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High Holy Days

Norm Greenberg and Don Zelman shofar 2021 cropped tight
ROMEOS BTF 2021

Share the sacred season with us as we begin the New Year 5787 (2026)!

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 5787, with both Reform and Conservative minyanim worshiping together as one congregation, on Erev Rosh Hashanah on Friday, September 11 and on Kol Nidre on Sunday, September 20.

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 5

  • 7:30 p.m. Begin the holiday season together with Havdalah and meditative prayer and readings.

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service – Friday, September 11

  • 7:30 p.m. All-Congregation service
  • Reception follows

Rosh Hashanah – First Day – Saturday, September 12

Rosh Hashanah, Second Day – Sunday, September 13

  • Conservative Services
    • 8:30 a.m. – Shacharit
    • 10 a.m. Torah service with D’var Torah
    • 11 a.m. Musaf

Shabbat Shuvah Services

Cemetery Services – Sunday, September 20

Erev Yom Kippur Services – Sunday, September 20

  • 7:15 p.m. Mincha (Goldstine-B’nai Jacob Chapel)
  • 8 p.m. All Congregation Kol Nidre (Sanctuary)

Yom Kippur Services – Monday, September 21

Shabbat & Sukkot Service – Friday, September 25

  • 6 p.m., followed by a Nosh in the Sukkah

Family Sukkot Celebration and Havdalah – Saturday, September 26

  • 6 p.m.

Simchat Torah Service with Consecration and Yizkor – Saturday, October 3

  • at 6 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 5787. 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 3 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)

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 Tuesday, September 15. Call us at (260) 744-4245 or email at office@templecav.org.

Names will be read on Monday, September 21 at 10 a.m. during our Conservative service or 4 p.m. during our Reform service.

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.