Shanah Tovah!
The High Holy Days are right around the corner! We feel blessed to be able to celebrate and honor these Days of Awe with you, our kehillah.
Neveh Shalom is an open and egalitarian community. Our services are led by our clergy team Rabbi Eve Posen and Rabbi Cantor Eyal Bitton, Rabbi April Villarreal, guest leader Natan Meir, and our lay leaders. We welcome all to experience the New Year with Neveh Shalom.
Do you have any questions about the High Holy Days? If you cannot find the information below, please feel free to reach out to hhd@nevehshalom.org, or call the office at 503.246.8831.
Please note that the closer it gets to the HHDs, the busier the office is. Thank you for your patience.
High Holy Days 5787 Registration and High Holiday Pass
Neveh Shalom High Holiday Pass
New This Year: Simpler, More Welcoming
In the spirit of this year’s theme, Every “I” Strengthens Our “We,” we’ve made celebrating the High Holidays together even simpler.
This year, every member household will receive one Neveh Shalom High Holidays Pass instead of individual tickets. Whether you come on your own or with those you love, your Neveh Shalom High Holidays Pass welcomes everyone in your membership household.
One Pass. Endless Opportunities for Connection.
Your pass provides entry to the Neveh Shalom campus for:
- Erev Rosh Hashanah
- Rosh Hashanah – Day 1
- Rosh Hashanah – Day 2
- Kol Nidre – Yellow Ticket Annual Giving Campaign
- Yom Kippur
The Neveh Shalom High Holidays Pass is provided to all members in good standing who complete the High Holidays registration process.
Guest Passes
Planning to welcome family or friends to celebrate the High Holidays with you?
Please request guest passes when completing your High Holidays registration form. Guest passes will be available for pick-up at the Will Call table.
High Holidays Packet Pick-Up
Beginning September 2, members in good standing who have completed the High Holidays registration form may pick up their High Holy Day packet:
- Back to Shul | September 2
- Foundation School Dropoff | September 3
- Reception Desk during regular business hours
Packets not picked up in advance will be available at Will Call throughout the High Holidays.
Mailing Option
As a convenience, High Holidays packets will be mailed on September 5 to member households in which all adults are 80 years of age or older.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions about registration or your High Holidays packet, we’re happy to help.
Email: hhd@nevehshalom.org
Phone: 503.246.8831
Russian-speaking assistance is also available.
Are You Interested in Becoming a CNS Member?
Prior to the High Holy Days is a common time for people to become members of our Neveh Shalom community, as High Holy Day tickets are included as one of the many benefits offered.
What is the process for joining Neveh Shalom?
It’s easy! Contact Laura Robinson at lrobinson@nevehshalom.org or call at 503-246-8831. She will answer questions about Neveh Shalom and if you choose, show you around our facility, and introduce you to clergy, school directors, and the program director.
Service Schedule
Click here to for a pdf of the schedule.
