

Share the sacred season with us as we begin the New Year 5786 (2025)!
“In a place where no one is human, strive to be human.” – Pirkei Avot 2:5
This High Holy Days season, we come together to reflect, renew, and return to what matters most — our shared humanity. During this time of year, we are called to take personal responsibility to show moral courage, and to bring our Jewish values to counter injustice in our community, our nation and the world.
Join us at Congregation Achduth Vesholom as we enter the sacred days of awe, guided by the wisdom of our tradition and the warmth of community. Together, we’ll open our hearts, lift our voices, and strive to be more compassionate, just, and whole.
We’ll welcome the New Year 5786, with both Reform and Conservative minyanim worshiping together as one congregation, on Erev Rosh Hashanah on Monday, September 22 and on Kol Nidre on Wednesday, October 1.
Rabbi Meir Bargeron will lead the services, weaving together aspects of both liturgical traditions to inspire new insights during this time of reflection, forgiveness, and renewal. He’ll be joined by Hazzan Penny Myers, who will lead Conservative worship on the first and second days of Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement.
Maestro Robert Nance will join us throughout the holidays for evening and Reform services.
Our annual New Year’s Reception will provide an opportunity for our Temple family to share good wishes and enjoy a delicious nosh. The ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) will host Break-the-Fast meals after both concluding services on Yom Kippur.
Please join us in person or on YouTube throughout the Days of Awe. We warmly welcome visitors to our High Holy Days services.
Please contact the Temple office for more information about in-person attendance at (260) 744-4245 or office@templecav.org.
Visit our calendar for the latest schedule.
Please join us for worship and other holiday activities:
Selichot Service – Saturday, September 13
- 7:45 p.m. Begin the holiday season together with Havdalah and meditative prayer and readings.
Erev Rosh Hashanah Service – Monday, September 22
- 7:30 p.m. All-Congregation service
- Reception follows
Rosh Hashanah – First Day – Tuesday, September 23
- Conservative Services
- 8:30 a.m. – Shacharit
- 10 a.m. Torah service with D’var Torah
- 11 a.m. Musaf
- 10 a.m. – Reform Service
- Noon – All-Congregation Tashlich at Foster Park West, Winchester Road
- 4 p.m. Family Service
Rosh Hashanah, Second Day – Wednesday, September 24
- Conservative Services
- 8:30 a.m. – Shacharit
- 10 a.m. Torah service with D’var Torah
- 11 a.m. Musaf
- Friday, September 26
- 6 p.m., includes dedication of yahrzeit plaques added in the past year
Cemetery Services – Sunday, September 28
- 1 p.m. at Lindenwood Cemetery
- 2:30 p.m. at Fort Wayne Jewish Cemetery
Erev Yom Kippur Services – Wednesday, October 1
- 7:15 p.m. Mincha (Goldstine-B’nai Jacob Chapel)
- 8 p.m. All Congregation Kol Nidre (Sanctuary)
Yom Kippur Services – Thursday, October 2
- Conservative Services
- 8:30 a.m. Shacharit Service
- 10 a.m. – Torah, Haftorah, D’var Torah, Yizkor
- 11:30 a.m. Musaf
- 3 p.m. Healing Service
- 6 p.m. Mincha
- 7 p.m. – Neilah
- 8:10 p.m. – Havdalah
- Break-the-Fast follows
- Reform Services
- 10 a.m. Morning Service
- 3 p.m. – Healing Service
- 4 p.m. – Yizkor (Memorial) Service
- 5 p.m. – Neilah (Concluding) Service
- Break-the-Fast follows
Shabbat & Sukkot Service – Friday, October 10
- 6 p.m., followed by a Nosh in the Sukkah
Joy Vey! A Kid-ish Shabbat & Sukkot Morning with Musician Juliette Nehring – Saturday, October 11
- 10:30 a.m.
Simchat Torah Service with Yizkor –
- Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m.
