Holidays

Holidays. Celebrate the festivals from Rosh HaShannah to Tisha B’Av.

Throughout the year, we join together to pray, observe and celebrate the holidays together. We invite you to join with us. Please view the event calendar.

High Holy Days

High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

Selihot Service & Zimrat Yah: Saturday, September 28th | 8:00 pm

Rosh Hashanah: October 2nd - 4th

Yom Kippur: October 11th - 12th

Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), together, are known as the High Holy Days. At Congregation Beth Am, we open our doors of the sanctuary to all our members and guests to have a chance to reflect, take stock of the past year and make amends. These two holidays are rich in symbol as we hear the blowing of the shofar and dip our apples in honey to help make the new year sweet.

If you are interested in joining our services, you must submit your High Holy Days registration form in order to receive tickets. As well, we have an array of services and programs offered to everyone. Click here for more information.

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Sukkot

Sukkot: October 16th - 23rd

Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, or Feast of Tabernacles, is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th of Tishrei. Join Congregation Beth Am as we celebrate this joyous holiday in our community sukkah at the annual Sukkot Under The Stars dinner, followed by the ever so fun Parent/Child Sukkah Sleepover with Rabbi Earne. We hope to see you in our sukkah! And visit our calendar for dates & times of services.

Thursday, October 17th | 9:30 am: Sukkot Service

Friday, October 18th | 9:30 am: Sukkot Service

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Shemini Atzeret & Simhat Torah

October 23rd - 25th

Simhat Torah, meaning “Rejoicing with/of the Torah,” is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Here at Beth Am, we like to celebrate, and we like to celebrate big! On Erev Simhat Torah, we all gather in the Lizerbram Family Sanctuary wearing silly hats and dance around the sanctuary with our Torahs. Both big and small participate, as we have many Torahs to pass around. During our final turn around the synagogue with the Torahs, we head outside to the Arch Courtyard for one final spin before returning the Torahs back to the Aron HaKodesh (Ark). Hope to see you there!

Thursday, October 24th: Shemini Atzeret & Yizkor Service | 9:30 am

Thursday, October 24th: Simhat Torah Service | 6:00 pm

Friday, October 24th: Simhat Torah Service | 9:30 am

Hanukkah

December 25th - January 1st

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple). Jews who took part in the re-dedication witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. There was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, however, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival. Here at Beth Am, we love to celebrate Hanukkah and all the rich traditions of lighting the Hanukkiah, eating latkahs, playing dreidel, and gather to sing Hanukkah songs.

Wednesday, December 13th: Women's Circle: Hanukkah Pre-Party

Thursday December 26th: Hanukkah at the Highlands

Friday December 27th: Light The Night Hanukkah Dinner and Service

Purim

March 13th - 14th

Although Purim is celebrated with costumes, hamantaschen and gragers, Purim is a holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman who was planning to kill all the Jews, as told in the Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther). However, his plans were foiled by Mordecai and Esther, his cousin, who had risen to become Queen of Persia. The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing. According to the Megillat Esther, "they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor." Here at Beth Am, we celebrate Purim just that way, we hope to see you at one of our Purim Service.

Thursday, March 13th: Family Purim Celebration | 6:30 pm

Thursday, March 13th: Traditional Megillah Reading |8:00 pm

Sunday, March 16th: JLC Purim Carnival | 10:00 am

Passover

April 12th - 20th
Passover (Pesah) commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. In the Diaspora, we celebrate it for 8 days. Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nissan in the Jewish calendar, which is during spring and is celebrated for eight days. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.

Saturday, April 12th: Erev Pesah

Sunday, April 13th: Pesah Service | 9:30 am

Monday, April 14th: Pesah Service | 9:30 am

Saturday, April 19th: Shabbat & Pesah Service | 9:00 am

Sunday, April 20th: Pesah & Yizkor Service | 9:30 am

Shavuot

June 1st - 3rd

Shavuot commemorates the spring harvest and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. A special reading for the holiday includes piyyutim and the Book of Ruth during the Shavuot service. Another tradition is to participate in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, an all-night study session marking the holiday. And finally, Shavuot is one of the holidays on which both Hallel is recited, and Yizkor is observed.

Sunday, June 1st: Tikkun Leil Shavuot & Zimrat Yah Service | 8:00 pm

Monday, June 2nd: Shavuot Service | 9:30 am

Tuesday, June 3rd: Shavuot + Yizkor Service | 9:30 am

Tisha B’Av

August 2nd
Tisha B'Av, is an annual fast day in Judaism which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jews from the Land of Israel. The day also commemorates other tragedies which occurred on the same day, including the Roman massacre of over 100,000 Jews at Betar in 132 CE. Tisha B'Av is regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar and a day which is destined for tragedy.

Saturday, August 2nd: Tisha B'Av Service | 8:00 pm