SELICHOT – High Holy Day Melodies from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Traditions
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
8:00pm: Service | Free
EREV ROSH HASHANAH
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
6:15pm Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, Sanctuary
ROSH HASHANAH
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
8:45am Rosh Hashanah Service, beginning with Shacharit: Rabbi Posen & Rabbi Cantor Bitton, Sanctuary
8:45am Rosh Hashanah Service, beginning with Shacharit: Rabbi April Villarreal & Natan Meir, Stampfer Chapel
9:45am Teen (6th-12th grades) Rosh Hashanah Experience, Zidell Chapel
10:00am Young Family (ages 0-5) Rosh Hashanah Service, Birnbach Hall
11:00am Grade K-6th Family Service, Birnbach Hall
7:00pm Yachid v’Yachad teaching with CNS Clergy/Ma’ariv Birnbach Hall, see below
For information about the observance of Tashlich, please see below
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
8:45am RH 2nd Day Service with Clergy, Sanctuary
10:00am Shanah: A Family Rosh Hashanah Experience, Stampfer Chapel
2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Learning Experiences, Room 102
9:00am Rabbi April Villarreal: “Lamps of Fiery Gold”: Emma Lazarus’s Vision of Rosh Hashanah
10:00am Mel Berwin, Director of Congregational Learning: Yachid & Yachad: Being together and alone on the High Holy Days
11:00am Dr. Yosef Rosen: Harat Olam: Kabbalistic Reflections on Infertility, Conception, and Rosh Hashanah
KEVER AVOT GRAVESIDE SERVICE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Neveh Zedek 10:00-11:00pm | Ahavai Shalom 11:30-12:30am
EREV YOM KIPPUR
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
6:30pm Kol Nidre Service: Rabbi Posen & Rabbi Cantor Bitton, Sanctuary
6:30pm Kol Nidre Service: Rabbi April Villarreal & Natan Meir, Stampfer Chapel
YOM KIPPUR
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
8:45am Yom Kippur Service, beginning with Shacharit: Rabbi Posen & Rabbi Cantor Bitton, Sanctuary
8:45am Yom Kippur Service, beginning with Torah Service: Rabbi April Villarreal & Natan Meir, Stampfer Chapel
10:00am Young Family (ages 0-5) Yom Kippur Service, Birnbach Hall
10:00am Teen (6th-12th Grades) Discussion Circle, Zidell Chapel
11:00am Grade K-6th Family Service, Birnbach Hall
2:00pm Learning Time Discussion, Stampfer Chapel
5:30pm Minchah: Torah Service & Amidah, Sanctuary
7:00pm Neilah: Rabbi Posen, Rabbi Cantor Bitton, Rabbi April Villareal, Natan Meir, Sanctuary
8:00pm Children Gather Pre-Havdallah, Stampfer Chapel
8:11pm Havdallah, Sanctuary
Immediately after Havdallah, Break the Fast, Birnbach Hall
(Break the Fast generously Sponsored by CNS Sisterhood)
*Yizkor: The services in each location are similar but have slightly different timing. We cannot predict exact times for the Yizkor (Memorial) service. Yizkor is after the Torah service and before Musaf on Yom Kippur.
Because of communal and spiritual needs, all times are approximate.
Joining Us Online
Sanctuary & Stampfer services will be livestreamed. As with anything that is online, there is always a possibility of technical challenges. We will do our best to keep our livestream up and activated. And of course, we apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
Regarding Inclusivity
Neveh Shalom is a caring, inclusive community. We are committed to creating an atmosphere in services that is welcoming to and that works for all our congregants, from the youngest to the oldest. On these Days of Awe, we acknowledge that we can’t be perfect, but we can be compassionate in meeting one another’s prayer needs.
In regards to children, we celebrate that God put the wriggle in children, and that their “mode of being” in worship is intrinsically more vocal and more physical than that of adults.
We also recognize that not all children are the same. Many disabilities don’t present physically, and it is our value to be as inclusive as possible. If a child is making noises or has other seemingly disruptive behavior, it may be their way of participating.
Family Services & Events
Children are welcome in EVERY service at Neveh Shalom. You are also invited to services specifically designed for children and families.
We have a full and exciting range of family services and programs this year. Through the direction and leadership of Morah Candace Rothstein, and Mel Berwin – along with our Kiddush Club/ALIYAH teachers Gershon Liberman, Aliza Olson, and Meg Bernstein – our kids, teens, and parents will be engaged in age-appropriate ways that are open to everyone.
Parents are expected to stay and participate with children in Family Services. We welcome younger or older siblings at every family service, and we encourage you to attend the one that feels like the best fit for your family.
We are excited to expand the options for our youth of all ages to spend time together in programs and supervised hang-out spaces. For the safety of our children, congregants, and building, please make sure to review our HHD rules with your children.
PLEASE NOTE: While we want our children to feel at home in the synagogue, for their safety and the security of our building, we request that parents be aware of and take responsibility for their child’s whereabouts at all times. Please share expectations with your children ahead of time: Foundation School hallways are off limits; running in the building is not allowed; disrespectful and disruptive behaviors are prohibited.
HHD Childcare (0-2nd Grade)
Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & Yom Kippur Day 9:30am-1pm
- For children ages 12 months through 2nd grade.
- The timing allows families to attend young family services together and have supervision for children during Rabbis’ sermons.
