal is for our services to be a hybrid so people can attend either in person or over Zoom. They will also be livestreamed on our Facebook group page, TI Temple Talk. Given that we will have attendees online, to lessen “Zoom Fatigue,” our services will be streamlined to allow for more breaks away from screens, especially on Yom Kippur.
We are thrilled to welcome our new rabbi, Rabbi Cynthia Minster, who will be leading our High Holy Days services for the first time, along with Cantor Star Trompeter, as our soloist. Our Early Childhood Services will be led by Melita Silberstein. Our Youth Services will be led by Jenn Levine.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Selichot: Saturday, September 17
7:00 pm: Reception (Havdalah at 7:15 pm during the reception)**
7:30 pm: Program
8:00 pm Service
Erev Rosh Hashanah: Sunday, September 25
11:30 am: Early Childhood Service in our courtyard with Melita Silberstein**
7:00 pm: Community Service*
Rosh Hashanah Day 1: Monday, September 26
10:00 am: Morning Service*
1:00 pm: Torah Study*
3:30 pm: Tashlich along the lagoon (or a body of water near you if online)**
4:00 pm Youth Service with Jenn Levine
Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Tuesday, September 27
10:00 am: Community Service
Kol Nidre: Tuesday, October 4
7:00 pm: Erev Yom Kippur Service*
Yom Kippur: Wednesday, October 5
10:00 am: Morning Service*
11:30 am: Early Childhood Service in Courtyard with Melita Silberstein**
1pm: Reparations for African-Americans Conversation hosted by Social Justice Committee*
2:30 pm: Where Do We Go From Here? Discussion Circle with Rabbi Minster*
4:00 pm: Youth Service and Reading of Jonah with Jenn Levine
5:30 pm: Yizkor Service*
6:30 pm: Neilah Service*
* = Childcare is available in our classrooms during these services for registered attendees.
** = These services will be in person only.
High Holy Day Leaders
Rabbi Cynthia Minster
Rabbi Minster earned a BA in Peace & Justice Studies from Wellesley College (2000), and an MA in Rabbinical Studies from the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, where she was also ordained (2022). Her thesis title was “Internal Growth, Human Relationships, and Reaching Towards God: The Concurrent Development of Ethics & Mysticism in Early Modern Jewish Texts.” Her work breaks new ground in explaining how mysticism forms the philosophical basis for the development of ethics. This exploration creates a clear basis for a modern, progressive approach to Judaism.
Cantor Star Trompetor, Soloist
Cantor Star A. Trompeter was ordained as a Cantor in 2010 from HUC–JIR, New York, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. She also received her Master of Sacred Music from HUC–JIR, her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and her Bachelor of Arts in Music and French Language and Literature from the University of Virginia. She has served as the Cantor at Temple Israel in Columbus, OH, as the Senior Cantor at Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua, NY, and she most recently served as Senior Cantor for Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, TX. Cantor Trompeter is very excited to be joining the Temple Israel of Alameda community for High Holy Days this coming season.
Jenn Levine, Educator
Ms. Jenn has been a Jewish Educator for 18 years. She began her career in family education in Ann Arbor, MI. She moved with her family to California in 2008, and continued working in Jewish education focusing on Hebrew, and Judaics grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. Ms. Jenn has been one of our Hebrew teachers for the last 7 years. For the last 4 years, her children Jacob and Miriam Levine have joined her on Thursdays to teach Hebrew. Ms. Jenn is passionate about Jewish education, and creates an inclusive, engaging and unconventional classroom environment for her students.
Melita Silberstein, Tot Services Leader
Melita Silberstein is a singer/songwriter, folk musician, childrens’ performer, and ceremonial song-leader based out of Berkeley, CA. She is the founding member of Octopretzel, a popular Bay Area band for kids, and has also recorded and/or co-produced a number of CDs in the realms of both singer-songwriter contemporary folk as well as childrens’ music.
REGISTRATION & ABOUT COVID
You must register to attend. Our Covid policies have evolved over time like other places. Given the high vaccination rate in our county, proof of vaccination is no longer required, however, we continue to require the wearing of a face mask to protect attendees. Covid is also causing us to limit the amount of food we traditionally serve during this time of year. Thank you for understanding.
If attending online, you will need a Zoom account and we will need your email address so you receive the service links a few days before the holidays.
Registration is not required to watch over Facebook, but you will need to join our TI Temple Talk group first.
TASHLICH
Monday, September 26th - meet in front of the temple at 3:15 pm. Together, we'll walk to the trail along the nearby lagoon. After the service, we encourage you to come back to temple and attend the Youth Service with us, even if you do not have a young child in your household. It's a fun service!
Small bags of birdseed will be given to you at the site.
If you are unable to join us, you are encouraged to have your own service at a time and body of water of your choosing.
CHILD CARE
As listed above, child care will be available for attendees during the select services noted above with an asterisk. After checking in at our welcome table, enter the courtyard through our side gate to our classrooms and play area. If your child is old enough, we ask that you also email proof of their Covid vaccination status to office@templeisraelalameda.org. Have them come wearing a mask to be safe.
PARKING
Parking is free in the lot in front of the temple. Give yourself extra time to park and stop by our welcome table. Parking passes will be sent to Temple Israel members.