Updated 2:29 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13th
Dear DMV friends,
Welcome to GatherDC’s 2025 / 5786 DMV High Holiday Guide, a one-stop-shop for everything you need to usher in the new year. There are dozens of amazing DMV Jewish organizations putting together incredible High Holiday experiences — but there’s only one place to find them all together, and that’s right here.
This year, we approach the High Holidays carrying all manners of (seemingly) contradictory emotions: the joy of coming together, mixed with the pain of a difficult year. Jewish tradition, though, is prepared for such duality. We are reminded that there is a season for everything. Growth turns to death turns to decay, which provides the nutrients foundational to new growth. The harvest sets the stage for soil to lay fallow, before it is prepared for the planting to come. During the High Holidays, we turn the soil of our souls, bringing that which may be buried to light — and deciding what we want to grow in the new year.
We hope this guide can be a useful tool as you craft the just-right-for-you combination of recipes, readings, services, classes, social gatherings, and much, much more that will make this High Holiday season deeply meaningful. When you see us out and about in the next couple months, say hello! We can’t wait for the next chance to gather with you.
Chag Sameach – Wishing you a good, sweet New Year,
The GatherDC Team
PS: Not sure where to start? Check out the table of contents in the drop down menu at the top of the screen! And, if we’re missing something, please let us know by submitting your event to our online calendar or by emailing us. We’ll be updating the guide just about every day, so check back early and often!
Getting Ready for the High Holidays
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Eating Around the DMV
Readings and Other Resources
Tuesday, August 19th
Saturday, August 23rd
Sunday, August 24th
Tuesday, August 26th
Tuesday, September 2nd
Thursday, September 4th
Sunday, September 7th
Tuesday, September 9th
Thursday, September 11th
Saturday, September 13th
Sunday, September 14th
Wednesday, September 17th
Thursday, September 18th
Saturday, September 20th
Sunday, September 21st
Thursday, September 25th
Monday, September 22nd
Tuesday, September 23rd
Wednesday, September 24th
Friday, September 26th
Sunday, September 28th
Wednesday, October 1st
Thursday, October 2nd
Sunday, October 5th
Monday, October 6th
Tuesday, October 7th
Tuesday, October 14th
District of Columbia
Maryland
NoVA
The views and opinions expressed by the organizations featured on this guide and on this website are solely those of the original organizations. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the organization GatherDC, the GatherDC staff, the GatherDC board, and/or any/all contributors to this site.