High Holy Day Season at a Glance

How to use this page:

Are you looking for additional information and a chronological overview of the festivals and holy days that make up the High Holy Day season? Scroll down.

But if you would like to go directly to information on a specific festival or holy day, please use this table of contents:

✡ Printable High Holy Days Resources, 1 page summary and flyers.

✡ The End of the Hebrew Year: Av & Elul, evening Tuesday, July 14, through Friday, September 11, 2026

✡ The Days of Awe — Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur, evening Friday, September 11, though Monday, September 21, 2026

✡ Sukkot, evening Friday, September 26, though Friday, October 2, 2026

✡ Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Shemini Atzeret: evening Friday, October 2, through Saturday, October 3, and Simchat Torah: evening Saturday, October 3, through Sunday, October 4,

✡ The End of the Hebrew Year: Av & Elul

A listing of Har Zion programming for the months of Av and Elul 5786 is here: Celebrating the End of the Jewish Year

Har Zion celebrates the end of the Hebrew year during the Hebrew months of Av and Elul, which in 5786 are from July 15, 2026, to September 11, 2026. There is something for everyone: music, adult education classes, and especially the yearly Friday evening Annual Community Shabbat and Back-to-Shul BBQ (which includes Shabbat on the Lawn for preschoolers and a Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service on the terrace for all).

Jews observe two holidays in the month of Av. First is the solemn Tisha B’Av, the 9th of Av, which begins on the evening of Wednesday, July 22, 2026.  On Erev Tisha B’Av Jews remember the Destruction of the First and Second Temples and other tragedies in Jewish history. A week later, on July 29, is a much lighter holiday, Tu B.Av, the 15th of Av, also known as the “Jewish Valentine’s Day.”

The month of Elul is particularly inspirational, as we sound the shofar every day in Elul in our daily minyan.

The climax of the month of Elul is Selichot Program, Dessert, and Musical Service. The 5786/2026 Selichot service is on Saturday, September 5. It is a solemn evening service that marks the beginning of the High Holy Days. Har Zion’s service combines the traditional soulful liturgy of Selichot with the accompaniment of classical musicians to open the themes of the holiday. We will share dessert on the patio (weather permitting).

Selichot is always the last Saturday evening in the last month of the year, Elul. This year it is the 23rd of Elul, Saturday evening, September 5. The Selichot soulful musical service begins at 7pm with a talk, then dessert at 7:30pm, and finally, at 8pm, the musical service and concert.

Details of the 5786 Selichot musical service at Har Zion and a link to register for dessert are here: Selichot Program, Dessert, and Musical Service

✡ The Days of Awe, 1st through 10th of Tishrei

The Days of Awe is the ten day period that begins with Rosh Hashanah day 1, the 1st day of Tishrei, and culminates on Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur, the 10th day of Tishrei. It is a period in which Jews focus on self-reflection and repentance, prior to their fates being written and sealed on Yom Kippur.

✡ Childcare and services are offered for children from 18 months to Grade 7 during the Days of Awe; prior registration is required: High Holy Days Childcare for Children

✡ Details of 5787 Main Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and programming at Har Zion are here: Looking Forward–High Holy Days Services and Programming at Har Zion

✡ Details of 5787 Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and programming for children at Har Zion are here: Looking Forward–Programming for Children During the Days of Awe

✡ Rosh Hashanah, 1st and 2nd of Tishrei

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year — a time of prayer, self-reflection, and t’shuvah. We review our actions during the past year, and we look for ways to improve ourselves, our communities, and our world during the year to come.

In 2026/5787, Rosh Hashanah is observed from sundown on Friday, September 11, though sundown on Sunday, September 13.

• Childcare and services for children 18 months to 7th grade are available; prior registration is required: High Holy Days Childcare for Children

• Evening of Friday, September 11, Erev Rosh Hashanah: 6pm Evening Service
• Saturday, September 12, Rosh Hashanah Day 1:
  • Main services: 8:45am to about 2pm Shacharit service as part of the Shabbat morning service.
  • Camp Shana Tovah services for children: 10am-10:30am service for preschool children and a responsible adult, 11am to 12:15pm service (and supervision) for children in grades K through 7, and 12:30pm special programming for teens. Registration is required.
• Sunday, September 13, Rosh Hashanah Day 2:
  • Main services: 8:45am to about 2pm Shacharit service, followed at approximately 2:30pm with Tashlich at Thatcher Woods Pond
  • Camp Shana Tovah services for children: 11am service (and supervision) for children in grades K through 7, and 12:30pm special programming for teens. Registration is required.

