2025/5786 High Holidays

A Multigenerational Erev Rosh Hashanah Experience: We welcome in the New Year 5786 with a service geared toward ages five and older. This worship experience is designed for children, grandparents, families, and individuals who want to experience an uplifting, interactive, and joyful one-hour service on September 22^nd at 7:00 pm to usher in the New Year and our High Holiday season of renewal.

Rosh Hashanah Youth Worship and Programming: This service and program, led by Rabbi Prass and our Youth Song leader, is geared toward those in grades Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. Our students pray, learn, and enjoy this interactive, fun, special Holiday time. This program runs concurrently with our 9 am adult service. Parents/guardians must attend the concurrent 9 am adult service. Reservations are required to ensure we have sufficient staff, program, and worship materials. Our Youth Worship and Programming begins at 9:00 am on September 23rd.

Tot Rosh Hashanah Experience: This half-hour song, prayer, and story-filled time is designed for our youngest friends and their families and begins at 11:15 a.m. All Welcome!

Rosh Hashanah Early Morning Worship: This uplifting service runs concurrently with our K-5th Children’s Programming and Worship. Rabbi Bellows, Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler, and the Beth Am Choir will lead our Rosh Hashanah Early Worship. For ages 6th grade and up. Rosh Hashanah Early Worship begins at 9:00 am on September 23rd.

Rosh Hashanah Late Morning Worship: This uplifting service, which begins at 11:45 am, is led by Rabbi Bellows, Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler, and our Tefillah (prayer) Band.  

Tashlich: A tradition on Rosh Hashanah afternoon dates back to the Middle Ages. Tashlich, meaning “to cast,” is an outdoor gathering where we symbolically cast away our transgressions from the past year into a body of water, symbolizing the transformative beauty and power of creation. Tashlich is on Rosh Hashanah afternoon, around 1:30 pm, at Green Lake Park, 1101 Green Knolls Drive, in Buffalo Grove. 

Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of Repentance, takes place on the Friday night between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This Shabbat worship includes themes of repentance, forgiveness, and renewal. It is held at Beth Am on September 26^th at 7:00 pm.

Erev Yom Kippur Multi-Generational Worship: This Erev Yom Kippur worship is geared towards ages five and older and is led by Rabbi Bellows, Rabbi Prass, and our Cantorial Soloist, Todd Kessler. This worship service is a meaningful and interactive one-hour experience with Yom Kippur themes of forgiveness and repentance, featuring a selection from the Kol Nidre prayer. This service is on October 1st at 6:45 pm.

Kol Nidre Adult Worship: This service is designed for students in 6th grade and above. Kol Nidre, the prayer which releases us from vows made to God in the past year, will be chanted. This service is led by Rabbi Bellows, Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler, and the Beth Am Choir. Adult Kol Nidre worship begins at 8:15 pm on Saturday, October 1st. 

Yom Kippur Youth Worship and Programming: This service and program, led by Rabbi Prass and our Youth Song leader, is geared towards those in grades Kindergarten-5th. Our students pray, learn, and enjoy this interactive, fun, special Holiday time. This program runs concurrently with our 9 am adult service. Parents/guardians must attend the concurrent 9:00 am adult service. Reservations are required to ensure we have enough staff and program/worship materials. Youth Worship and Programming begins at 9:00 am on October 2nd.

Tot Yom Kippur Experience: This half-hour song, prayer, and story-filled time is geared towards our youngest friends and their families and begins at 11:15 am on October 2nd. All Welcome! 

Yom Kippur Early Morning Worship: This service of prayer, contemplation, teshuva (returning), and repentance runs concurrently with our Youth Service and Programming. Rabbi Bellows, Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler, and the Beth Am Choir will lead our Yom Kippur Early Worship at 9:00 am, October 2nd.

Yom Kippur Late Morning Worship: This service of prayer, contemplation, teshuva (returning), and repentance is led by Rabbi Bellows, Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler, and our Tefillah (prayer) Band. This service begins at 11:45 am on October 2nd.  

Yom Kippur Yizkor Morning Worship: Yizkor, the solemn service of remembrance, will take place immediately after Late Morning Worship. Rabbi Bellows and Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler will lead this service.

An October 7, 2023, Service of Remembrance and Healing Service: On October 7, 2023, Israel and the world witnessed the worst attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. At this service, we will pray, sing, and remember the more than 1400 Israelis killed. We will also include prayers for those in need of health and healing. This service begins at 3:15 pm on October 2^nd

Yom Kippur Afternoon, Yizkor and Neilah:  The Afternoon service begins at 4:00 pm and continues the themes of repentance and prayer. We will read from the Torah Scroll, and selections from the Book of Jonah will be recited in English. The liturgy of this service allows one to go deeper into the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and renewal. 
Yom Kippur Afternoon Yizkor Service: Yizkor, the solemn service of remembrance, will take place after our Afternoon Worship service. Rabbi Bellows, Cantorial Soloist Todd Kessler, and the Beth Am Choir will lead this service. (This service is also offered in the morning following the 11:45 am Late Morning worship) 

Yom Kippur Neilah Service: Join us for this powerful conclusion to Yom Kippur, as the last prayers of the Yamim Noraim, Days of Awe, are uttered and the Shofar is sounded. At the conclusion of Neilah, we invite all who wish to join us on the bima for Havdalah (concluding worship with candle, wine, and spices), Shofar sounding, and a breaking of the fast with Motzei/Challah. If you have a shofar, please bring it to this service!