All High Holy Days tickets will be sent to your email electronically on Thursday, September 7th. Each ticket will work for one person only.
High Holy Days tickets are provided to all members in good standing. Members who are not in good standing will be notified and asked to make arrangements to improve their status. If they do so, they will be provided tickets. There are other instances when tickets are provided for attendance:
For ticket requests, email Heather Spegal at hspegal@wisetemple.org or go to: wisetemple.org/donate. Make your donation to the General–Prayerbook Fund and list the names and email addresses of those needing tickets in the acknowledgement box. Tickets will be emailed directly to your guests, so please make sure to provide accurate information.
Watch for emails from the temple! Tickets cannot be sent without a correct email address. Update your email address and phone number in the portal to make sure you receive your tickets and so we can contact you if needed. If you aren’t receiving regular emails from Wise Temple, your email needs to be updated.
If you have not received your tickets by Friday, September 8th, or if you have questions, please contact Heather Spegal at 513-793-2556 or hspegal@wisetemple.org.
Monday, September 25th
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
ZOOM from Wise Center, Plum Street Temple, or home
On Yom Kippur Day between our Morning and Afternoon Services, Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of the Reform movement’s Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), will engage in conversation from Jerusalem with Rabbi Kamrass and all in attendance, sharing how the explosive social issues of Israeli society can be understood in today’s landscape. In her work as an attorney at the Israel Religious Action Center, Orly has appeared extensively before the Israeli Supreme Court, arguing for the rights of minorities, Reform Jews, and women in Israel. There could be no one better to hear from directly on the current defining issues in Israeli life. You will want to attend this great opportunity for Wise Temple members either from home, or at Wise Center or Plum Street Temple. Register in advance to receive your Zoom link for this special learning session.
Introducing this year’s High Holy Days cantorial soloists:
Elana Bell is a mezzo-soprano currently based in New York. She recently graduated from the Yale School of Music with a Master of Musical Arts in Opera, and now works as a freelance performer and teacher. She was a regular cantorial soloist at Wise from 2019-2021 while attending CCM, and has enjoyed returning for the High Holy Days for the past two years.
Rosh Hashanah: 8:00 PM PST, 11:00 AM WC; Yom Kippur: 8:00 PM PST, 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM WC.
Rachel Kobernick is a Cincinnati-based soprano, musician, and teacher. Rachel holds two degrees in opera from CCM, and regularly cantors for Shabbat services and B’nai Mitzvah at Wise Temple. After singing with the High Holy Days choir last year, Rachel is thrilled to lead the congregation as a cantorial soloist this year.
Yom Kippur: 8:00 PM WC, 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM PST.
Kimberly Lazzeri, soprano, is Associate Professor of Voice and Vocal Area Coordinator at Northern Kentucky University. Kimberly recently completed a three-year term as Music Program Head. This fall, she is on sabbatical recording an album of classically arranged Yiddish folksongs. She has served as cantorial soloist at Wise Temple since 2018.
Rosh Hashanah: 10:00 AM PST
Betsy Singer-Lefton is a freelance vocalist and licensed professional counselor in private practice. Betsy was a lead vocalist with the ruach-infused Wise Temple band, Shir Chadash, for 13 years and a cantorial soloist for 5 years. Betsy spent over 18 years teaching the wonderful 2nd grade students of the Wise Temple Religious School as well. Betsy’s experience in the arts includes the positions of Chapter Relations Manager for the national non-profit Educational Theatre Association, director of the acclaimed Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival and the Cultural Arts Manager of the JCC Arts & Ideas Series. As a creative professional, Betsy has enjoyed years of vocal performance as a cantorial soloist, a cappella performer and voiceover artist, and has worked as choreographer and instructor at CCM Preparatory, Northern Kentucky University and Contemporary Dance Theatre of Cincinnati.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service: 8:45 AM WC; Yom Kippur Family Service 8:45 AM WC.
Are you traveling during the High Holy Days? The temple office can complete forms needed for members to attend services at a URJ-affiliated congregation in another city. Please contact Heather Spegal at 513‒793‒2556 or hspegal@wisetemple.org to arrange reciprocity.
10:45 – 12:30 PM | Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur (Wise Center)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: $10 fee per child per holiday, limited to first 45 member children Children’s Program: Children PreK (must be at least 4 years old) through 2nd Grade are invited to join us for holiday-themed stories, songs, and crafts in the Open Room. We will also enjoy some of Wise Center’s outdoor spaces, weather permitting.
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available for children, ages 6 month – 3 years old, for members attending Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur morning services at Wise Center The program will be staffed by Jackie Preston, this year’s Kehillah Threes program teacher.
Rosh Hashanah Teen Experience: New Year, New World Service Project
Saturday, September 16th (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Wise Center
Led by Rabbinic Fellow, Aaron Torop, join other Wise Temple teens celebrating Rosh Hashanah and participate in a service project to help create a world with more justice. Open to all teens 8th-12th grades and taking place during morning services, this program will provide a meaningful, engaging and participatory way for teens to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. We will partner with Heartfelt Tidbits for a service project to support refugee families in Cincinnati.
Kol Nidre Teen Experience: Our Lived Reality
Sunday, September 24th (8:00 PM – 9:15 PM)
Wise Center
Yom Kippur is an opportunity to examine our missteps individually and societally. Being a student today means confronting the reality of our societal inaction that has perpetuated the reality of gun violence in schools and a mental health crisis among teens. During Kol Nidre, 8th-12th grade students are invited to participate in a facilitated conversation with Rabbinic Fellow, Aaron Torop, on how the themes of Yom Kippur, including acknowledging the problems that plague our community, show up in your daily lived reality.
In over 30 years, Wise Temple congregants have donated more than 731,600 pounds of food and personal care items to the Freestore Foodbank.
Carry the Mitzvah: Bring your bags to either temple on Yom Kippur for Freestore Foodbank to collect.* Or, from September 2‒26, drop off bags in the Wise Center lobby. Click the Mitzvah: Visit wisetemple.org/clickthemitzvah from September 2‒19 to have your donations delivered directly to the temple.
* At Wise Center, please park before removing bags from your car in order to keep traffic flowing.
Please order by 5:00 PM on Monday, September 11. The cost is $80 per set. Order at: wisetemple.org/lulavandetrog/ or contact Heather Spegal at 513‒793‒2556 or hspegal@wisetemple.org.
Please click here for a list of Jewish holiday dates for this year and beyond.
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