High Holy Days 2013 (5774)

This page provides a complete overview of Central Synagogue’s High Holy Days (from S’lichot through Simchat Torah). Please note that tickets are required for almost all of our Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur worship services. A full schedule is shared below.

Please read this information carefully (and use the quick links on the right to jump around). We’re confident you’ll find an answer to your question on this page!

You can also email or call us at (212) 838-5122 x2000 and we’ll be happy to help you.

Wishing you sweetness in the new year,

The clergy & staff of Central Synagogue


Helpful Links:

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About Our Venues

Central Synagogue holds multiple High Holy Days services in three separate locations, some of which
take place simultaneously. View complete schedule.

Main Sanctuary

652 Lexington Avenue at East 55th Street
map and directions
take a 360° tour of the space

Our historic synagogue is located in Midtown East, a short walk from Grand Central Terminal.

Avery Fisher Hall

10 Lincoln Center Plaza
at West 65th Street & Columbus Avenue
map and directions
take a 360° tour of the space

This spacious venue comfortably seats 2,700+ congregants, while still serving as an intimate and spiritual environment.

Note: There are no assigned seats at Avery Fisher Hall

Pavilion

652 Lexington Avenue (Enter on East 55th Street)
map and directions

Our Pavilion space is located on the lower level of our Main Sanctuary building.

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About Our Tickets

Tickets are required for all of our Erev Rosh HaShanah, Rosh HaShanah First Day, Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur worship services.

We issue four types of tickets:

1. Member Tickets
Three seating categories
Assigned: Blue
Unassigned: Tan and Green

2. Associates Service Tickets


3. Community Service Tickets


4. Guest Tickets


Members in good standing automatically receive their High Holy Day tickets by USPS mail in oversized white envelopes. This year, tickets will be mailed on August 19.

Associates in good standing will automatically receive tickets to our Associate Services. This year, tickets will be mailed on August 19.

The cost to attend the Community Services is $150 per person per holiday or $250 per person for both holidays.

Both members and associates may request guest tickets for close family members to join them at a service. Guest ticket requests are fulfilled so long as space permits.

Costs vary depending on the service a guest will be attending: $400/per person per holiday for Assigned Seating Services; $175 per guest per holiday for Unassigned Seating Services; $150 per person per holiday or $250 per person per holiday for both holidays for Associates Services.

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Complete Schedule

Tickets are required at all our High Holy Days Services unless otherwise indicated. Specific ticket types are listed where required.

S'lichot
Saturday, August 31

8:30 pm, Pavilion
Oneg
Tickets: None Required
9:00 pm, Pavilion
Lecture
Tickets: None Required
10:15 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: None Required

Erev Rosh HaShanah
Wednesday, September 4

6:30 pm, Pavilion
Worship Service
Tickets: Associates & Community
8:00 pm, Avery Fisher Hall
Worship Service
Tickets: Assigned (blue)
& Unassigned (green or tan)

Rosh HaShanah (Day 1)
Thursday, September 5

9:30 am, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: Assigned (blue)
9:30 am, Avery Fisher Hall
Worship Service
Tickets: Unassigned (green or tan)
10:00 am, Pavilion
Worship Service
Tickets: Associates & Community
3:30 pm, Main Sanctuary
Family Service
Tickets: Any
3:30 pm, Pavilion
Tot Service
Tickets: Any
5:00 pm, Community House
Tashlich
6:00 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service

Rosh HaShanah (Day 2)
Friday, September 6

9:30 am, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: None Required

Kol Nidrei
Friday, September 13

6:00 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: Unassigned (tan)
7:00 pm, Pavilion
Worship Service
Tickets: Associates & Community
7:30 pm, Avery Fisher Hall
Worship Service
Tickets: Unassigned (green)
8:30 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: Assigned (blue)

Yom Kippur
Saturday, September 14

9:00 am, Main Sanctuary
Family Service
Tickets: Any
9:00 am, Pavilion
Tot Service
Tickets: Any
11:00 am, Pavilion
Worship Service
Tickets: Associates & Community
10:45 am, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: Assigned (blue)
10:45 am, Avery Fisher Hall
Worship Service
Tickets: Unassigned (green or tan)
3:15 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service
Tickets: Assigned (blue)
3:15 pm, Avery Fisher Hall
Worship Service
Tickets: Unassigned (green or tan)
3:15 pm, Pavilion
Worship Service
Tickets: Associates & Community

Erev Sukkot
Wednesday, September 18

6:00 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service

Sukkot
Thursday, September 19

9:30 am, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service

Sukkot
Sunday, September 22

2:00 pm, Stonewall Farms
Sukkot Apple Picking at Stonewall Farm, 159 Mahopac Avenue, Granite Springs, NY
The home of congregants Sheryl & Barry K. Schwartz
2:00 - 4:00 pm, Sukkah Building, Apple Picking, and Hayrides
4:00 - 4:30 pm, Worship Service at the Farm

Erev Simchat Torah
Wednesday, September 25

6:00 pm, Main Sanctuary
Worship Service

Simchat Torah
Thursday, September 26

9:30 am, Main Sanctuary (Yizkor)
Worship Service

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Live Streaming

 

View our Rosh HaShanah Prayer Book

View our Kol Nidrei & Yom Kippur Morning Prayer Book

View our Yom Kippur Afternoon Prayer Book

View the Yom Kippur 4-page supplement

View our Family Service Prayer Book

Anyone with access to an Internet connection can view these services at no cost.

Tell us who you are.

Visit our live stream page during any worship service listed below at centralsynagogue.org/livestream


Live Streaming Schedule

S'lichot
Saturday, August 31

9:00 pm, Lecture
Pavilion
10:15 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Erev Rosh HaShanah
Wednesday, September 4

8:00 pm, Worship Service
Avery Fisher Hall

Rosh HaShanah (Day 1)
Thursday, September 5

9:30 am, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary
3:30 pm, Family Service
Main Sanctuary
6:00 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Rosh HaShanah (Day 2)
Friday, September 6

9:30 am, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Kol Nidrei
Friday, September 13

6:00 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary
8:30 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Yom Kippur
Saturday, September 14

9:00 am, Family Service
Main Sanctuary
10:45 am, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary
3:15 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Erev Sukkot
Wednesday, September 18

6:00 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Sukkot
Thursday, September 19

9:30 am, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Erev Simchat Torah
Wednesday, September 25

6:00 pm, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary

Simchat Torah
Thursday, September 26

9:30 am, Worship Service
Main Sanctuary (Yizkor)

Our Memory Book

 

It has long been our custom to inscribe in our Memory Book the names of our beloved deceased. This is an acknowledgement of our love for those who have passed away but have not been forgotten. The Memory Book of Central Synagogue is dedicated to this purpose and has been among our most precious congregational traditions. The book is distributed at Yom Kippur services. Due to printing deadlines, we are able to list only those names we receive by the deadline. This year’s deadline is August 9.

The Memory Book is for our members only. Submissions cards are mailed to members homes in grey envelopes. If you have any questions about the Memory Book, contact Genea Moore at (212) 838-5122 x2002.


Al Cheit

Al cheit shechatanu l’fanecha
We have sinned before You

Al cheit, meaning “for the sin,” is language that is used repeatedly in our Yom Kippur confessional liturgy known as the Vidui. Click here (PDF) to read a version of this prayer from our Yom Kippur machzor.

On Yom Kippur we confess our sins aloud. As we enter the Days of Awe, we invite our congregants to anonymously submit personal sins for which they seek forgiveness. Boxes are located at Shabbat services; in our clergy study; and in Stern Lobby, beginning August 31 – September 18. These confessions are woven into our Yom Kippur afternoon liturgy reflecting our community’s prayers of repentance.


Cantor Buchdahl’s Kol Nidrei

 

“In the tribunal of Heaven and the tribunal of earth, by the permission of God — praised be He — and by the permission of this holy congregation, we hold it lawful to pray with transgressors.

“All personal vows we are likely to make, all personal oaths and pledges we are likely to take between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce. Let them all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established. Let our personal vows, pledges and oaths be considered neither vows nor pledges nor oaths.

“May all the people of Israel be forgiven, including all the strangers who live in their midst, for all the people are in fault.”

–Translation of Kol Nidrei prayer by Philip Birnbaum from High Holy Day Prayer Book, Hebrew Publishing Company, NY, 1951


High Holy Days Sermons