HHD 5786

The High Holy Days are rapidly approaching. Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday, September 22 and we are looking forward to once again being back together in the tent for services. We return with our clergy and welcome the many new members of our temple community along with all of the familiar faces.

The High Holy Days give us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and re-dedicate ourselves to the work of improving ourselves, our community, and the world. For centuries, this season has served to empower, comfort, and renew our people amidst the pain, chaos, and joy of our personal and communal lives. This year is no different.

Our High Holy Days services will be held in person in our tent on the temple lawn. Every service will also be available for viewing via Zoom for those who choose to join us from home. Access to all High Holy Day services is included in temple membership for Woodlands member households in good standing. To be considered in good standing, the household must have made a Supporting Woodlands, Together membership pledge for 5785 (2025-2026). If you have a concern or are unsure of your membership status, please contact the temple office at wct@wct.org.

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Family Services are open to all ages and are free of charge, although donations are always welcome.

For congregants who might prefer being indoors but still want to observe the holidays on temple grounds, we’ve added a large screen in the sanctuary for the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur Day that will livestream the services as they are happening. We hope this will also help some of our members who want to be praying in community in their spiritual home but not be in the tent itself.

High Holy Days (HHD) Schedule

Please note- services are in the tent unless indicated

Selichot, Sat, Sep 13 (in Sanctuary)
Yoga, Meditation, and Prayer, 6:30 pm
Service, 8 pm

Rosh Hashanah Evening, Mon, Sep 22, 8 pm
Evening Service
Teen Service (7-12 grades) (in the Sanctuary)

Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Tue, Sep 23
Morning Service, 10 am
All-Ages Family Service, 2 pm
Tashlich Service, 4 pm (at the Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park)

Rosh Hashanah Day 2, Wed, Sep 24 (in the Sanctuary)
Morning Service, 10 am

Shabbat Shuva, Fri, Sep 26, 7 pm (in the Sanctuary)

Kol Nidre, Wed, Oct 1, 8:00 pm
Evening Service
Teen Service (7-12 grades) (in the Sanctuary)

Yom Kippur, Thu, Oct 2
Morning Service, 10 am
Yom Kippur Learning, 1:00 to 2:30 pm (in the Meeting Room)
All-Ages Family Service, 1:15 pm
Yizkor Service, 3 pm
Afternoon Service, 4:30 pm
Neilah Service, 5:30 pm

HHD Family Services

Family Services are specially prepared to engage our temple families with children (grades 6 and below) as well as members of the community. There is singing, laughter, and the special participation of our temple teens! Be sure to spread the word about these free services that are open to the public and give folks a great taste of what Woodlands is all about.

HHD Guests

Guests of members and non-members are welcome to join us for High Holy Days worship services for a suggested donation of $500 per service. Please visit wct.org/HHDGuest to sign up.

Non-members who wish to register for only the Yizkor service may do so for a suggested donation of $36.

Yizkor Book of Remembrance

The WCT Yizkor Book (Book of Remembrance) is a cherished tradition in our community. Each year, member households are invited to submit the names of loved ones they wish to honor during Yizkor, a sacred time of remembrance in Jewish life. These names are printed in our Book of Remembrance, which is distributed at the Yom Kippur Yizkor service.

It is customary to honor the memory of those we’ve lost by giving tzedakah (charitable giving). The suggested donation that accompanies your submission fulfills this meaningful tradition.

May the memories of your loved ones continue to be a source of blessing.

Please click here for more information and to submit your Yizkor Book information.

Prayer Books

Our clergy recommend that service participants have Mishkan HaNefesh, our High Holy Day makhzor (prayerbook) available to follow along during online services. There are a few different ways to access books both electronically or in hard copies.

Click here to order a digital copy.
Click here to buy your own hard copies from CCAR.
Woodlands members may borrow hard copies of the book from the temple. Email the office to reserve a copy at wct@wct.org. Copies must be picked up by September 8.

High Holy Days Food Project

High Holy Days Food Collection
Local food pantries continue to be in crisis. Please help us to help our neighbors who are food insecure by bringing nourishing non-perishable foods to the food van at the temple between Kol Nidre (10/1) and the beginning of Neilah (10/2). Those who will be attending services online may drop off their donations at the temple during the week between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – collection box inside temple. Volunteers are also needed to accept foods on Yom Kippur– sign up at http://wct.org/foodvansignup. To help deliver collected foods to the pantries, click here to sign up. Look for the list of foods needed at http://wct.org/foodvan – and check to see that the foods are not past or near their expiration dates. If you are donating canned goods, please look for pop-tops wherever possible. In lieu of – or in addition to – bringing food, we welcome your contributions of supermarket gift cards (Stop & Shop, ShopRite, etc) in denominations no larger than $25.

WCT Food Cart
A food cart sits at the guard desk as a collection center for local food pantries and specific projects in which we are involved. Your monthly participation is invited – just check dates on donated foods. In September, we are collecting low-sugar cereal boxes, soft granola bars, juice boxes, and fruit cups.

Feeding Westchester
While the memory of these Holy Days lingers, please take time to write a check to Feeding Westchester (formerly Food Bank for Westchester). Your donation of $36 or more will help alleviate hunger in 300 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters throughout Westchester. Send donations to 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. Donate online at feedingwestchester.org.

Parking Information

Help us make this year's High Holy Days wonderful for everyone by following our parking instructions.

The WCT parking lot will be saved for those who need accessible parking. You will be able to park at St. Joe's (in the upper lot spots). You may also park on Don Lane, Biltom Rd, and Drake Rd, but not on Whitehouse Rd or Balmoral Crescent. Parking is not permitted on the street directly in front of the temple.

Please click here for a detailed map of parking locations.

Remember to observe the No Parking signs. Greenburgh Police patrol these streets and will ticket (or even tow) cars not parked properly.

Bookplates

It is a time-honored Jewish tradition to make tzedakah contributions in honor or in memory of our loved ones. Now, donations to Woodlands Community Temple can be recognized with inscribed bookplates, placed permanently in a copy of Mishkan HaNefesh praybooks. Your donation will help to maintain our prayer books, and each bookplate will recognize your generosity.