- Familiar Foundation School teachers and teen assistants will offer an educational, fun, and safe environment for children to experience the joy of the High Holy Days.
Kol Nidre – October 1, 6:15-9pm
- For children ages 12 months through 2nd grade who can handle late evening babysitting at the shul.
$36 per child per day. Space is limited. RSVP and payment must be made by Tuesday, September 1
Please fill out the proper area in the HHD online registration form. A confirmation e-mail with room assignments, what to bring, etc. will be sent to you prior to the start of the High Holy Days. For more information contact Candace Rothstein: crothstein@nevehshalom.org.
Special High Holy Days 5786 Activities
Hear the Shofar During the Month of Elul
Sunday-Friday Mornings, August 14-September 10 (Sun: 9am; M-F: 7:15am)
It’s traditional to attend Morning Minyan in preparation for the High Holy Days and to hear the shofar being blown. You’ll need to hear it in person for it to be a “kosher” hearing. Interested in blowing the shofar at Morning Minyan? Contact Priscilla: lamalo@comcast.net.
Feldstein Library Support
Find support for your High Holiday preparation with one of our many books available at the Feldstein Library!
Selichot High Holy Day Melodies from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Traditions
Saturday, September 5, 8:00pm |Free
Join us for a musical Selichot celebration. Rabbi Eve Posen, Rabbi Cantor Eyal Bitton, and Rabbi April Villarreal explore and share some of their favorite melodies connected to the themes of Selichot and the High Holy Days.
Back to Shul 2026
Sunday, September 2, 5-7pm | In-Person, Holzman Plaza
Come join your friends, the CNS clergy, and staff for an exciting and fun-filled welcome back to shul! Kick off the new year with the sound of the shofar, a hot dog dinner, arts & crafts, and more! Visit with representatives from the many groups and programs that make up our dynamic kehillah. We can’t wait to see you for this ruach (spirit) filled evening!
Please RSVP at nevehshalom.org/BtS26, we want to count you in.
High Holy Days Food Drive: Operation Isaiah
September 11-September 21
Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh – All Israel Is Responsible for One Another. As we prepare for the High Holy Days, CNS is once again collecting food for our CNS Food Pantry and Neighborhood House. Please bring non-perishable donations to the bins inside the front gate, and help us ensure that everyone in our community enters the new year with fullness and dignity.
Teen (6th-12th Grades) Rosh Hashanah Experience
Saturday, September 12, 9:45am, Zidell Chapel
Together, Neveh teens (6th-12th grades) will mark the Jewish New Year with an upbeat and meaningful gathering on RH including games, meditation, and a creative process to take hold of the gift our ancestors offered: the challenge to cultivate peace in our lives and our community. Led by Tefilah & Youth Specialist Meg Bernstein.
Yachid v’Yachad Teaching with CNS Clergy
Saturday, September 12, 7:00pm
There is an ancient teaching that the way you begin your year is a sign for how it will proceed. Let’s begin our year with the blessing of community. Join your CNS clergy as we mark the flow of Rosh Hashanah from one day to the next. Together we’ll share a nosh, l’chaim, and share a piece of Torah that is at the heart of our High Holy Day practice. Ma’ariv to follow.
Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Learning Experiences
Sunday, September 13 – Room 102
9:00am Rabbi April Villarreal “Lamps of Fiery Gold”: Emma Lazarus’s Vision of Rosh Hashanah
Some of the most beautiful poetry by Emma Lazarus was about her experience of the Jewish holidays in 19th C New York. Together in Havruta, we will study her vivid reflections of Rosh HaShanah to discover new perspectives and inspiration in her words.
10:00am Mel Berwin, Director of Congregational Learning Yachid & Yachad: Being together and alone on the High Holy Days
Jewish ritual emphasizes both individual responsibility and communal engagement. We’ll delve into traditional and contemporary texts that help us understand the meaning and the paradox of this year’s congregational theme.
