DC High Holiday Guide 2019

DC is low-key the best place to celebrate the High Holidays as a young professional.

See list below for evidence.

So, whether you’re looking for a Jewish New Year writing workshop, a Reform Rosh Hashanah service at a synagogue, a Yom Kippur conversation with Justice Kagan, or anything in between – this list has it.

Here’s how to use it…

1. Explore the list of events below. This list will be updated regularly, so check back often.
2. Email us info@gatherdc.org if you’re not sure which event is right for you, don’t see anything you like, and/or want a friendly face to go with.
3. Add any High Holiday events for Jewish 20s/30s across the DMV that you know, but don’t see listed.
4. If you need a ticket for a service, but it’s sold out OR if you bought a ticket and no longer need it – use our High Holiday Ticket Exchange!
5. Looking for discounted or even free services? EntryPointDC has reduced ticket rates for young professionals for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

High Holiday Prep

• Tuesday, September 3rd

  • 7:00pm – Elul Writing Workshop: Entering the Jewish New Year with Intention
  • 7:30pm – Elul Beit Midrash @ Kesher Israel

• Wednesday, September 4th

  • 6:30pm – New Year, New Beginnings: Seeing Sacred Possibility in our Work Transitions

• Thursday, September 5th

  • 8:00pm – The Den: Theology of the High Holy Days

• Sunday, September 8th

  • 4:00pm – With Intention: A HerTorah High Holiday Summit

• Tuesday, September 10th

  • 7:00pm – Elul Writing Workshop: Entering the Jewish New Year with Intention
  • 7:30pm – Adas Israel High Holy Day Prep Class with Rabbi Elianna Yolkut
  • 7:30pm – Elul Beit Midrash @ Kesher Israel
  • 7:30pm – The Den: Parashah Study: Themes of the High Holy Days

• Sunday, September 15th

  • 10:00am – The Den: Inside/Out Meditation & Learning

• Tuesday, September 17th

  • 7:00pm – Elul Writing Workshop: Entering the Jewish New Year with Intention
  • 7:30pm – Adas Israel High Holy Day Prep Class with Rabbi Elianna Yolkut
  • 7:30pm – Elul Beit Midrash @ Kesher Israel
  • 7:30pm – Seasons & Reasons: Fall Holidays

• Wednesday, September 18th

  • 7:00pm – Rami Jewish Learning for the New Year @ Moishe House NoVA

• Thursday, September 19th

  • 7:30pm – The Den: Knead to Know: High Holy Day Edition

• Saturday, September 21st

  • 1:00pm – Shabbat High Holy Day Halakhah w/ Rabbi Alexander
  • 7:00pm – Selichot: Preparing for the Jewish New Year
  • 9:00pm – Adas Israel Selichot Program and Services

• Sunday, September 22nd

  • 11:30am – Apple Picking with Moishe House Bethesda
  • 3:00pm – Align: Preparing for the Jewish New Year

• Tuesday, September 24th

  • 6:00pm – GatherDC’s Jewish New Year Happy Hour!
  • 7:30pm – Adas Israel Hosts An Evening of High Holy Day Niggunim
  • 7:30pm – Elul Beit Midrash @ Kesher Israel

• Wednesday, September 25th

  • 7:00pm – Apple Party w/ Moishe House Columbia Heights
  • 7:00pm – A New Year for the World @ Sixth & I

• Saturday, September 28th

  • 7:00pm – Rosh Hashana Radio: Holiday Prep from Soul to Table
  • 10:30pm – 5780 at the Lincoln Memorial

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Rosh Hashanah (September 29th – October 1st)

• Sunday, September 29th (Erev Rosh Hashanah)

  • 6:30pm – High Holiday Services with Mason Hillel in NOVA (Reform)
  • 6:30pm – Erev Rosh Hashanah with GW Hillel (Conservative, Reform)
  • 6:30pm – Erev Rosh Hashanah with Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community (Reconstructionist)
  • 6:45pm – Adas Israel Erev Rosh Hashanah Community Sunset Service (Conservative)
  • 7:00pm – Good Soul Erev Rosh Hashanah Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 7:00pm – 2239 Erev Rosh Hashanah (Reform)
  • 7:15pm – Rosh Hashanah with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)
  • 8:00pm – Storefront Erev Rosh Hashanah Services (Reform)

• Monday, September 30th (Rosh Hashanah, Day 1)

