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Welcome to these most sacred of days as we gather to celebrate Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. As we know them, the High Holy Days celebrate the role of the individual and his or her personal relationship with God. These Days of Awe are not a remembrance of history or our people’s past. They are a celebration of the world’s existence and our present lives.
Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are not about we – the Jewish people. They are about me, the moral me who must live in a meaningful way. On these days we each seek better understanding about the character and quality of our lives.
We also delight in joining together to welcome a new Jewish year for our lives. The warmth of our community’s annual reunion, the spirit we feel sharing in our Jewish heritage, and the hopes we carry for a sweet New Year of goodness and well-being connect and inspire us.
We gather at the turning of the year, aware that we are not standing still. We are always on a journey through time and place, through history and hope, through the stories we inherit and the lives we are still becoming.
God’s first call to our people was not to believe, but to journey.
לֵךְ לְךָ
Lekh Lekha! Go Forth!
Not only outward, but inward. Not only away from what was,
but toward who we might yet become.
This is our Jewish Journey as the New Year 5787 begins.
לֵךְ לְךָ : We go forth
To journey, by knowing the path that brought us here.
To reclaim, by returning to what is deepest and most true within us.
To become, by living the lives we are called to live.
In the New Year 5787, May you know all the goodness of life, health, happiness, and peace!!
High Holy Day Logistics
Please use the form linked below to let us know your household attendance plans for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. You may also request additional High Holy Day tickets if needed: Tickets and Attendance Confirmation
Synagogue members will receive their service tickets by mail 10 days before Rosh HaShanah. Additional tickets may be available for members’ children ages 18-26 or other immediate family members by request. Honor Roll members may receive two complimentary additional High Holy Day tickets, if needed. No tickets are necessary for children under 18 who will be participating in our school and youth programs.
Even if you are not planning to attend or do not need additional tickets, please complete the form. Every response helps us plan our seating, staffing, security, parking, and campus spaces as thoughtfully and accurately as possible. Thank you for helping us prepare.
High Holy Day tickets are intended for Congregation Beth El member households. Because our seating capacity is limited, we respectfully ask that additional ticket requests be limited to immediate family members. Honor Roll members may receive two complimentary additional High Holy Day tickets, if needed.
All ticket requests received by September 1, if approved, will be mailed to the member's home. Tickets requested after September 1 will be available for pickup at the synagogue.
Parking Protocol and Security
On Erev Rosh HaShanah, Second Day Rosh HaShanah, and Yom Kippur afternoon, ALL PARKING is at Congregation Beth El.
On the First Day of Rosh HaShanah, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur morning, off-site parking will be at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (4126 Executive Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037). Detailed information, including a map, will be sent with your service tickets. Shuttle service will be provided. Please allow sufficient time for transportation to arrive on campus for the services and activities you wish to attend.
On-site parking is for Honor Roll and wheelchair/disabled only on a first-come, first-served basis. Honor Roll members should present their High Holy Day ticket for access to on-site parking, as their ticket will also serve as their parking pass this year.
All passenger drop-offs are authorized. Please present your High Holy Day ticket upon arrival and let our security team know that you are conducting a drop-off.
Because parking is limited, we strongly encourage everyone who is able to share a ride with friends or family or arrange for transportation through a service such as JFS, Lyft, or Uber.
The safety and comfort of everyone entering our campus remains among our highest priorities. Security screening will be conducted upon arrival and may include walk-through metal detectors, bag checks, security wanding, ticket verification, and identification checks. Please remember to bring your High Holy Day ticket and a valid photo ID.
If you walk onto campus from La Jolla Scenic Drive North, be advised that the back entrance to the Viterbi Torah School will be closed and you will need to walk a short distance down the driveway to the Main Entrance.
The Jacobs Family Community Hall and Stone Family Sanctuary will be air-conditioned, and temperatures may vary depending on where you sit. Please remember to bring a sweater or jacket for your comfort.
Outdoor temperatures can be hot. Remember that your health overrides fasting. If you or someone else needs assistance, please alert staff, security, or ushers.
We deeply appreciate your patience, cooperation, and understanding as our security and staff teams work to provide a smooth, safe, and welcoming experience for everyone. Please respect their directions and any signage on display.
Greeters and ushers will be monitoring the doors — please follow their instructions for entering and exiting services.
If you would like to assist us by being a greeter or usher, please read on.
Our greeters and ushers are an essential part of creating a warm, welcoming, and organized High Holy Day experience.
Shalom Squad volunteers help greet attendees, open doors, assist people in finding their seats, and support our community throughout the holidays. Please sign up here: Shalom Squad Sign Ups
Whether you can volunteer for one shift or several, your time and presence make an enormous difference. We are incredibly grateful for your help!
High Holy Day Schedule
Rosh HaShanah Services & Programming
We invite you to participate in our High Holy Day services led by Rabbi Ron Shulman, Rabbi Avi Libman, and Ba’al Tefillah David Lipsitz. We gather inside the Stone Family Sanctuary or Jacobs Family Community Hall and outside on the Turk Family Plaza where services are broadcast via Livestream which also available at home for those not able to join us in person.
Erev Rosh HaShanah | Friday, September 11
6:15 p.m. | Erev Rosh HaShanah Services
לֵךְ לְךָ - We go forth:
To journey, by knowing the path that brought us here.
