Yom Kippur details here
Erev Yom Kippour (Kol Nidre): Sunday, September 20
Optional pre-fast meal / se’uda mafseket (EDIT: so sorry, we forgot to mention - plz bring your own food for this): 5:45pm
Kol Nidre & evening services: 6:30pm (arrive at 6pm)
Yom Kippour: Monday, September 21
Morning services (Shaharit & Moussaf): 10:00am-3:00pm (arrive at 9:30am)
Yizkor (memorial service): 4:30pm
Minha & Ne’ilah: 5:00pm
Havdala & break-fast meal: 7:30pm (*food will be available for kids no later than 6:30pm)
If you are planning to come for the meal, please consider signing up to bring a potluck contribution
For anyone able to stay to help with clean up after break-fast, please consider doing so. The help is greatly needed and even more greatly appreciated. Even if you don't plan to attend Ne'ilah, if you are able to come for the break-fast and help with clean-up, that is also a welcome choice
Some important notes on fasting:
We recognise, honour, and celebrate the wide range of body-minds in our kehilla as we are all of us created in the Divine image. As such, we recognize that fasting from food and water may not be possible or safe for everyone. We encourage everyone to do what is right for them.
If fasting makes you unwell or otherwise negatively impacts your health (including mental health) - please do not fast (or, at the very least, please consider modifying your fast if fasting is very important to you).
Even if you are not sure if fasting will make you unwell, it's better to be cautious and at least modify your fast. If you already know for certain that fasting makes you unwell, according to halakha/jewish law you are actually not supposed to fast. The imperative to mark Yom Kippour in a meaningful way and with integrity of body-mind and spirit surely outweighs the custom of fasting.
If you are torn between your desire to fast and your knowledge that it may be best if you don't, that's understandable. Here are some additional options for those in that position / some additional options in general:
You can eat by "shiurim" which is effectively small quantities of food and drink at designated intervals. It involves some math and a willingness to engage with a certain level of rabbinic pedantry, but if you're interested you can find more information here or be in touch to have a conversation about it.
Some navigate needing to eat on Yom Kippour by eating/drinking the minimum amounts that will still allow for a safer experience - for example, a person might eat only a piece of fruit and an energy bar or something like that.
Some people navigate the need to eat on Yom Kippur by refraining from anything that feels like a "treat" or "special food" and opting for foods which are more plain as a way of still participating to some degree in the ritual of fasting.
Some people also choose to observe the fast by refraining from something other than food and water, such as by not using one's phone for the day, "fasting" from speech unrelated to Yom Kippour, etc.
Whatever way you choose to engage with fasting (or not), please know that not fasting on Yom Kippour in no way diminishes sincere observance of the Day. As with all other forms of supremacy and fabricated hierarchy, we reject the notion that there could possibly be any "moral" or spiritual superiority (G!d forbid) to be gained from fasting if it's inappropriate for you.
Tallit and Yom Kippour fashion
On Yom Kippur, for those that wear tallit gadol (the ritual prayer shawl with fringes), we wear it not only at Yom Kippur day but also the night before at Kol Nidre. Please bring your tallit to Kol Nidre should you wish to wear tallit. We will also have some extras available.
Many communities have the custom to wear white clothing on Yom Kippur. It's the custom in our kehilla for people to wear whatever feels meaningful to each of us.
There is a custom to not wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur. Please do what's right for you.