  • 8:15am – Adas Israel Morning Service (Conservative)
  • 9:00am – 2239 Rosh Hashanah Day @ 9am (Reform)
  • 9:00am – Good Soul Rosh Hashanah Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:30am – New Synagogue Project: Rosh Hashanah Services (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:30am – *SOLD OUT* Sixth & I Progressive Rosh Hashanah Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:30am – Rosh Hashanah Services at Chabad (Orthodox)
  • 6:30pm – Rosh Hashanah Services with Mason Hillel in NOVA (Reform)
  • 10:00am – Rosh Hashanah Day Services with Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community (Reconstructionist)
  • 10:30am – Rosh Hashanah First Day with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)
  • 10:30am – Rosh Hashanah Day #1 with GW Hillel (Conservative, Reform)
  • 10:30am – Rosh Hashanah Services ~ Machar The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism (Humanistic)
  • 11:30am – 2239 Rosh Hashanah Day @ 11:30am (Reform)
  • 7:30pm – Rosh Hashanah Evening with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)

• Tuesday, October 1st (Rosh Hashanah, Day 2)

  • 9:30am – Rosh Hashana Services at Chabad
  • 10:30am – Rosh Hashanah, Second Day with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)
  • 10:30am – Rosh Hashanah Day #2 with GW Hillel (Conservative)

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Yom Kippur (October 8th – 9th)

• Tuesday, October 8th (Kol Nidre)

  • 6:00pm – Adas Israel Kol Nidre Services (Conservative)
  • 6:00pm – Yom Kippur Kol Nidre with GW Hillel (Conservative, Reform)
  • 6:20pm – Kol Nidrei @ Rosh Pina DC (Orthodox)
  • 6:30pm – Good Soul Kol Nidre Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 6:30pm – New Synagogue Project Kol Nidre Services (Non-Denominational)
  • 6:30pm – *SOLD OUT* Sixth & I Progressive Kol Nidre Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 6:30pm – Kol Nidre with Mason Hillel in NOVA (Reform)
  • 6:30pm – Kol Nidre Services at Chabad (Orthodox)
  • 6:45pm – Yom Kippur Kol Nidre with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)
  • 7:00pm – Kol Nidre at Kol Ami: The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community
  • 7:30pm – Adas Israel Kol Nidre Return Again High Holy Day Worship (Conservative)
  • 8:00pm – 2239 Kol Nidre (Reform)
  • 8:00pm – Storefront Kol Nidre Service (Reform)

• Wednesday, October 9th (Yom Kippur Day)

  • 9:00am – 2239 Yom Kippur Morning @ 9am (Reform)
  • 9:00am – Adas Israel Yom Kippur Service (Conservative)
  • 9:00am – *SOLD OUT* Good Soul Yom Kippur Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:00am – Yom Kippur Day @ Rosh Pina DC (Orthodox)
  • 9:30am – *SOLD OUT* Sixth & I Progressive Yom Kippur Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:30am – GatherDC’s Alternative Yom Kippur with Rabbi Ilana (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:30am – New Synagogue Project Yom Kippur Morning Services and Yizkor/Memorial Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 9:30am – Yom Kippur Services at Chabad (Orthodox)
  • 10:00am – Yom Kippur Services with Mason Hillel in NOVA (Reform)
  • 10:00am – Yom Kippur morning services at Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community
  • 10:30am – Yom Kippur ~ Machar The Washington Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
  • 10:30am – Yom Kippur Morning with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)
  • 10:30am – Yom Kippur with GW Hillel (Conservative, Reform)
  • 11:00am – Yom Kippur Unpacked @ Adas Israel (Conservative)
  • 11:30am – 2239 Yom Kippur Morning @ 11:30am (Reform)
  • 12:30pm – A Better Yom Kippur Afternoon w/ The Jewish Studio (Non-Denominational)
  • 1:00pm – GatherDC’s Alternative Yom Kippur: Volunteer Project (SOLD OUT!)
  • 3:00pm – Adas Israel Yom Kippur Speaker, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

• Wednesday, October 9th (Ne’ilah/Break Fast)

  • 4:00pm – 2239 Yom Kippur Afternoon Service w/ Break Fast (Reform)
  • 4:45pm – Adas Israel Yom Kippur Meditation, Becoming Present with Meditation & Song (Conservative)
  • 5:15pm – Neilah and Break-the-fast at Chabad
  • 6:00pm – Yom Kippur Ne’ilah with Mesorah DC (Orthodox)
  • 6:00pm – New Synagogue Project Yom Kippur Ne’ilah/Closing Service (Non-Denominational)
  • 6:00pm – Yom Kippur with GW Hillel (Conservative, Reform)
  • 6:30pm – Ne’ilah with Mason Hillel in NOVA (Reform)
  • 7:00pm – Break the Fast with GatherDC 
  • 7:30pm – New Synagogue Project Yom Kippur Break-Fast 
  • 7:30pm – Rodef 2100 Break Fast 5780
  • 7:35pm – Young Professional Break Fast with YP@AI

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Sukkot (October 13th – 20th)

• Sunday, October 13th

  • 11:00am – Sukkah Build and Gentrification Walking Tour
  • 1:00pm – Sukkot Service Project with GatherDC
  • 3:30pm – Boozy Brunch and Sukkah Building w/ Moishe House NoVA

• Monday, October 14th

  • 8:00pm – YP Sukkot Social with Chinese Food!

