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High Holy Days

         

The High Holy Days are a period of personal and collective renewal. We gather to reflect on our lives and the directions we’re headed, both personally and as a people. Enveloped in music, thoughtful spiritual direction, prayer, and the warmth of our broad and diverse community, you will be able to experience your process of renewal, inspiration, and prayer for a sweet New Year!

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Rabbi Joshua Katzan  Senior Rabbi
A native Los Angelino, Rabbi Katzan brings profound love of Judaism’s spirituality, intellectuality, and aspiration to the community for the High Holy Days. His love of music, Judaism, wisdom, people, and Israel inspire his Torah of seeking meaning and fulfillment in life. “Life can be messy. Let’s make sense of it together.”
 
Rachel Shapiro  Cantorial Soloist
Mishkon is delighted to welcome Rachel Shapiro as our cantorial soloist for the High Holy Days! Rachel and Rabbi Katzan worked together for five years in New York. Rachel describes her style as weaving traditional nusach and hazzanut with congregational melodies that inspire participation. The most important part of the Chaggim to her is coming together as a community to make beautiful music that enhances prayer and reflection.

 

Thank-You Letter From Cantorial Soloist Rachel Shapiro
 
Dearest Mishkon, 
 
I want to extend my deepest gratitude and that of my family for allowing me the privilege of being your Shaliach Tzibur for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  I have witnessed, have been part of, and have led several congregations over the years and was so moved by your kavanah and your ruach.  You filled the yamim noraim with warmth, love, and your beautiful voices, and it gave me chills. 
 
I also want to thank you for welcoming me and my family with such warmth and joy.  Sometimes, being a visiting Cantorial Soloist can feel like being an outsider – but not at Miskhon.  At mincha on Yom Kippur, we read Vayikra Chapter 19 Verse 18 – the verse that Rabbi Akiva touted as the essence of the entire Torah – V’ahavta l’re-acha kamocha – Love your neighbor as yourself.  Further on in the chapter, Verse 34 states, “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your own citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”  These verses represent one of the most important tenets of Judaism – the building and nurturing of community.  My family and I felt so at home at Mishkon.  You welcomed us with open arms and open homes and fulfilled these mitzvot for us.  You made us feel part of your community – a community that is so obviously built on a love for learning, compassion, and one another – and for that, we are extremely grateful. 
 
A few specific words of thanks: thank you to Fleming for the administration and coordination that made my job so easy; thank you to Melissa and Brian Tarsky for your hospitality; thank you to Andy Bender for leading the choir so effortlessly; and thank you to the entire choir for enhancing our tefilot.  Finally, a huge thank you to Rabbi Josh for the invitation and opportunity, for your wisdom and your friendship.  
 
May this year bring blessings of health and joy to you all, may we find peace and security at home and abroad, and may your lives continue to be enriched by the community that you have built. 
 
B’ahava, 
 
Rachel

Services Livestream

   

Rosh Hashanah  The Jewish New Year
 
S'lichot Saturday, September 28  7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
We begin our celebration with a service of reflection and supplication, and we sing the unique melodies of the High Holy Days. It is a contemplative program that sets the tone for a meaningful season of sharing and observance. 
 
Erev Rosh Hashanah Wednesday, October 2  6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
 
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Thursday, October 3  9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  • Musaf/Spiritual Sidetrip in the Mishkon Library - 12 p.m. "Rosh Hashanah Reflections and Meditations" led by Michele Prince
Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Friday, October 4  9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
 
Tashlich Sunday, October 6  10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tashlich is a ceremonial casting away of our mistakes from the previous year to make room for hope, as we toss crumbs from our pockets into the sea (or more environmentally friendly seaweed gathered from the beach). It is a joyous event so bring your friends and family and a picnic lunch to the gathering at Lifeguard Station 28.
 

Yom Kippur  The Day of Atonement
Atonement is a heartfelt desire for forgiveness, to clear the slate, take responsibility for what we can, and course-correct toward a more fruitful and meaningful life. Mishkon’s distinctive Yom Kippur services begin with the grandeur of Kol Nidre and crest with our soul-stirring Ne’ilah (concluding service). Click here for the full schedule.
 
Kol Nidre Friday, October 11  6:10 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The epic music of this service inspires our observance of Judaism's most profound day.
 
Yom Kippur Saturday, October 12  9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. - 7:12 p.m.
 Musaf/Spiritual Sidetrip in the Mishkon Library 12 p.m. 
"Redeeming Captives: A Failed Halachic Example — Ethical decision making when there are no choices" led by Rabbi Dan Shevitz
 Better Than a Nap! 3:15 p.m.
Join Shifra Raz and Michele Prince during the first hour of the Yom Kippur break. We will be on the grass by the beach near Mishkon, for gentle stretching/yoga, text study on Jonah, and fresh air. 
We will walk together from the synagogue at about 3:15 p.m. to the exact spot on the grass, which will be the grassy area between Barnard Way and the bike path and sand, steps north of Marine. Look for the people in white.
 

