Temple Sinai members with an active 2025–2026 membership will receive High Holy Days admission cards in the mail.

If you are not a member, are unable to make a pledge, or are requesting extra admission cards for family or friends, please complete the High Holy Days registration form.

Due to space constraints, we require all members and non-members attending Tot and Family Youth Services to fill out the registration form in advance.

Click here for the High Holy Days registration form.

Please note: After September 8, admission cards will no longer be mailed. Instead, they must be picked up at the Temple Office on the day of services when you arrive. Please come to the office first to collect your card before entering the sanctuary.

Click here to join all sanctuary services for Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Day, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur Day.

Click here to join the Yom Kippur Healing Service.

We welcome members and non-members to join us for the High Holy Days, in person, or on Zoom. Unlike last year, registration is not required to join services on Zoom.

Please consider making a gift to Temple Sinai at this season. Contributions are an important part of our fundraising, and help enable us to be a welcoming and inclusive community and support programming throughout the year. 

We warmly welcome both members and non-members to join us for our Tot Services (ages 0–5 and family) and Family Youth Services (ages 6–12 and family), led by Rabbi Stein and Rabbinical student Abi Oshins. We offer these services on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

These engaging, family-friendly experiences are open to all seeking meaningful connection. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required.

Please register to reserve seats here.

Machzorim (High Holy Day prayer books) will not be shown on screen during services. We encourage those who will participate in High Holy Day services online to obtain their own set or, if Sinai members, to borrow our prayer books. We use URJ’s two-volume Mishkan HaNefesh machzor book.

Click here for more information about our “Borrow-a-Machzor” program.

The Hebrew month of Elul is a time of personal preparation and reflection before the beginning of the Jewish New Year. During the entire month before Rosh Hashanah, Jewish tradition invites us to start the process of cheshbon ha’nefesh, developing “spiritual accountability,” with prayer, music, study and the sound of the Shofar, so that we may look within to be more fully transformed when the High Holy Days arrive. 

Once again this year, Temple Sinai provides these Elul opportunities to help us come together as a community and prepare our hearts for the Jewish New Year 5786:

Outdoor Shofar Blowing Gatherings

• Sunday, August 24 (1st Day of Elul) – 6:00pm, on the Sanctuary steps of Temple Sinai
• Tuesday, September 9 – 5:15pm, on the Sanctuary steps of Temple Sinai
• Thursday, September 11 – 5:30pm at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse at 507 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain
• Sunday, September 14 – 12:15pm, at the Temple Sinai booth on Harvard St. for Brookline Day
• Wednesday, September 17 – 5:30pm at the Brown Street Park playground & Minot Rose Garden at St. Paul Street & Freeman Street, Brookline

Teshuvah in Judaism & Our Lives: Study with Rabbi Andy Vogel

Sunday, September 14, 11:00am, Larkin Library

Teshuvah means a return to the self. Join Rabbi Vogel for a study and discussion of how Judaism treats the possibility of change, renewal and return, as part of our preparations in Elul for the Jewish High Holy Days.

Elul Study and Book Discussions with Rabbi Talia Stein

Join us for two book discussion gatherings, open to the entire community, to explore aspects of the book: “This is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared” by Alan Lew, and how it brings us closer to cheshbon ha’nefesh, developing “spiritual accountability”:

• Tuesday, September 9, 7:00-8:30pm
• Tuesday, September 16, 7:00-8:30pm

Heart of Elul Reflections – internet-based discussion board on Jewish teachings

During Elul this year, we will once again provide an internet discussion board as an opportunity to reflect on short Jewish teachings about the themes of this month of personal preparation. Throughout each week of Elul, look for an email from Temple Sinai with a link to a Padlet visual chat board that contains a Jewish teaching. We invite you to add your comments to share your reflections on each teaching, as part of an ongoing community conversation on the themes of renewal, repentance and repair.

