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.

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.

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.  

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.