Home > Worship > High Holy Days 2023
We are excited to offer worship opportunities at Temple, the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center (JBSC), and virtually on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
Watch Rabbi Miller & Rabbi Schmelkin’s Rosh HaShanah Sermons
Schedule | Ticketing | Parking | Volunteer & Tributes | Accessibility & Assistance | Additional Details
* Who will deliver the sermon at the service.
Clergy Key: SS (Rabbi Susan Shankman), ADM (Rabbi Aaron Miller), ELF (Rabbi Eliana Fischel), RLS (Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin), SAB (Cantor Susan Bortnick), SH (Cantor Suzanne Hamstra), HA (Songleader Haley Amdur)
Please note that we have separate order forms for members and guests.
Emails will be sent to all members in good standing with links to reserve tickets for this year’s High Holy Days, order guest tickets, and update your memorial book entry. If you don’t receive this email, please email seatingoffice@whctemple.org.
If you need help navigating our new ticketing system, watch this video tutorial.
Once you complete your selections, you will receive an email confirmation. Please print your this email or save it somewhere easy to access on your phone. When you arrive at Temple or JBSC for services, simply check in with one of our helpful staff members, and you’ll be all set. If you can’t find your confirmation email, no worries! Just come to the Will Call table when you arrive!
ORDER NON-MEMBER TICKETS
Non-member ticket video tutorial.
Want to learn more about becoming a WHC member? Contact Jennifer Millstone.
High Holy Day tickets are included in your WHC membership for those listed on your household account. Your household is defined as two primary adult contacts and any children under the age of 30.
Temple members whose accounts are current are welcome to reserve one ticket for each member in their household for any service. New for 2023 — If you are a single-member household, you may add one additional ticket at no extra charge.
Example: If a household of four selects Erev Rosh HaShanah, Rosh HaShanah Day, and a Preschool service, they will have four tickets reserved for each service.
Many of the services at Temple will be livestreamed. See the schedule above for which ones you can watch.
Watch the Livestream
Once each service ends, it will also be available on-demand on our YouTube page.
Watch Rabbi Miller & Rabbi Schmelkin’s sermons from Rosh HaShanah
We welcome friends and extended family of WHC members and members of the greater community to join us at any or all of our High Holy Day services. Tickets for non-members and guests are $180 per person, per holiday. Those ages 22-39 may purchase individual service tickets at a subsidized rate of $25 each. Children under age 6 are free. Ticket holders may attend services at either location.
The member ticket form will include an option for you to use your Historic Seats. If you have any questions, please call the Temple office at 202-362-7100 or email seatingoffice@whctemple.org.
We will miss you! Many of our services will be available on our livestream so you can follow along wherever you are. See the schedule above for which services will be online.
As a member in good standing, you are eligible to request seating at another URJ Reform congregation. Use the URJ’s Reciprocal Request Form or call 202-362-7100 for assistance.
WHC will continue its annual tradition of collecting canned and non-perishable foods to help those in our area struggling with hunger and food insecurity. We will distribute bags during Rosh HaShanah services that can be filled and brought back to Temple on Yom Kippur (or anytime leading up to Yom Kippur.)
You are also welcome to drop off donations at any time leading up to Yom Kippur during normal business hours at either JBSC or Temple.
Donations from this year’s drive will benefit Nourish Now and N Street Village.
First impressions are so important.
Our Greeters ensure that each person feels very welcomed in our communal spaces and that every member recognizes they belong at WHC.
Belonging to a synagogue is about creating a community and building lifelong relationships. We embrace the Jewish value of kavod — dignity — which guides us to create a culture of respect from the moment anyone enters our spaces.
We celebrate the diversity of all the individuals and families who call WHC home.
Apply to be a Greeter
Our High Holy Day machzor (prayer book) is Mishkan HaNefesh.
At Temple & JBSC, we have prayer books for you to use when you come for services. If you have your own copies, you are invited to bring them.
Interested in ordering prayer books?
Our religion gives us the opportunity to honor a long life with the beautiful custom of celebrating a second (or first!) B’nei Mitzvah when a person turns 83.
If you celebrated or will celebrate your 83rd birthday between Yom Kippur 2021 (10/5/22) and this Yom Kippur (9/25/23), we invite you to read the Torah blessings with us during our morning Congregational Services on Yom Kippur – safely from your seat at Temple, JBSC, or home! To participate in this aliyah, please contact Becca Rosenblum, rrosenblum@whctemple.org, or call 202-895-6307.
On Rosh HaShanah day, we have a wonderful tradition of reading the names of all the babies and children who have come into the lives of our Temple families during the past year.
If you welcomed a new child or grandchild after Rosh HaShanah 2022 (9/25/22) and would like us to include them in this reading, please contact Becca Rosenblum, rrosenblum@whctemple.org, or call 202-895-6307, with their name and date of birth.
The deadline for Memorial Book submissions is August 24.
Members can adjust their listing, or create one if they never had one in the past, using their High Holy Day Ticket Order Form.
Questions? Contact Lindsay Feldman at lfeldman@whctemple.org.
Limited accessible parking is available at both JBSC and Temple on a first-come, first-served basis. Please have your valid parking tag or placard to show our staff upon arrival.
At Temple, there is a chair glide at the parking lot entrance. Our restrooms and worship spaces are all accessible.
At JBSC, the main entrance is wheelchair accessible, and for anyone attending the outdoor Erev Rosh HaShanah service, there is a ramp located through the lunchroom that will take you directly outside to the worship area.
We will also have designated seating reserved at both JBSC and Temple for those with special needs. When you arrive for services, please see an usher who can direct you.
We will have licensed paramedics on hand at both Temple and JBSC just in case there is a need.
ASL interpretation is available upon request for any service or Study Session (in-person or via livestream) with at least two weeks’ notice. Closed Captioning is also available on our livestream. Please contact Rich Gordon, rgordon@whctemple.org, with any questions.
We will have ASL interpretation for the following services
At Temple, Kaufmann Sanctuary, Albert & Shirley Small Chapel, and Irwin & Ginny Edlavitch Hall are equipped with infrared listening systems. Wireless headphones needed to utilize the systems are available in Hurston Library.
For services at Temple, large print prayer books are available in Hurston Library.
For services at JBSC, large print prayer books are available in the Teen Lounge.
