High Holidays
This page has the 411 on the High Holiday season at KI. Whether you’re searching for a great seat for the High Holidays, Sukkot party options, or service times, look no further.
There are two convenient ways to make all your reservations, including seats and events:
1) Click here to make your reservations online
2) Or call us at 502-459-2780
Ready to pay for seat tickets or an event? Click here for our payment portal.
Seat Prices: $118 per seat for members & $236 per seat for non-members.
FREE SEATS AVAILABLE
Do you know of any students enrolled in college, or anyone in the military, who need High Holiday tickets? Or anyone who has never joined us before for High Holidays? Please let us know in the office, and we will extend free seats to them.
HIGH HOLIDAY HONORS
This High Holiday season, Keneseth Israel would like to honor…you! Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are times to both reflect on and celebrate our accomplishments and milestones from the past year. Would you like to mark a special event with an Aliyah or another honor on the High Holidays? Please tell Rabbi Wolk what you would like to commemorate. Even if you are not celebrating something this year but would like an honor at services, please email Rabbi Wolk at mwolk@kenesethisrael.com or call him at 502-459-2780.
STUDENT HOLIDAY KITS
Send some love and sweet New Year’s wishes to your college students. Sign up for KISHKA, Keneseth Israel’s Student Holiday Kits. It’s easy to do, and students really appreciate receiving a special package from KI during the holidays.
For more details, contact Laura Levin at elllevin@aol.com or 502-429-0165 or Gerry Kahn at gkahn@kenesethisrael.com or 502-459-2780. Submit your student info asap, so Laura can make timely arrangements for the care packages.
OPERATION ISAIAH
The plight of the homeless and hungry is constant. Part of the meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is to remind us of our responsibility to help relieve misery. That responsibility is explicit in Isaiah’s timeless message in the haftarah for Yom Kippur:
“Surely this is the fast I choose…you should break your bread for the hungry, and bring the moaning poor [to your] home; when you see a naked person, clothe him; and do not hide yourself from your kin.” — Isaiah 58:6-7
With the words of Isaiah serving as an ideal, we strive to embrace this message. Please bring with you a bag of nonperishable food, toiletries, and other necessities from now until Yom Kippur, and as you arrive for Kol Nidre. All donations will be delivered to the JFCS Food Pantry following Yom Kippur.
FAMILY SERVICES
We are excited to welcome back Gabe Pachter – he made a wonderful impression leading family services last year. Gabe is a lifelong Jewish educator with more than 10 years experience leading High Holidayservices for children and families.
Rosh Hashanah (9/10, 9/11) and Yom Kippur (9/19)
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – families with children ages 8-12
12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. – teenagers
Kol Nidre (9/18)
7:00 p.m. – families with children ages 8-12
Plus: On the first day of Rosh Hashanah (9/10), all children are invited to say the blessings on the fifth Aliyah before family services begin.
Open to the entire community, whether a KI member or not. No cost to attend.
BABYSITTING
KI is pleased to offer babysitting during High Holiday services at $10/day/child for ages 18 months to 2nd grade, as follows:
Rosh Hashanah (9/10, 9/11)
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Kol Nidre (9/18)
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Yom Kippur (9/19)
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
Please contact Laura Levin at elllevin@aol.com or 502-429-0165 with your child’s reservation, and be sure to include any allergy information.
ROSH HASHANAH IN THE PARK
See you at Big Rock Park for Tashlich as we cast off our sins (and breadcrumbs) into Beargrass Creek on Monday, September 10 @ 6:00 p.m. After Tashlich we hope you stay at Big Rock for a New Year’s Party with cake and champagne, followed by Rosh Hashanah afternoon services. The entrance to the park is at the north end of Valletta Lane.
BREAK THE FAST
The Keneseth Israel Sisterhood invites you to Break the Fast immediately following the conclusion of Yom Kippur services. There is no charge for this light meal (not just a nosh), but reservations are required. Donations to defray preparation costs are always appreciated.
THE FOUR SPECIES
KI is proud to offer lulav and etrog sets for $54/set – reserve your set by calling the office, or using the RSVP portal listed above. The lulav & etrog are some of the ritual objects that we use on Sukkot. Though we call it the Lulav, it actually is comprised of branches of three species: the Lulav (palm), the Hadas (myrtle), and the Aravah (willow). Taken together with the etrog, they make up the Four Species.
HUNGER WALK/RUN/ROW
In what has become an annual tradition at KI during the High Holiday season, we join Dare to Care Food Bank in trying to stomp out hunger in Louisville. Join KI’s Hunger Walk team on September 23. Click here to join our team.