Sukkot
 
Erev Sukkot Wednesday, October 16  6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sukkot is the end-of-harvest festival at which we celebrate in gratitude the bounty and blessings in our lives. Join us to sit together in the sukkah and enjoy a delicious dinner with the community. Services at 6 p.m., with dinner following at 6:40 p.m. in the sukkah. 
 
 
Sukkot Day 1 Thursday, October 17  9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mishkon will join Kehillat Ma'arav for services on the first day of Sukkot. 
 
Sukkot Day 2 Friday, October 18  9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Mishkon
 

Simchat Torah
The finale of the High Holy Days is celebrated by concluding the reading of the Torah, then immediately starting the cycle over with the first words of Genesis, "In the beginning, God created ..." We will dance and sing to celebrate the Torah, our Book of Teachings, and then gather for a celebratory luncheon. It's a great way to bring the season to a joyous conclusion. Click here for the full schedule. 
 
Shmini Atzeret Thursday, October 24  9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
This festival is the Eighth Day from Sukkot and is elevated by the special Yizkor memorial service.
 
Erev Simchat Torah Thursday, October 24  7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
 
Simchat Torah Friday, October 25  9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lunch will follow the service.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Child care is available by prepaid reservation only. NO DROP-INS!
  Children 2 - 7 years old
  Offered for Rosh Hashanah Day 1 and Yom Kippur through 2:30 p.m.
  Child care does NOT include naptime for any children, regardless of age
  Child care is $50 for members, $75 for non-members (per child, per service)
  We schedule staff based on registrations, so we cannot accommodate drop-ins
 
 

Yizkor, meaning remembrance, is a communally shared memorial service to remember and honor the people in our lives who have departed this world. It is a custom to contribute to have the names of our remembered loved ones counted in our printed Yizkor Book, helping to make their memory a blessing.

2024-2025 Book of Remembrance Cover

The Galim (Hebrew for "waves") is our Mishkon magazine, in which you can express your good wishes or announce your joyous simchas to the entire Mishkon community. The Galim is distributed to all who attend High Holy Day services and digitally to our mailing list.

This year's featured stories will focus on children who spent some part of their childhood at Mishkon and what they’re up to these days. Your child (or you) may have been in our preschool or our religious school or may have come to Mishkon for Shabbat services or the High Holy Days or for other children’s programs. 

Our goal is to share the paths of our Mishkon children so that everyone can appreciate the difference Mishkon has made in their lives and marvel at their achievements.

 

Rabbi Katzan reminds us of the source of our Tikkun Olam duty: "As we read on Yom Kippur, Isaiah teaches us what God really wants from us is that we 'feed the hungry and clothe the naked.' By doing so, Isaiah says, we give of ourselves and become beings of God’s blessing, strength and light. This is your opportunity to shine on others and do good. Thank you for donating what you can when you come to services!’"

Clothing Drive   St. Joseph Center
 
St. Joseph Center’s mission is to provide working poor families as well as unhoused men, women, and children of all ages with the inner resources and tools to become productive, stable, and self-supporting members of the community.
 
Donation bins are located in our lobby on Main Street and in the lobby at the Hampton Street entrance. Donations will be accepted through the end of October. Please DO NOT donate any red clothing.

Food Drive   Westside Food Bank
 

Make a difference in local hunger this year by donating food to the Westside Food Bank. The foodbank provides nutritious food for 72,000 households, which equates to 153,000 people in need, with the help of more than 60 member agencies throughout their service area. Their mission is to end hunger in our communities by providing access to free nutritious food through food acquisition and distribution and by engaging the community and advocating for a strong food assistance network.

Donation bins are located in our lobby on Main Street and in the lobby at the Hampton Street entrance. Donations will be accepted until Tuesday, October 15. 
 
The Westside Food Bank is looking for the following: peanut butter and other nut butters, pasta and noodles, cereal (hot and cold), canned soups, canned meats and fish, beans (dry and canned), canned stews, chili, canned pasta, canned vegetables, canned or dried fruits, canned tomatoes, pasta sauces (no glass, please), protein, energy, or granola bars, lentils, baby foods and formula, shelf-stable milk or nondairy substitutes, cooking oil, flour and baking mixes, nuts, and rice.

Watch the highlights from Mishkon's Yom Kippur and Kol Nidre services on our YouTube page.

 

PARKING INFORMATION:
 
We are grateful to the office of Councilwoman Traci Park for lifting parking restrictions for the Holy Days on Hampton Drive between the alley and Rose Avenue! 

Free parking is also available on Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur in St. Joseph's parking lot across Hampton Dr. from Mishkon, based on availability. Enter on Marine Ave.

Typical of its 1940s building, Mishkon does not have its own parking lot. However, for most services and events, there is adequate free or metered street parking in the neighborhood. If you cannot find parking on adjacent streets, we suggest trying side streets, including Marine Street and 3rd Street. Please read street parking signs carefully.

There is also an open-air, beachfront parking lot operated by the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors.
300 Ocean Front Walk (at the end of Rose Avenue)
Rates vary seasonally.

Sorry, we do not provide parking validation. 

Thu, December 12 2024 11 Kislev 5785