• Tuesday, October 15th

• Wednesday, October 16th

  • 6:00pm – Jewish Veg Sukkot Celebration and DC Chapter Launch
  • 7:00pm – No Place Like Home: Sukkot Discussion w/ Rabbi Aaron @ Sixth & I

• Thursday, October 17th 

  • 5:30pm – Sukkot Cocktails & Jewish Walking Tour
  • 7:00pm – Dwelling Within: A Yoga Class for Sukkot
  • 7:00pm – Avodah DC Sukkot Potluck Party

• Saturday, October 19th 

  • • 12:15pm – DC Minyan Sukkah Hop
    • 7:30pm – Sips in the Sukkah w/ Moishe House Capitol Hill, Bethesda, and Northern Virginia

• Sunday, October 20th

  • Sukkot Farm Outing with the New Synagogue Project
•  

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High Holiday Inspiration

• • Blogs

    • A First Timers Guide to Hosting Rosh Hashanah Dinner (Hey Alma)
    • Black, Jewish, and Avoiding Synagogue on Yom Kippur (Leah Donnella, NPR)
    • Can We Find Joy in Vulnerable Times this Sukkot? (Rabbi Ilana Zietman, GatherDC)
    • DC Area Restaurants Celebrating the High Holidays (Washingtonian)
    • Fasting on Yom Kippur: It’s Complicated (Hey Alma)
    • Holiday Meals, The Minimalist Way (Merav Levkowitz, Jewish Food Experience)
    • How to Do Rosh Hashanah While on Keto, Paleo, and Whole 30 Diets (Arielle Kaplan, The Nosher)
    • Not Your Bubbie’s High Holiday Playlist (Michele Amira, GatherDC)
    • Rosh Hashanah Customs (My Jewish Learning)
    • Rosh Hashanah Gift Guide (Hey Alma)
    • Rosh Hashanah Guide (Joy of Kosher)
    • The Spiritual Meaning Of The Food On Your Rosh Hashanah Table (Huffington Post)
    • Yom Kippur Guide (Joy of Kosher)
    • Your 2019 High Holiday Gifting Guide (Brett Boren, GatherDC)

  • Recipes

    • A Global Rosh Hashanah Recipe Roundup (Jewish Food Experience)
    • Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Honey Frosting (The Nosher)
    • Caramelized Apple, Onion, and Cheese Blintzes (What Jew Wanna Eat)
    • Classic Challah (Jewish Food Experience)
    • Fennel Apple Salad with Cider Tahini Dressing (Tori Avery)
    • Our Favorite Apple Cakes (Jewish Food Experience)
    • Pomegranate Martini (Tori Avery)
    • Sephardic Leek Patties (Jewish Food Experience)
    • Traditional Rosh Hashanah Recipes (The Nosher)

  • Local High Holiday Menus/Catering

    • Bethesda Bagels – Catering (DC and MD)
    • Call Your Mother – Catering (DC)
    • Char Bar – Catering or Dine-In (DC)
    • Chef Alex Levin’s Rosh Hashanah Pop-Up Bakery – Order Ahead (DC)
    • Equinox – Dine-In (DC)
    • Hill Country BBQ – Catering (DC)
    • Joe’s Seafood – Dine-In (DC)
    • Parkway Deli – Catering (Silver Spring, MD)
    • Sababa – Dine-In (DC)
    • Shalom Kosher – Catering (Silver Spring, MD)
    • Shouk – Catering (DC)
    • Summer House Santa Monica – Dine-In (North Bethesda, MD)
    • Sunflower Bakery – Catering (North Bethesda, MD)
    • Teddy and the Bully Bar – Dine-In (DC)

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For questions or assistance, email info@gatherdc.org. GatherDC welcomes the participation of interfaith ​individuals, and people of all abilities, backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. GatherDC ​fosters inclusive communities​​​ and strive​s​ to accommodate all needs whenever possible. If you require special accommodations, please contact us​ in advance of the event​ at (202) 656-0743, and we will make every effort to meet your needs.