HIGH HOLY DAYS
Shana Tova,
As the shofar rings out, the observance of the High Holy Days for 5786/2025 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.
Rabbi Paul Steinberg and Cantor Naomi Weiss will lead our Beit Am services, 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 Saul Kaye again as our leader in Musical Meditation Services and our Musical Meditation Band, Surya Prakasha, Dan Feiszli and Brian Rice. As we enter into and move through the Days of Awe, Saul Kaye 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 Integrated Child and Family Services, Family and Youth Services and Teen Experiences are being led by Jonathan Emanuel, our Director of Education, and Cantor Shira Steinberg. Join them for a holiday experience that will be fun and meaningful for the whole family. We will lead the community in song, prayer and storytelling, and present the essence of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in a way that is relatable to children 10 years old and under.
In addition to a service, there will be spaces available for both tweens (10-13) and teens (14-18), with games, activities and place to hang out with your synagogue friends!
Please join us.
Rabbi Paul Steinberg,
Senior Rabbi
Click here for the full schedule of services.
Notes: While your children are welcome in services and we hope they will join if they are able, we are offering childcare for children ages 18 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 $70 per child, per day. Advance registration is required and payment due at registration, please no drop-ins.
HIGH HOLIDAYS 5786/2025
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SELIHOT: Saturday, September 13
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Erev Rosh Hashanah: Monday, SEPTEMBER 22
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Rosh Hashanah: TuesDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
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Rosh Hashanah Day 2: WEDNEsday, September 24
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Kol Nidrei: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
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Yom Kippur: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
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Sukkot: October 6 - 13
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Shemini Atzeret: October 14
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Simchat Torah: OctOBER 15
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 joined Kol Shofar in 2022. 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.
Jonathan Emanuel
Jonathan Emanuel has been an educator and program provider for over 25 years, working in both formal and informal settings, Jewish and secular. He has served as a Camp Director, Program Director, and has created several leadership programs for teens and young Jewish leaders. Jonathan grew up in the East Bay and has a BA in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz. He spent time studying text and mysticism at Yeshivat Shalom Rav in Tsfat, Israel, and holds a master’s degree in Jewish Education from Gratz College in Philadelphia, PA. He has served as the Director of Teen Services for the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, supervising programming and educational resources for a program serving over 1000 Jewish teens. Jonathan served as Director of Education at Sherith Israel in San Francisco and has been a Jewish Studies teacher to the Middle School at Brandeis Marin Day School in San Rafael, CA. Jonathan also served as the Director of Youth Education and Family Engagement at Kol Shofar From 2011 to 2017 and is thrilled to be returing. Jonathan lives in San Anselmo with his wife, Cara, his son, Judah, and his puppy, Bazzy.
Saul Kaye
Saul Kaye has been playing piano since five and guitar since the age of 12. He attended Berklee College of Music and UC Berkeley. He taught music privately and in group settings for 12 years after music school. He has released 10 full-length CDs under his name and produced 6 for other Artists. He has authored three books and performs 100 shows and services per year in the Jewish world. He hosts THE HOLY SPARKS PODCAST, a podcast that showcases people doing amazing work in the Jewish world and beyond. Saul has led Shabbat Services and High Holiday Services for 20 years. He loves combining Torah, music, meditation, t’fliah, and community and is looking forward to this year at Kol Shofar.
The Kol Shofar Musical Meditation Band
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.
Dan Feiszli
Dan is a bassist and recording engineer / producer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. A versatile performer on both upright and electric basses, Dan has performed on concert stages, festivals and clubs nationally and internationally with a diverse group of artists, ranging from jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer, singer Kenny Washington and guitarist Ray Obiedo, to the San Francisco and Puerto Rico performances of the musical Hamilton, and as a guest jazz bassist with the San Francisco Symphony. In addition to his career as a performer, Dan has been featured on hundreds of recordings as both bassist and recording engineer/producer, and currently can be found working at his own studio in El Cerrito as well as freelancing at studios around the Bay Area.
Ketivah v’hatima tovah
