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A High Holiday Message from Rabbi Goldstein
Click HERE to view the video.
Rabbi Goldstein's High Holiday Sermons
High Holidays 2023/5784
Our High Holiday Schedule - which includes locations/dates/times of all services - is now available.
Links to Membership Renewal Forms, New Member Forms, and the form to purchase High Holiday Tickets are now available.
Please click here to view the following:
1. High Holiday Service Schedule/FAQ - click HERE
2. City Shul Members - Renewal Form - click HERE
3. New City Shul members (for 2023/24) - click HERE
4. To purchase non-member High Holiday Tickets - click HERE
5. Information about our Judaica Give-and-Take - click HERE
6. Information about our City Shul Food Drive - click HERE
Please note - An admission ticket will be required for the Kol Nidre service. Members who renew, or those who purchase High Holiday tickets, by September 6 will receive their Kol Nidre tickets by post mail before the holiday. After this date, tickets will be available to pick up before the Kol Nidre Service begins. Doors open at 6 pm and the service begins at 6:45 pm.
Your City Shul High Holidays Team
Our High Holiday Prayer Book - Gates of Repentance
For the High Holidays, starting with Selichot on September 9, we use Gates of Repentance, CCAR Press. To create an inclusive experience, each adult should have a copy of the prayer book, including those who are watching the service on our live stream.
This is the Prayer Book that we use exclusively for High Holiday services, and a pdf of this book is not available. If you have a copy of this book from past City Shul High Holiday services, you do not need to purchase a copy.
Please note that we do not provide prayer books and there are no loaners or book sales at services.
Please bring your book to every High Holiday Service.
Copies of this book can be purchased HERE for $20 each. If you are purchasing tickets for High Holidays you can purchase your prayer books directly on the form.
Your book will be ready for you to pick up when you arrive at your first service.
Shabbat Special Event - Midrash, Music, and Meditation - Saturday September 23, 2023
The Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is an especially spiritual time. Explore how the Rabbis viewed these 10 Days of Repentance through the study of the midrash, followed by a session on how high holiday music guides and affects our experience, and conclude with a special guided meditation experience to set a meaningful intention for Yom Kippur.
This special Shabbat event ends with Kaddish and brunch. The event is open to all members and those who purchase High Holiday tickets.
The event will not be live-streamed. Brunch sponsors are welcome.
Click HERE to register.
The Rabbi's Message for September
This year on first day Rosh Hashana, our Hazzanit will sing as usual. We will read Torah as usual, and I will give a sermon as usual. But it is Shabbat— so something will be very different indeed. We will not hear the stirring sounds of the shofar that morning. Yes I know how much we will miss it. And I know how convenient it would be if we just went ahead and blew it for those who only come the first day.
The truth is, friends—Shabbat “trumps” even the shofar on Rosh Hashana. The weekly predictable, quiet spirituality of Shabbat, the simple candles-wine-and-challah supersedes the drama and majesty of the once-a-year shofar service. There is a principle in Judaism from the Talmud (Zevachim 89a): “Tadir v’she’eino tadir, Tadir kodem” which means — something commonly done always takes precedence over something less commonly done. That is why, for example, when one puts on a tallit and a kipa, the kipa goes on first—kipa is worn every day all day (more common) and tallit is worn only 6 days a week and only in the morning (less commonly done.) The every-week-ness of Shabbat is actually more precious than the precious once-a-year sound of the shofar.
Call it “the silent shofar.” It has its own message to give us: that the consequence of the shofar blowing—a renewed commitment to a more Jewish life—is actually more important than the hearing of the shofar blowing. We will study texts and writings about the silent shofar during Selichot on September 9. And then, we do have a very meaningful—and fun!—second day Rosh Hashana on Sunday when we will blow more than one shofar, more than one time, with our famous surround-sound-shofar at Palais Royale.
The midrash says that when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, it is G-d who actually blows the shofar and not us. We have to listen very hard to hear it in our hearts. May we hear that silent call loud and clear during this year’s special and meaningful Shabbat Rosh Hashana. Shana Tova!
Rabbi Dr. Elyse Goldstein
rabbi@cityshul.com
www.cityshul.com
If you know of anyone who is too ill or shut-in to be able to attend our outdoor service on second day Rosh Hasahana, please notify the Rabbi HERE and we will arrange a shofar to be blown for them at their residence.
Shabbat Services
For our Shabbat service dates and times please click here
Adult Learning
All Event Info can be found here.
Israel Engagement
All Event Info can be found here.
City Shul School
To learn more about youth and teen learning, click here.
Our Services are live and concurrently live-streamed.
See Service Schedule.
Tue, September 26 2023
11 Tishrei 5784
City Shul Shabbat Services
Click here for our Shabbat service schedule.
City Shul School
Click here to learn more about our shul's school.
City Shul Family Learning
Click here to see our upcoming family programmes.
City Shul Adult Ed and Adult Programmes
Click here to see our upcoming adult programmes.
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
OctOctober 17 , 2023Israel Engagement presents "Fighting Through the Courts for the Soul of Israel"
Tuesday, Oct 17th 7:30p to 9:00p
Ms. Erez-Likhivesky will speak about the situation on the ground in Israel today in light of the proposed judicial changes, and the LGBTQ+, Women’s rights, Arab rights and other cases she and her team are fighting in order to to retain a liberal foothold in Israeli society. Time for discussion and a great opportunity to hear from a leading proponent of social justice and democracy in Israel today. -
Wednesday ,
NovNovember 29 , 2023Israel Engagement presents "Confusion and Conversation"
Wednesday, Nov 29th 7:30p to 9:00p
Things in Israel are changing rapidly. So are our own questions and feelings as Diaspora Jews. This evening is to explore “the situation” and to grapple with our personal and communal relationship with Israel with your Rabbi and our member Jon Allen, former Canadian ambassador to Israel. -
Sunday ,
MayMay 5 , 2024Gloria: A Life - April 23, 7 PM; Talkback with Rabbi Goldstein for this performance only
Sunday, May 5th 7:00p to 9:00p
The Harold Green Theatre is presenting "GLORIA: A LIFE" Sunday, April 23, 7 PM - The Greenwin Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre. This performance only: Rabbi Elyse Goldstein will be leading a Talking Circle at the conclusion of the play