FAMILY PARTY IN THE SUKKAH
All families are invited to join us on Monday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the KI Sukkah. This family-friendly event includes a light dinner, an edible Sukkah contest, arts and crafts, and more!
CEVICHE IN THE SUKKAH
Join KI for an evening in the Sukkah at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, featuring Latin-inspired food and cocktails catered by Mayan Cafe. $10 per person. RSVP@kenesethisrael.com or call 502-459-2780.
SIMCHAT TORAH PARTY
Please join us at AJ on Monday, October 1, for a joint synagogue event. Festivities begin at 5:45 p.m. with Mincha followed by a light celebratory dinner. Then, we move on to Hakafot at 7 p.m. Cap off the evening with an ice cream feast! Then, on Tuesday, October 2, come to KI for festive Simchat Torah services.
Reservations are required for the October 1st dinner and the final deadline is September 21st. For reservations, call the AJ office at 502-459-5359, or register online at www.adathjeshurun.com/simchat
Sitter service is free of charge, however, reservations are required.
Complete High Holiday Schedule of Services and Events
Sunday, September 9 – Erev Rosh Hashanah
Erev Rosh HaShanah Service – 6:00 p.m.
Candles – 7:41 p.m.
Monday, September 10 – 1st Day Rosh Hashanah
Morning Service – 9:00 a.m.
All children are invited to say the blessings on the fifth Aliyah – 10:15 a.m.
Family Service – 10:30 a.m.
Teen Service – 12:15 p.m.
Tashlich, New Year’s Party, Services @ Big Rock – 6:00 p.m.
Candles – 8:38 p.m.
Tuesday, September 11 – 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah
Morning Service – 9:00 a.m.
Family Service – 10:30 a.m.
Teen Service -12:15 p.m.
Afternoon Service – 6:00 p.m.
Havdalah – 8:37 p.m.
Wednesday, September 12 – Fast of Gedaliah
Fast begins – 5:57 a.m.
Fast ends – 8:22 p.m.
(No Jews and Brews today)
Tuesday, September 18 – Erev Yom Kippur
Mincha – 6:45 p.m.
Kol Nidre – 7:00 p.m.
Family Service – 7:00 p.m.
Candles – 7:28 p.m.
Fast begins – 7:28 p.m.
Wednesday, September 19 – Yom Kippur
Morning Service – 9:00 a.m.
Family Service – 10:30 a.m.
Teen Service – 12:15 p.m.
Yizkor – approx. 11:30 a.m.
Study Session w/ Rabbi Wolk – 5:00 p.m.
Mincha and Ne’ilah – 6:00 p.m.
Fast Ends – 8:24 p.m.
Break the Fast Dinner – approx. 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 23 – Erev Sukkot
Hunger Walk – 2:15 p.m.
Erev Sukkot Service – 6:00 p.m.
Candles – 7:20 p.m.
Monday, September 24 – 1st Day Sukkot
Morning Service – 9:30 a.m.
Afternoon Service – 6:00 p.m.
Family Sukkah Party – 6:30 p.m.
Candles – 8:16 p.m.
Tuesday, September 25 – 2nd Day Sukkot
Morning Service – 9:30 a.m.
Afternoon Service – 6:00 p.m.
Havdalah – 8:14 p.m.
Wednesday, September 26
Jews and Brews in Rabbi’s Sukkah – 11:00 a.m.
Afternoon Service – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 27
Ceviche in the Sukkah – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, September 28
Kabbalat Shabbat – 6:00 p.m.
Candles – 7:12 p.m.
Saturday, September 29
Shabbat morning service – 9:30 a.m.
Kiddush luncheon at Rabbi’s Sukkah – 12:30 p.m.
Havdalah – 8:08 p.m.
Sunday, September 30 – Hoshana Rabba
Morning Service @ A.J. – 8:45 a.m.
Evening Service @ K.I. – 5:45 p.m.
Candles – 7:09 p.m.
Monday, October 1 – Shemini Atzeret
Morning Service with Yizkor – 9:30 a.m.
Mincha @ A.J. – 5:45 p.m.
Dinner @ A.J. – 6:15 p.m.
Simchat Torah Celebration @ A.J. – 7:00 p.m.
Candles – 8:05 p.m.
Tuesday, October 2 – Simchat Torah
Morning Service @ K.I. – 9:30 a.m.
Afternoon Service @ KI. – 6:00 p.m.
Havdalah – 8:03 p.m.