The Memorial Book is a special opportunity to recall your departed loved ones in the New Year. Please respond to this year’s mailing, or contact the Temple office for further information. The Scroll of Remembrance booklet will be distributed at the Yizkor Memorial Service on Yom Kippur afternoon.

For over 30 years, Temple Sinai has participated in the nationwide effort to collect food for those in need during the High Holy Days through our Annual Food Drive with Boston Medical Center’s Grow Clinic. This unique and vital program serves over 5,000 malnourished people each year.

Jewish tradition teaches: Tzedakah tatzil mimavet – Tzedakah saves from death. Rising temperatures and food costs have ballooned the Grow Clinic roster, as have the number of asylum seekers—many of whom are banned from federally funded food programs—making the need for philanthropic efforts like the Grow Clinic and the Preventive Pantry a literal matter of life or death.

Donations (click here for a list of suggested items) can be dropped off when you come for High Holy Days services (greeters will direct you), or anytime by October 10. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.

You can also click here to support the Grow Clinic Food Pantry with a donation.

This year, we are also collecting fall and winter clothes (for all ages) for the Immigrant Family Services Institute. Donations can be dropped off at High Holy Days services with the greeters, or anytime at the temple office during normal office hours. 

Q: How can I join services on Zoom?

A: Click here to join all sanctuary services for Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Day, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur Day.

Click here to join the Yom Kippur Healing Service.

Q: Who needs to register for services?

A: All non-members who wish to attend in person need to register for services. Non-members who wish to attend on Zoom do not need to register.

Due to space constraints, we require all members and non-members attending Tot and Family Youth Services to fill out the registration form in advance.

If members would like extra tickets for friends or family, please fill out the registration form.

Q: How do I receive admission cards?

A: Everyone who fills out the online registration form before September 8 will receive admission cards in the mail (snail mail). If you register on or after September 8, please come to the temple office when you arrive for services to pick up your admission card(s).

Temple Sinai members who make their 2025-2026 SinaiPromise pledge by August 1, 2025, will automatically be mailed (snail mail) High Holy Days admission cards. If you have not yet made your pledge, please do so here!

For Tot and Family Youth services, non-members, as well as members requesting extra admission cards for family or friends, please complete the registration form.

(If you are not a member or otherwise are unable to make a pledge, you can register separately for High Holy Days services here).

Please note: After September 8, admission cards will no longer be mailed. Instead, they must be picked up at the Temple Office on the day of services when you arrive. Please come to the office first to collect your card before entering the sanctuary.

Q: How do I attend Tot/Family Youth Services?

A: Tot and Family services are in person only, in the Weintraub Community Room. Due to space constraints, we require that all members and non-members please register in advance.

Q: Do I have to be a member to attend High Holy Days services? How much does it cost to attend High Holy Days services at Temple Sinai?

A: We welcome all who wish to attend! Non-members, please register here.

There is no cost to attend, however we welcome donations so we can continue to be a welcoming and inclusive community, and support programming throughout the year. Make a donation to Temple Sinai!

Q: Are High Holy Days services accessible?

A: Yes, Temple Sinai is wheelchair accessible. There are accessible entrances on both Charles St at the main sanctuary doors, and on Sewall Ave at the Religious School entrance. Greeters will be available to answer questions and help when you arrive for services. 

Q: How can I donate to the Grow Clinic food drive?
A: Please drop off donations anytime before October 5. If you are dropping off donations during regular business hours, please bring them to the main office at the religious school entrance. If you are bringing your donations when you come for services, please bring them with you to the main sanctuary entrance, and greeters will direct you where to put them. Grow Clinic 2025 Suggested Donations

Q: Whom do I contact if my question is not answered here?

A: For all questions regarding High Holy Days, please email Operations Coordinator Nessa Goldhirsch Brown at nessa@sinaibrookline.org.

For questions about SinaiPromise Membership, please email billing@sinaibrookline.org.