Yo, Jews: High Holy Days Guide For The Synagogue-Less

You know how it kind of costs like a bazillion dollars to be Jewish? Yeah, well it does.

First of all: there are eight nights of Chanukkah, meaning you need to get at least eight presents for everyone; second of all: if you want to celebrate the Jewish holidays (at least the big ones) you have to be a member of a synagogue, which costs thousands of dollars, and then you have to have tickets, which costs hundreds of dollars. Third of all: all Jews like to stay in nice hotels, so that gets expensive. I'm not sure why, but it's just a fact.

Anyway, the High Holy Days kick of this week with Rosh Hashanah, so we put together a handy guide for those of you chosen peeps who want to celebrate the Jewish new year but don't have any place to go. Happy 5772, y'all!

BROOKLYN OPTIONS:

Brooklyn Jews "will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah in the Prospect Park picnic house and Yom Kippur in the social hall at Congregation Beth Elohim. Each year, Brooklyn Jews brings together hundreds of people, from varying backgrounds and experiences. Join Brooklyn Jews, led by rabbinic students Marc Katz and Jennifer Gubitz, to welcome the new year 5772. BYOK&T (bring your own kippah and tallit!).

You can RSVP here.

Brooklyn Jews is a program sponsored by Congregation Beth Elohim, founded as an open resource to the entire community."

Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives "welcomes one and all to its open High Holy Day services in Park Slope. You don’t need tickets and attendance is free, although donations are encouraged. For the first time in our 18-year history, we will have two evening services to accommodate as many people as possible. There will be more room at the earlier services. For more information see our brochure by clicking  on the Holydays picture on our homepage.

Please RSVP here and let us know which evening service you will attend.

Kolot Chayeinu is a progressive Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, where doubt can be an act of faith and all hands are needed to build our community. As individuals of varying sexual orientations, gender identities, races, family arrangements, and Jewish identities and backgrounds, we share a commitment to the search for meaningful expressions of our Judaism in today’s uncertain world."

Ohel Ayalah "offers a free, walk-in service to meet the needs of many Jews, in particular young Jews, who do not have a place to pray on the High Holidays. The service will be egalitarian — both men and women will lead –­ and traditional. The prayers will be chanted in Hebrew, their language of composition, but there will be interspersed English explanations, comments, and readings."

Services are held at the Brooklyn Lyceum, and the schedule can be found here.

The Greenpoint Shul doesn't even care if you wear jeans (according to Brokelyn). "Please join us once again for the  High Holiday Services.  Experience meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services under the leadership of our esteemed Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum. As always, services are free of charge but due to the limited seating capacities and for organizational purposes we would like to ask you to sign up for a free eTicket." (via Brokelyn)

MANHATTAN OPTIONS:

East Side Synagogue "welcomes young professionals, singles, (20s, 30s, 40s and above) empty nesters, young families/couples, intermarried, beginners, people interested in Judaism, seniors, students, Russian Jews or anyone else—all are invited! No tickets or reservations are required for admission."

Services are held at All Souls Sanctuary, 1157 Lexington Ave. More info is here.

CONGREGATION BEIT SIMCHA TORAH “CBST is a powerful voice within Judaism in the world-wide discourse on the nature of religious community and in the movement to secure basic civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States and throughout the world. Founded in 1973 by forward thinking gay Jews, and currently led by Senior Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Assistant Rabbi Rachel Weiss, CBST is the largest LGBT synagogue in the world…CBST has an open door - all are welcome to join us for the High Holy Days, free of charge.”

 

Pre-registration is required. For the list is service times and locations click here.