11:00am Dr. Yosef Rosen Harat Olam: Kabbalistic Reflections on Infertility, Conception, and Rosh Hashanah
This class examines the centrality of fertility and conception in the liturgy and theology of Rosh Hashanah, exploring how the day’s themes of cosmic creation are mirrored in narratives of human birth and renewal. Drawing mainly on Kabbalistic sources, we will trace how motifs of infertility, divine names, and embodied ritual come to shape the spiritual grammar of the new year. Dr. Yosef Rosen is the Director of Jewish Life & Learning at the Jewish Federation of Greater Poland and an historian of Jewish mysticism and magic.
Shanah: A Whole Family 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Exploration
Sunday, September 13, 10:00am-12:30pm (Shofar and short service at 10am) | FREE
For families with kids ages 0-12. Join us on the second day of Rosh Hashanah as we celebrate the Birthday of the World! Hear the shofar, make and taste freshly pressed apple cider, experience Tashlich (symbolic reflection on our missteps over the past year), family-friendly hiking, and more fun! Bring your own container for cider if you’d like to take some home! Questions? Contact Ronit Scheyer.
NOTE: Please come dressed and prepared for hiking, outdoor activities, and movement.
Tashlich
Sunday, September 13
This year Tashlich is performed on Tuesday, September 23. There will be no communal Tashlich this year. You are invited to go solo, or gather with your family and/or friends to create your own ritual experience. Click here for a prayer book.
Another popular option is a “reverse Tashlich” – where, instead of throwing pocket lint and bread crumbs out to say goodbye to one’s “schmutz”, you find an area in nature or your community to clean up, in the spirit of also ridding our community of the “schmutz.”. The intention held in the heart is the same.
Possible locations for your personal Tashlich or reverse Tashlich around the city are:
- S. Beaverton along Fanno Creek in the Fanno Creek Greenway, near Greenway Park
- N. Beaverton along Hall Creek just off SW 117th
- Neveh Shalom at creek off lower parking lot
- Wilsonville along the Willamette River
- SE Portland in Sellwood Riverfront Park along the Willamette
- NE Portland at Broughton Beach along the Columbia River (Marine Drive near 33rd)
Kever Avot Graveside Visit
Wednesday, September 16 | 10:00am-11:00pm Neveh Zedek | 11:30-12:30am Ahavai Shalom
The Jewish embrace of life is intertwined with respect for those who came before. In between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, there is a beautiful custom for families to gather at our cemeteries to recite special readings and hear the memorial prayers graveside. Depending on weather, we will gather outdoors or in the chapels.
Yom Kippur Discussion Circle for Teens
Monday, September 21 | 10:00am, Zidell Chapel
Teens (7th-12th grades) are invited to a Yom Kippur conversation on the topic of Teshuva—how we repent, forgive, and make change. Led by Tefilah & Youth Specialist Meg Bernstein.
Feldstein Library Yom Kippur Book Cart
During Yom Kippur, Monday, September 21
Librarian Leora Troper will be providing inspirational and contemplative books to borrow and read throughout the day. Keep an eye out for the black library book cart. Also, check out the Feldstein library webpage for a list of books to help you prepare for the High Holy Days.
Sukkot | Shemini Atzeret | Simchat Torah
Sukkot
September 25-October 2
Sukkot is the celebration of sacred time with its ties to nature, the Sukkah, and the successful conclusion of the High Holy Days season. There will be opportunities to gather with friends and community for food, prayer, study, conversation, and fun.
Hoshana Rabah
Friday, October 2
Hoshana Rabah comes toward the end of Sukkot. The ancient custom of beating willow branches at the conclusion of morning services pulls back the curtain on early Judaism and our land-based rituals. In a time of renewed environmental concerns, this unusual tradition has regained its relevance.
Shemini Atzeret/Yizkor
Saturday, October 3
The strength of the Jewish family depends on an intergenerational covenant of mutual concern. One way we demonstrate that is at Yizkor Services, when we reflect on those who came before us. This is a powerful moment to replenish our memories and our love of those we have lost.
Simchat Torah
October 3-4
Simchat Torah celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle.
For all Sukkot | Shemini Atzeret | Simchat Torah events, please visit: https://nevehshalom.org/sukkot-shemini-atzeret-simchat-torah-5787-2026/