First Day Rosh HaShanah | Saturday, September 12
Rabbi Shulman will reflect on Jewish history in his sermon: Our Jewish Journey through Time and Place
9:00 a.m. Saharit: Morning Service
9:45 a.m. Torah Service followed by Blessing Our Generations & Newborns
10:15 a.m. Children and Family Gathering: Prayer, Songs, & Story
11:00 a.m. Musaf: Holy Day Service & Celebration
11:30 a.m. Sermon: Our Jewish Journey through Time and Place
Second Day Rosh HaShanah | Sunday, September 13
Our Jewish Journey in America.
We will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
8:30 a.m. Rosh HaShanah Hike with Bard Cosman (offsite)
9:00 a.m. Saharit: Morning Service
9:45 a.m. Torah Service followed by the Sounding of the Shofar
10:00 a.m. Children and Family Gathering: Prayer, Songs, & Story
11:00 a.m. Rabbi Shulman in conversation with Dr. Joellyn Zollman* as they explore the American Jewish Experience
11:30 a.m. Musaf: Holy Day Service & Celebration
5:00 p.m. Tashlikh Service at Kellog Park, La Jolla Shores
*Dr. Joellyn Zollman is a scholar of American Jewish history, and author of a new Melton course, We The People, The American Jewish Experience, which she will be teaching at Beth El beginning in January 2027.
Yom Kippur Services & Programming
We gather as a community of families, children, and teens before dividing into different age-appropriate experiences. We prepare for prayer, learning and a meaningful holy day through song and story. We will join the larger community to participate in the blessing of the generations. This special moment brings our entire community together.
לֵךְ לְךָ - We go forth:
To reclaim, by returning to what is deepest and most true within us.
Kol Nidre - Erev Yom Kippur | Sunday, September 20
Rabbi Shulman will speak to Reclaiming Our Jewish Journey
6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre: Erev Yom Kippur Service
6:45 p.m. Kol Nidre Family Service
לֵךְ לְךָ - We go forth:
To become, by living the lives we are called to live.
Yom Kippur | Monday, September 21
Rabbi Shulman will discuss Our Personal Jewish Journeys
9:00 a.m. Shaharit: Morning Service
10:15 a.m. Torah Service
10:15 a.m. Children and Family Gathering: Prayer, Songs, & Story
11:30 a.m. Yizkor Memorial Prayers
12:00 p.m. Sermon: Our Personal Jewish Journeys
12:30 p.m. Musaf: Holy Day Service
2:00 p.m. Modern Martyrology with Dr. Sara Brown*
During the afternoon of Yom Kippur Jews, world-wide and throughout the generations, pause to honor the martyrs of our people whose lives were taken because of their Jewish identities, activities, and beliefs. This solemn time of reflection and memory is known as the Martyrology.
We welcome *Dr. Sara Brown, who will offer her insights about memory, history, and the challenges Jews confront today in a discussion with Rabbi Shulman that honors the past, considers the present, and envisions return and renewal on Yom Kippur.
3:00 p.m. Our Rabbis Reflect on Jews and Judaism Today with Rabbis Ron Shulman, Avi Libman, Phil Graubart, & Yael Ridberg
4:00 p.m. Minhah: Afternoon Service
5:15 p.m. Ask the Rabbi: Discussion with Rabbi Ron Shulman
6:15 p.m. Neilah: Concluding Service
6:45 p.m. Family Neilah Experience
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High Holiday Enrichment
Reverse Tashlikh
Sunday, August 23 | 10 - 11:30 AM
Join the Tikkun Committee for Reverse Tashlikh, a meaningful opportunity for all ages.
Traditionally, Tashlikh is a moment when we cast away "sins" into the water. In this reverse experience, we will instead remove debris from Mission Bay - an act of renewal for ourselves, our community, and our earth as we enter the New Year. Join Jewish communities around the world for the 9th Annual Reverse Tashlikh, an annual waterfront cleanup, a mitzvah, and a new High Holy Day ritual to repair the sea.
Watch this video of a past year's Reverse Tashlikh recap to learn more about this international project. Exact Location provided after registration. Please register below!
Presented by the Tikkun Committee, in collaboration with repairthesea.org.
Selihot Service and Study
Sunday, September 6
9:00 AM Selihot Service and Morning Minyan
Sam Jacobs Beit Midrash
Rabbi Shulman and Ba’al Tefillah David Lipsitz lead this morning minyan service which includes pre-High Holy Day selihot prayers and melodies.
10:00 AM Selihot Study Brunch
Jacobs Family Community Hall
We join for Sunday brunch and the opportunity to prepare for our High Holy Day observances.
Exploring the spiritual and moral significance of the High Holy Day season with Rabbi Shulman as he guides us in seeking meaning and purpose before our gathering on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
If you are unable to attend the Selihot Morning Service, you are more than welcome to join us for the Selihot Study Brunch.
Rosh HaShanah Hike
Sunday, September 13 | 8:30 AM
Start the New Year in nature on our annual Rosh HaShanah Hike, led by Dr. Bard Cosman. We’ll enjoy a scenic walk together, with opportunities along the way to pause, connect, and explore themes of Rosh HaShanah and the season.
Additional details and registration coming soon.
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High Holy Day Food Drive
Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur
As we begin the new year, help us fulfill the Mitzvah of Tzedakah. On Rosh HaShanah, empty bags are provided for you to fill with non-perishable food items. You may return the full bags on Yon Kippur as you arrive for services, or prior to Yom Kippur by bringing them to the Administration office. These gifts of food will be distributed to local families in need with the help of the Hand Up Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service.
Lulav & Etrog
Sukkot is right around the corner, and now is the time to purchase your Lulav & Etrog in preparation!
Lulav & Etrog set: $47
Please contact Sydney at the front desk for assistance.