Information on Rosh Hashanah 5787 at Har Zion is here: Rosh Hashanah: Services and Schedule

Note that Tashlish is on the second day of Rosh Hashanah this year, because the first day of  Rosh Hashanah is Shabbat.

✡ Kol Nidre, Evening of the 10th of Tishrei

Our Kol Nidre services are solemn, majestic, and beautiful, creating a moving and profound beginning to the holiest day of the Jewish year. We ask God to forgive us for promises we make in the coming year that we may not be able to keep.

In 5787/2026, Kol Nidre begins at sundown on Sunday, September 20: Erev Yom Kippur: Kol Nidre service, 7pm

Information on Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur is here: Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur at Har Zion

Childcare is offered for children from 18 months to Grade 7; prior registration is required: High Holy Days Childcare for Children

✡ Yom Kippur, 10th of Tishrei

The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. It marks the end of 10 days of repentance and is spent in fasting and prayer. Sounding the shofar signals the holiday’s end. Observant Jews do not eat, drink (including water), bathe, or wear anything made of leather.

Yom Kippur is observed on Monday, September 21, concluding at sundown. Worshippers are invited to Break the Fast at the temple at the conclusion of the Yom Kippur evening service.

• • Main programming: 8:45am Shacharit service; approximately approximately 12:15pm, Yizkor; about 4:15pm Q & A with Rabbi Glick, about 5pm Mincha & Neilah services, and about 8pm Community Break the Fast
  • Camp Shana Tovah services for children: 11am service for children in grades K through 7, and 12:30pm special programming for teens. Registration is required.
  • Childcare is available for children 18 month to 7th grade. Registration is required.

Information on Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur is here: Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur at Har Zion

Childcare and services are offered for children from 18 months to Grade 7 during Days of Awe services; prior registration is required: High Holy Days Childcare for Children

After the High Holy Days — Sukkot and Beyond

✡ Sukkot, 15-21 Tishrei

The week-long harvest festival of Sukkot commemorates the dwelling of the Israelites in tents during their 40-year journey in the Sinai desert. Many families build their own sukkah, in which it is customary to eat meals, sleep and shake the lulav, a palm frond bound together with myrtle and willow branches, and the etrog, a type of citrus. (purchase them here)

In 5787/2026, Sukkot, 15-21 Tishrei, is observed from Friday evening, September 25, to Friday, October 2. The following programs are available for

• Evening of Friday, September 25, 6pm, Salmon in the Sukkah after Kabbalat Shabbat service
• Saturday, September 26, 10am, Sukkot Morning Service as part of regular Shabbat service
• Sunday, September 27, 10am, Sukkot Morning Service

Details of 5787 Sukkot services and programming at Har Zion are here: About Sukkot

✡ Shemini Atzeret, 22 Tishrei, and Simchat Torah, 23 Tishrei

The final two festivals of of the High Holy Day season are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the cycle for the coming year. It is celebrated with singing, dancing, and merry processions of people carrying Torahs and children waving flags.

In the Diaspora, the day before Simchat Torah is preceded by Shemini Atzeret, in 5787 on Saturday, October 3. Shemini Atzeret is one of four times a year when Yizkor, the Jewish memorial service, is observed.

In 5787/2026, Shemini Atzeret Simchat Torah is observed in the Diaspora from sundown on Saturday, October 3, to sundown on Sunday, October 4.

• Shemini Atzeret 22 Tishrei: Friday evening, October 2, 6pm service, Saturday, October 3. 10AM Service as part of the Shabbat service
• Simchat Torah, 23 Tishrei:
  • Saturday evening, October 3, Celebration of the last reading in the Torah and going back to read the first one
  • Sunday, October 4, 10am Simchat Torah service and continuation of the celebration

Details of 5787 Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah services and programming at Har Zion are here: Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah