2021 High Holy Days @ CBB
Selichot | Saturday, August 28
Erev Rosh Hashanah | Monday, September 6
Rosh Hashanah | Tuesday, September 7
Kol Nidre| Wednesday, September 15
Yom Kippur | Thursday, September 16
HIGH HOLY DAY UPDATE
Currently, we are planning to hold a “multi-access” High Holy Day celebration that will include both indoor services in person (requiring masks regardless of vaccination status) and a simultaneous, high-quality livestream experience. We are also planning alternative outdoor offerings.
As always, our primary concern is the health of everyone in our community. We are closely monitoring public health updates — including the latest information on the Delta variant — and we look forward to communicating more specific information about our High Holy Day services as soon as we can.
WISHING YOU A YEAR OF GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
As I write these words, in the middle of July, there is so much we do not know about the approaching High Holy Days:
Will the pandemic numbers rise between now and September? How fast?
Will the CDC and Department of Public Health guidelines for public gatherings hold steady or change?
Will we be able to come to the synagogue, to congregate, to embrace each other, to sing and to pray together or will we be reaching out to each other, yet again, from our homes?
By the time you receive this, we may know more…or not. Sigh. What does Judaism have to teach us about living with uncertainty? Living with uncertainty is at the heart of our holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
At this season, we acknowledge everything that we do not know. Everything that is beyond our control. With honesty and courage, we face the truth of our own fragility. And we declare, “nonetheless, I will choose – hope over despair, generosity over selfishness, community over isolation, responsibility over indolence, life over death.” On Yom Kippur we open our hearts to receive Moses’ final and greatest teaching: “Choose life.”
No matter what happens between now and September, these High Holy Days will offer each of us many opportunities to choose life.
- To repair a broken relationship.
- To provide food, shelter and loving kindness to the hungry, cold and lonely.
- To teach a child.
- To become curious about the joys and sufferings of others in our vast human family.
- To create this Jewish community.
- To deepen our relationship with our old sacred tradition.
Judaism is a path of mitzvot, of small but infinitely meaningful daily choices.
This is how we Jews live with uncertainty.
Marian and I, and our children Rachel, Zach and Ari all send you our warmest wishes. May you and those you love be inscribed in the Book of Life, for a sweet, healthy, happy New Year.
Rabbi Stephen E. Cohen
INFORMATION
Guest RSVPs
UPDATE: Currently, we are not accepting guest RSVPs – please check back for updates.
Everyone is welcome – members, non-members, and guests. We do not issue tickets for our High Holy Day services. For security reasons, we request that you do not bring large bags to CBB.
Donations are encouraged and enable CBB to remain open to all. You may donate at cbbsb.org/give, or see above for an electronic donation form.
Please RSVP below if you will be a guest OR will be requesting reciprocity this year.
Volunteer
Whether you are a new member or have been part of CBB for years, volunteering to serve as a High Holy day usher, greeter, or other role is what brings the personalized and meaningful community interactions that make High Holy Days at CBB so special.
Please contact Director of Operations Ron Gleiberman with any questions: ron@cbbsb.org or (805) 964-7869 ext. 137
GIVING
Dedicate HHD Prayer Books
Thanks to a generous gift from Sara Miller McCune and Marlene Gordon Beckerman and Family, CBB is using a new set of prayer books for the High Holy Days. These editions represent the first new High Holy Days texts to be introduced in the Reform Movement in nearly 40 years. You can support CBB and dedicate sets of the new books to remember a loved one, celebrate a lifecycle occasion, or honor clergy, family and friends. A personalized bookplate will be placed in each set of the volumes currently used in CBB’s High Holy Day services. Order your dedication today!
Mitzvah Food Drive
CBB’s Jewish Learning Programs (K-12) will be running the annual High Holy Day Food Drive. Please fill up a reusable or paper bag with new, unopened, non-perishable food items to be donated to the Food Bank of Santa Barbara. Collection bins will be located at CBB from Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah. Items most needed include:
- Peanut Butter
- Rice
- Canned fruit, vegetables, or meats
- Cereal
- Pasta
High Holy Days “T3 Appeal”
Teshuva – Tefillah – Tzedakah
Throughout the year we are committed to providing a place for connection and spirituality, lifelong learning and support for those in need. With your gift of tzedakah, we can continue to grow to meet the needs of our community. Thank you for your tax deductible donation, earmarked High Holy Day T3 campaign, which helps us fulfill our mission of being a diverse, inclusive group of individuals and families building together a vibrant house of living Judaism.
Your Contribution Makes a Difference! Thank You.
Other High Holy Day Celebrations
Click on any image below to view full-size