Sound the Shofar: High Holy Days at Bonai Shalom

Soon, Jews across the world will experience the gamut of emotions that flood the 10 days encompassing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These are the Yomim Noraim, the Days of Awe, the Days of Repentance, the path of Teshuvah.

At Bonai Shalom, Boulder’s egalitarian Conservative shul, the shofar will sound as hundreds of our families gather for extended and expanded services at both our home at 1527 Cherryvale Rd., and at nearby Naropa’s Nalanda campus at 6287 Arapahoe Ave.

This year, like those in the past, we will offer a wide variety of services for our members, including many family-oriented services and youth activities (please note that Bonai child care and youth programs for the High Holy Days are now closed to registration).

We begin the sacred progression with Erev Rosh Hashanah services at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4 at Naropa. Among the notable events scheduled are Tashlich, a symbolic “casting off” of spiritual burdens. This will take place at Bonai, beside the waters of South Boulder Creek, on Thursday, September 5 after Kiddush lunch, at approximately 3 p.m.

Another unique aspect of Bonai’s High Holy Day observances are the free alternative classes offered to participants on Yom Kippur, during the break between the end of Musaf prayers at approximately 2:30 p.m., and Mincha services, which begin at 5 p.m., on Yom Kippur Day (Saturday, September 14). Choices range from yoga to meditation to learning about the divine feminine in Judaism to understanding the emotional process of Teshuvah (“returning,” repentance).

A special project is our annual Kol Nidre food drive . Congregation Bonai Shalom collects non-perishable food items to be donated to Community Food Share. This year, the drive is being coordinated by our wonderful B’nei Mitzvah class. Please bring your non-perishable food items to Naropa when you enter Kol Nidre services. Items will be donated after Yom Kippur. Most needed items (please, no expired goods, home-canned products, or unsealed bulk food): Canned fruit, tuna, 100-percent fruit juice, peanut butter, cold and hot cereals, and pasta sauce.

Check our website for the posting of our High Holidays service book, which contains not only all the details for the High Holy Days, but contains extensive information about us, including all of our service organizations, adult education programs, upcoming events such as our popular First Friday series of guests, our Scholar-in-Residence program, and much more!

There are so many ways to get involved with Bonai, and with Jewish life in our region. We are fortunate to enjoy a wide range of different practices in our community, with mutual respect and communication between them all. What better time to start than at the head of the year?

 

High Holidays – The Dates and Times

Rosh HaShanah

9/4 — Erev Rosh Hashanah

Ma’ariv Service – 6:30 p.m.

Candle lighting – 7:11 p.m.

 

9/5 – 1st Day Rosh Hashanah

Services – 8:30 a.m.

Torah Service — approximately 10 a.m.

Sermon — approximately 11:45 a.m.

Family Musaf Services at Bonai Shalom at approximately 12.15 p.m.

Full Kiddush lunch at Bonai following services

Tashlich – 3 p.m. by the creek at Bonai Shalom

 

9/6 — 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah

Services – 8:30 a.m.

Torah Service — approximately 10 a.m.

Shelanu Family Service for children 0-5 and their parents – 10:45 a.m.

Sermon — approximately 11:45 a.m.

Family Musaf Services at Bonai Shalom at approximately 12:15 p.m.

Full Kiddush lunch at Bonai following services

 

Yom Kippur

9/13 — Kol Nidre Ma’ariv – 6:30 p.m.

Fast begins/Candle lighting — 6.56 p.m.

 

9/14 — Yom Kippur Morning — 8.30 a.m.

Torah Service – approximately 10:30 a.m.

Yizkor — approximately 11:15 a.m.

Sermon — approximately noon.

Family Musaf Services at Bonai Shalom at approximately 1 p.m.

Classes — 3.30 to 5 p.m.

Mincha — 5 p.m.

Neila — 6.15 p.m.

Fast Ends — 7.53 p.m.