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High Holidays Celebrated By Local Jewish Families


Local residents of the Jewish faith celebrate the High Holidays with their families by enjoying festive meals and attending services at their synagogues. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It begins on the first day of Tishrei during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in September or October.

Traditional meals include sweet foods welcoming a sweet new year. Apples dipped in honey, challah (egg twist bread) sometimes with raisins are served.

Families wish each other “shana tova,” meaning “A good/happy year.”

It is a time for introspection, repentance and celebration. A time for blowing and hearing the shofar (a ram’s horn).

Yom Kippur is regarded as the day of atonement. On this holiest day of the year, it is customary for Jewish people to pray in the synagogue and fast for 24 hours. This is the day when Jewish people collectively and individually confess their sins, as well as seek and offer forgiveness.

The following events are slated for Jewish congregations in the Northwest suburbs. This is only a small sample of what is available. Reservations are needed to participate and fees may be higher during the services.

Rabbi Lazer Hershkovich of Chabad & F.R.E.E. of Niles said Jewish families are welcoming in the Jewish Year 5780. Traditional Rosh Hashana services were held on Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Feldman Park, 8800 Kathy Lane in Des Plaines. Children’s High Holidays were also held on Monday and Tuesday and the Rosh Hashana experience and shofar sounding were held on Tuesday night at 9243 Aspen Lane, Des Plaines. Rabbis of this community include Rabbi N. Hershkovich and Rabbi B. Scheiman.

Congregation Ahavat Olam gathers on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. for Shabbat services at Emerald Place, 1879 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview. Cantor Joanna Lind joined Rabbi-Cantor Nancy Diamond Landsman at participatory, musical and uplifting High Holy Day services. The congregation met in September for their Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.

Rabbi Bellows, Congregation Beth Am, 1370 Abbott Court, Buffalo Grove. A Rosh Hashanah Family Service was held on Sept. 29 at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center. An Evening Service, Traditional Worship and Contemporary Worship was also offered.

Yom Kippur Schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. 

Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Family Worship

This worship is designed for families with young children and is open to the community.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 8:15 p.m.

Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Evening Service

Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 9 a.m.

Yom Kippur Traditional Service

This worship opportunity offers traditional High Holy Day melodies and the Adult Choir. The service is geared for adults and young adults sixth grade and up. Concurrent with this service is the K-fifth grade Children’s Program and Worship.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 11:45 a.m.

Yom Kippur Contemporary & Yizkor Service

This worship opportunity offers a contemporary liturgical and musical style with Tefillah (prayer) Band accompaniment and is open to adults and young adults 6th grade and up. The Yizkor service will be offered at the conclusion of this service.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.

Yom Kippur Afternoon, Yizkor and Neilah Worship

Rabbi Marc J. Belgrad, B’Chavana, PO Box 7608, Buffalo Grove

Yom Kippur

Kol Nidre – Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Morning Service & Yizkor – Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Afternoon Service – Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m.

Note Location: Kingswood United Methodist Church, 401 W. Dundee Rd., Buffalo Grove

Note: B’Chavana does not provide childcare. Tickets are non-refundable.

Rabbi Eliezer Grunberg, BAY Shul – Bait Ahavat Yisroel

Jewish Heritage Center

314 N. McHenry Rd., 2d floor, Buffalo Grove, in Buffalo Grove Town Center

Tuesday, Oct. 8 – Erev Yom Kippur

Shacharis – 6:15 a.m.

Mincha – 1:45 p.m.

Blessing of the Children

Kol Nidre – 6 p.m.

Candle Lighting – 6:01 p.m.

Dvar Torah – 6:40 p.m. followed by Ma’ariv – 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 – Yom Kippur

Shacharis – 8:30 a.m.

Yizkor – 12 p.m.

Musaf Ends 2:45 p.m.

Mincha – 4:25 p.m.

Neilah – 5:50 p.m.

Ma’ariv/Yom Tov ends – 7:10 p.m.

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