Support the Temple with a High Holy Days Donation
As we prepare to start the New Year, it’s tradition to make a donation to the Temple to help support our year-round efforts to ensure a Jewish presence in Northeast Indiana.
Please consider being a “sponsor” of Achduth Vesholom’s High Holy Days 5786. Your generous gift will be used for needs during the holidays and beyond, from replenishing the floral fund to assisting with security, music, technology, and congregational events.
Sponsors who donate $180 or more by Thursday, September 11 will be recognized in our holiday announcements.
Jewish tradition encourages making tzedakah (charitable gifts) in multiples of 18, which is spelled chai and also means “life.” Donations offered in any amount will be greatly appreciated.
We’re proud to be one congregation with two worship traditions. Whether your customary gift is through sponsoring aliyot during Conservative services or your annual donation contributes to other congregational needs, we value and appreciate your assistance.
We have several ways to give:
- Donate online and choose “High Holy Days” on the dropdown menu. Please indicate if your gift is “in honor of” or “in memory of” a special person, or celebrates an occasion.
- For aliyot during our Conservative service, please contact Josh Tourkow at jtourkow@tcrjlaw.com. (To donate online, choose “High Holy Days – Aliyot” on the dropdown menu and indicate if your gift is “in honor of” or “in memory of” a special person, or celebrates an occasion.)
- Send a check payable to “CAV- The Temple” to sponsor the High Holy Days (5200 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46807)
High Holy Days Food Drive
This year for the High Holy Days, we’re asking you to help those who need food assistance get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. Wellspring Interfaith Social Services, which counts the Temple among its congregational faith partners, will provide all the fixings their clients need to enjoy a delicious holiday meal. And we can help!
Please take a paper grocery bag from the lobby on Rosh Hashanah and return it on Yom Kippur with the following items in cans or boxes:
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, mushroom soup, green beans, sweet potatoes, cake mix/frosting, gratin potatoes/scalloped, gravy, french fried onions
If shopping is not your thing, we accept checks! Write a check to “Wellspring Interfaith Social Services” for any amount you can donate, get it to Temple, and we will take all checks to Wellspring.
You can always make a direct donation
Fill yourself with the holiday spirit and give what you can!
Thank you from the Social Action Committee!
Remembering Loved Ones on Yom Kippur
If you would like to have a loved one’s name included during Memorial/Yizkor services on Yom Kippur, please provide information to the Temple office by Thursday, September 25. Call us at (260) 744-4245 or email at office@templecav.org.
Names will be read on Thursday, October 2 at 10 a.m. during our Conservative service or 4 p.m. during our Reform service.
Thoughtful Thursdays Apple Project
Help supply a bag of fresh apples for the children who attend Brightpoint Head Start at the Temple through the 15th annual Thoughtful Thursdays Apple Project.
This mitzvah is a way to combat hunger in our local community!
A paper tree will be on display at the Temple with apples featuring the name of each person who donates $18 or more for the apple project by Friday, October 10, 2025.
Donate online (Please indicate the amount of your donation, designate project Assist/Thoughtful Thursdays, and indicate the name you would like to appear on the apple for the tree.)
Machzorim Available To Borrow For Online Worship
Members who plan to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services online may borrow machzorim (holiday prayer books). Find out more
Holiday Books in the Temple Library
Check out some favorite titles for children and adults on our shelves to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We have a large selection for the High Holy Days in the Rabbi Richard B. Safran Library.
Join Us For The Holidays!
Our High Holy Days services are open to all. We do not require tickets to attend and guests are welcome. Please let us know if you’ve met someone new to our Jewish community so that we may reach out to them.
Members and guests often ask about making a donation to the Temple in appreciation for the lovely services and to assist our year-round efforts. Donations envelopes are available at the Temple. Online donations also may be made.
If you’re traveling to another Union for Reform Judaism congregation that requires tickets for the holidays, please contact the Temple office as soon as possible. We can provide a letter verifying that you’re a member in good standing of Achduth Vesholom in order to obtain tickets at another Reform congregation.