Jewish High Holy Days begin at sunset Sunday

Many synagogues and temples across Manatee County are preparing to offer free services this High Holiday season, as Jews prepare for some of the holiest days of the year.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It begins at sundown on Sunday and extends through nightfall Tuesday. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period that leads into Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, is the Day of Atonement and begins after Sunday on Oct. 11 and extends until nightfall on Oct. 12.

On Yom Kippur, each person’s fate is decided by God on the new year. The day is marked by making amends and asking forgiveness for sins during the past year. The holiday is observed by fasting and prayer.

Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch, Temple Emanu-El and Temple Beth-El are all offering different types of services to mark the occasion.

“God gives us an opportunity to really try to get it right again,” said Rabbi Mendy Bukiet of Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch. “We’re very, very busy people today, with technology and the need to constantly be focused on moving ahead that we actually never bother to take a moment to look back and see what type of trail I’m leaving behind me.”

Rabbi Elaine Glickman, at Temple Emanu-El, agreed.

“It’s really a time to take stock of who you are and who you want to be,” she said. “You can emerge from that day forgiven and pure and ready to do better in the year ahead.”

Glickman said the days can be solemn and sad, while people reflect on their sins of the past year, but they’re also really beautiful days because they’re filled with possibilities for the new year.

Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch

Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch offers free services for the Jewish High Holidays at Fete Catering Ballroom at The Polo Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. Rosh Hashana service times are: 7 p.m. Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m. morning service, 6:30 p.m. Tashlich service and 8 p.m. evening service Oct. 3, 9:30 a.m. morning service Oct. 4. Yom Kippur services include Kol Nidrei service, 6:45 p.m. Oct. 11. Morning service, 9:30 a.m., Yizkor Memorial service, 11 a.m., Mincha service, 5:45 p.m., Neila Closing service, 6:45 p.m., Final Shofar Blowing, 7:38 p.m. Oct. 12. Kosher catered buffets from Fete Catering at The Polo Grill will be served after Rosh Hashanah services and a Break the Fast at Yom Kippur’s conclusion. For more information about Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch’s services or to reserve a space, visit www.ChabadofBradenton.com or call 941-752-3030.

Temple Emanu-El

At Temple Emanu-El in Sarasota, Rabbis Brenner Glickman and Michael Shefrin will lead Rosh Hashanah services on Sunday evening and Monday morning. The morning service will include the traditional Torah reading and the sound of the shofar, the ram’s horn blown to mark the solemnity and magnitude of the season.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 941-371-2788.

In addition, Rosh Hashanah family services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, which will be free and open to the community. The service will use an original age-appropriate prayerbook created by Glickman.

For Yom Kippur, services will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11. There’s also a 10 a.m. Oct. 12 service. Both services require advance ticket.

Another family service is planned for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 12, which will be free and open to the community. Two more afternoon services, at 3 and 4:30 p.m., are also free and open to the community.

Temple Beth-El

Rabbis Michael Sternfield, Cantorial soloist Deborah Sute and Cantor Emeritus Alan Cohn will help lead services at the Reform Congregation of Bradenton. All services are open to all and donations are appreciated.

On Sunday, Erev Rosh Hashanah services start at 7:30 p.m. On Monday, Rosh Hashanah morning service starts at 10 a.m. followed by a light lunch. On Tuesday, Beth-El will observe Tashlich at 5:30 p.m. at the Amphitheater on the Manatee River.

On Oct. 11, Kol Nidre will begin at 7:30 p.m. On Oct. 12, Yom Kippur morning service will begin at 10 a.m. including Yizkor, afternoon service and Torah reading will begin at 3 p.m., with a musical interlude. Neilah and Havdallah beginning at 5:30 p.m. After Neilah, a break the fast meal will be held at IMG Golf Club, prepaid reservations are required.

Call 941-755-4900 for more information.

Overall, Bukiet said he’s excited for the season of renewal for those of Jewish faith.

“It’s a time as a people we can look back at the past year and see all the great accomplishments, all of our failings, where we need to strengthen, how to be more aware,” he said.

This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Jewish High Holy Days begin at sunset Sunday."