Join Us For:
Rosh Hashanah
in partnership with Wilderness Torah
Erev Rosh Hashanah (evening): Monday, September 22 • 7 pm
Rosh Hashanah Services: Tuesday, September 23 • 10 am
Community Taschlich Picnic: Tuesday, September 23 • following services
Rosh Hashanah Second Day
Torah Study: Wednesday, September 24 • 10 am
Contemplative Service: Wednesday, September 24 • 11 am
Yom Kippur
in partnership with Wilderness Torah
Erev Yom Kippur (evening): Wednesday, October 1 • 6:30 pm
Yom Kippur Day Contemplative Service: Thursday, October 2 • 10 am
Torah and Musaf Service • 12:30 pm
Workshops • 3:15 pm
Yizkor (Memorial) Service • 5 pm
Neilah (Closing) Service • 6:30 pm
All services to be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana St, Berkeley, CA 94704, except for the Contemplative service on Second Day Rosh Hashanah, which will be held at Chochmat HaLev, 2215 Prince Street, Berkeley CA 94705
ALL CHOCHMAT MEMBERS MUST REGISTER TO RECEIVE TICKETS, USING THE ACCESS CODE EMAILED TO YOU
חֲזַק וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ
Chazak v’Ya’ametz Libecha —
Courage and Resilience for Turbulent Times
In a world marked by uncertainty and overwhelm, the High Holy Days are an opportunity to be held by community, fill our cups with spiritual sustenance, and fortify our hearts for the challenges ahead. Don’t settle for rote performance or empty ritual this year. Join us at Chochmat HaLev to peel back the layers of the traditional liturgy to find meaning for our lives today. Make our sacred texts come alive in new and provocative ways. Allow our soulful music to open your heart and release what no longer serves you. Deepen your connection to Spirit by transcending outdated and dissonant notions of the Divine. Create deep bonds with a community that welcomes you in your full complexity.
Service Leaders: Rabbi Zvika Krieger | Lior Tsarfaty
Cantorial Soloist: Daniela Gesundheit
Guest Teachers: Melanie DeMore | Laura Goldman | Rabbi SaraLeya Schley
Musicians: Lauren Arrow | Eliyahu Sills | Don Benedictson | Irene Sazar | Michaelle Goerlitz
Recordings of the services will not be available. Sorry, no photography or video allowed.
Security Protocols
Security Protocols
To help keep our community safe—especially in light of current threats to Jewish institutions—we are implementing the following security measures:
- Professional security guards will be stationed at the main entrance and childcare building.
- All attendees must wear wristbands and show ID to access the sanctuary. Wristbands are required at all times.
- We are coordinating with the Berkeley Police Department, who will provide increased patrol and visible presence around the church.
- Children must be in childcare or accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Elul
Elul: Programming to Prepare for High Holy Days
Starting Sunday, August 24
See details about all Elul programs »
Rosh Hashanah
Erev Rosh Hashanah (evening)
Monday, September 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Pacific time
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Rosh Hashanah Day
Tuesday, September 23 • 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Rosh Hashanah Community Taschlich Picnic
Tuesday, September 23
Following service
More info »
Rosh Hashanah Second Day: Contemplative Service
Wednesday, September 24
AT CHOCHMAT HALEV: Torah Study 10 am • Contemplative Service 11 am
More info »
Yom Kippur
Erev Yom Kippur (evening)
Wednesday, October 1 • 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Yom Kippur Day Contemplative Service
Thursday, October 2 • 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Yom Kippur Day Torah and Musaf Service
Thursday, October 2 • 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Yom Kippur Day Workshops
Thursday, October 2 • 3:15 pm
First Presbyterian Church
More info »
Yom Kippur Day Yizkor (Memorial Service)
Thursday, October 2 • 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Yom Kippur Day Neilah (Closing Service) and Outdoor Havdalah (Closing Prayer)
Thursday, October 2 • 6:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
In partnership with Wilderness Torah
More info »
Sukkot
Sukkot Programs
Thursday, October 16 • 7 - 8:30 pm
at Chochmat Halev in the Sukkah
Information coming soon.
See all Sukkot events »
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah Celebration
Location TBD
Information coming soon.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Please help us make these High Holy Days services successful by being one of our holy volunteers! Everyone, young and older, can participate in this mitzvah! No special skills or experience required. It’s a great way to build more connection to our awesome community. Please sign up here:
CHILDCARE
Childcare will be available on site for children ages 4-6 and 7-11. On Rosh Hashanah, we will have childcare for the evening and morning services; on Yom Kippur, we will have childcare for the evening and morning services but not for the Yizkor and Neilah services.
We will offer holiday specific programming and music during the daytime services and appropriate activities on Erev Rosh Hashanah and Erev Yom Kippur. Families are required to reserve a spot and pay a childcare fee in advance of the holidays. Registration must be submitted by 9/8/25 for Rosh Hashanah and by 9/17/2025 for Yom Kippur in order for us to have sufficient staff to care for your children.
Childcare fees for Erev Rosh Hashanah (9/22) and Erev Yom Kippur (10/1) services are on a sliding scale from $36-$54 per child. Please pay at the highest level you can to support this offering.
Childcare + Educational Programming fees for Rosh Hashanah (9/23) and Yom Kippur (10/2) are on a sliding scale from $54-$90 per child. Please pay at the highest level you can to support this offering.
Childcare enrollment is available when you register for High Holidays.
PARKING & ACCESSIBILITY
The sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church is wheelchair accessible. The only accessible bathrooms at the church are in another building, but people requiring this will have access to that building.
COVID PROTOCOLS
For our High Holy Day services at First Presbyterian Church, we will offer a designated “Masked Only” area near an open door for people wanting to be masked and sitting near other masked people. There will be signage in this area. Please ask an usher if you need help finding this section.
Chochmat HaLev’s general COVID policy is as follows:
Chochmat HaLev, in consultation with our medical advisor and based on community survey results, will discontinue masking requirements for attendance at events. Masks, although not required, are recommended. We understand people will need to make their own decisions about exposure and risk based on their own personal preferences, and health status.
Chochmat HaLev will provide passive ventilation (e.g., open windows and doors under the supervision of security-trained personnel) and other equipment as available.
Chochmat HaLev will include specific guidelines for those attending in person events on our website and in announcements regarding events.
Chochmat HaLev will provide seating adjacent to a window in an end-of-the-row seat to individuals upon request.
DO NOT attend an event at Chochmat HaLev:
- if you are experiencing any potential symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness
- if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days and have not had a negative antigen test on Day 6 or later
- if you have had a known exposure to COVID-19 in the past 3-5 days
- if a household member has tested positive in the last 10 days and has not had a negative test on Day 6 or later
