Holidays - Temple Isaiah

Our gatherings, celebrations, and meaningful moments are built around the holidays of the Jewish year. We hold special community gatherings on festivals including Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and the High Holidays.

Service times vary. Please check the temple calendar for times of holiday services and celebrations. We look forward to celebrating with you!

High Holidays

The High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, are among the most important days of the Jewish year. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year and is a time for celebration, reflection, and renewal. Yom Kippur is a day of fasting and prayer where we ask for forgiveness and seek to improve ourselves in the coming year.

At Temple Isaiah, we observe the High Holidays with a range of services for all ages. From outdoor contemporary services that incorporate creative and participatory music and stories, to traditional sanctuary services that include extensive music and formal messages from our rabbis.

Sukkot

Sukkot is a joyous fall harvest festival. Each year, Brotherhood builds a sukkah in front of the temple which is decorated by our students and used by the entire community. For Temple Isaiah, Sukkot is a week long celebration of community, bounty, prayer, and gratitude.

Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah, a festive holiday following Sukkot, is the celebration of the values and principles taught in the Torah. It marks the beginning of a new cycle for the reading of the Torah. At Temple Isaiah, congregants get to see the whole Torah unrolled. It's nearly the length of the sanctuary!

Chanukah

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Though the holiday is traditionally celebrated at home, we also celebrate as a community with a nightly candle lighting of the Chanukah menorah on the Isaiah lawn, a special family service, and our annual Chanukah festival.

Purim

Purim is a joyous holiday celebrating the events described in the Book of Esther. Queen Esther saved the Jews of Persia from a plot to destroy them by the king's minister, Haman. Children love to drown out the evil Haman's name with their groggers at our annual Purim Spiel, and enjoy carnival fun and games at our LEFTY-sponsored Purim Carnival.

Passover

Passover, also known as Pesach, celebrates God's redemption of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt as described in the book of Exodus. Occurring in the spring, it also celebrates the rebirth of life in that season. At Temple Isaiah, we celebrate with a service on the first and last day of Passover, as well as an online seder for the community.

Shavuot

Shavuot is the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to Moses, and marks the end of the counting of the Omer. Shavuot highlights the importance of Torah in Jewish life. We celebrate the Torah learning of our students with Confirmation for our 10th Grade class, a special community dinner, and late night study session.