HIGH HOLY DAYS
As the shofar rings out, the observance of the High Holy Days for 5784/2023 is an embrace of prayer, reflection, music, learning, and community. Recognizing differences in the ways that prayer is meaningful, cleansing and inspirational, Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur services may be experienced in either the centuries old traditions of tefilah or through services rooted in musical meditation.
Our Beit Am services will be again led by Rabbi Paul Steinberg and Cantor Naomi Weiss lifting our prayers in music. These more traditional services speak to the deepest needs and values of worship. Rosh Hashanah opens the door to the Jewish new year and is the beginning of the Days of Awe, ten days of reflection and repentance. Kol Nidrei, with its somber prayers and practices is the evening service beginning Yom Kippur. The services of Yom Kippur include our healing service, Minha Service, Ne’ilah Service, the Final Shofar and the joy and celebration of our community Break the Fast.
We are excited to welcome Rabbi Arik Labowitz again this year as our leader in Musical Meditation Services and our Musical Meditation Band, Surya Prakasha, Dave Rosenstein and Brian Rice. As we enter into and move through the Days of Awe, Rabbi Arik will lead this emotional and spiritual experience with distinctive liturgical melodies. Throughout the services, we reach into the soulful depths of tradition through melody and song to unlock the emotional connection to prayer that burns deep in our spirit.
Our young family services, K-6 and Teen Experience are all being led by Rabbi Rory Katz, our new Director of Lifelong Learning, Cantor Naomi and Carla Naylor, Education & Youth Manager.
Please join us. Click here for the full schedule of services.
Notes: We are offering childcare for children ages 6 months - 5 years following our Young Family Service on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. Your child(ren) will be cared for by our very own Grove Preschool teachers, in our own Grove Preschool classrooms and play yards. Cost is $50 per child, per day. Advance registration is required and payment due at registration, please no drop-ins.
HIGH HOLIDAYS 5784/2023
Click here for full schedule
Selihot: Saturday, September 9
Family Picnic: Friday, September 15
Erev Rosh Hashanah: Friday, September 15
Rosh Hashanah: Saturday, September 16
Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Sunday, September 17
Kol Nidrei: Sunday, September 24
Yom Kippur: Monday, September 25
Sukkot: September 30 - October 7
Shemini Atzeret: October 7
Simhat Torah: October 7 and 8
High Holiday Services Leadership
Rabbi Paul Steinberg
A nationally recognized transformational spiritual leader and educator, Rabbi Paul Steinberg is dedicated to building the Jewish community by nurturing personal relationships, cultivating Jewish values through life-long learning, and engaging congregants in life-affirming, joyful expression. Rabbi Steinberg joined Kol Shofar in 2017 and began his pastoral duties at Kol Shofar in 2018. Read Rabbi Steinberg’s full bio here.
Cantor Naomi Weiss
Cantor Naomi Weiss is excited to lead the traditional High Holy Day services this year with Rabbi Paul Steinberg. She has 15 years of experience leading traditional High Holy Day services at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago and Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, IL. She has a passion for creating community, making the b’nei mitzvah experience positive and rewarding for our children, and connecting with all generations. Read Cantor Weiss’ full bio here.
Rabbi Rory Katz
Rory Katz is a rabbi, spiritual leader, and educator who believes in building intergenerational Jewish communities where everyone is a learner and every voice is valued. For over a decade, she has led family services that engage the heart, body, mind and soul. While she honors the traditional liturgy, she also loves to incorporate storytelling, song, games and age-appropriate conversation and debate. Before joining Kol Shofar, Rabbi Rory served as the sole spiritual leader of a synagogue in Baltimore, Maryland. She received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.
Rabbi Arik Labowitz
Rabbi Arik Labowitz is a passionate teacher, musician, and service leader. He comes from a diverse Jewish background and brings together wisdom from eastern and western traditions to create meaningful, soulful, and accessible Jewish experiences. Arik has spent the past two decades serving Jewish communities along the West Coast. He has been a guest leader of the Kol Neshama Minyan since 2007 and is delighted to be joining Kol Shofar this year for the High Holy Days as well as the monthly Kol Neshama Minyan.
Carla Naylor
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Carla went to JCC Preschool and Brandies Marin, where the importance of a Jewish education was instilled at a young age. In college, Carla was very involved with SF Hillel while attending San Francisco State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with BA in Sociology, minoring in sexuality studies. Most recently, she worked with Jewish youth as the Marin regional Koret Fellow for Jewish Family and Childcare’s Services, focused on positive youth development, Jewish service learning and community engagement. Carla fully believes that everyone is built and supported by their community, and Judaism is the light that brings us all together with purpose and emunah (faith). Carla is close with her big family, has adorable pets, loves listening to podcasts and reading, and reliving her theater-kid days with singing and a dance class!
The Kol Shofar Musical Meditation Band
David Rosenfeld
David Rosenfeld is a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in Eastern European folk music. In addition to playing music for services, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and weddings, he teaches private music lessons and composes for radio and film.
(Learn more about david@creativityisvital.com.)
Surya Prakasha
Surya Prakasha started drumming in 1991 after enrolling in a high school world music course and fell in love with music from different parts of the globe. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He has studied African diaspora percussion with Santeria priests Adenike Sharpley and Adetobi Greg Jackson. He has also studied African-American music history and composition with Wendell Logan. Learn more about Surya at https://www.suryamusiclessons.com.
Brian Rice
Brian Rice is a renowned percussionist with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Ethnomusicology from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Brian is an acclaimed performer, educator, and recording artist adept at numerous musical styles ranging from classical and jazz to Latin, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian to contemporary and experimental music.
Ketivah v’hatima tovah
