Rosh HashanaH
The Jewish New Year
We observe two days of Rosh Hashanah
Erev Wednesday, October 2
Day 1 Thursday, October 3
Day 2 Friday, October 4
Kol Nidre & Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement
Kol Nidre Friday, October 11
Yom Kippur Saturday, October 12 with Yizkor
Sukkot
The fall harvest festival
Sukkot service Thurdsay, October 17
Join us to shake the lulav and smell the fragrant etrog, symbols of growth and community. Enjoy the temple Sukkah--help decorate it and share a meal under the leafy roof. Take a moment of gratitude for the blessings of your life.
Simchat Torah
Celebration of the Joys of Torah
We will dance with the Torah scrolls on Thursday evening, October 24, 5:30 - 7:00pm.
Shmini Atzeret morning service Friday, October 25 10am-12:30pm. Everyone in the congregation comes to unfurl the entire scroll around the sanctuary, and receive a blessing from the rabbi based on the verses you are holding. We dance with the scrolls outside and end with a festive auction of the pumpkins on the bimah.
Hanukkah
The Festival of Lights
First candle, Wednesday night, December 25, Eighth candle, Wednesday night, January 1
Tu B'shvat
Thursday, February 13
The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. We mark the 15th of Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
Purim
Friday, March 14
The holiday of turning everything upside-down, with story, song, masks and costumes, sharing hamantashen (filled pastries) and gifts to the poor.
Purim is fun at HBT. We'll hear the Megillah, the story of Esther, Mordechai, the foolish king Ahasuerus and his henchman Haman, and drown out Haman's name with noisemakers.
Chaverim School Megillah reading
Adult Megillah reading
Plus our annual Purim carnival on Sunday, March 16. Stay tuned for this year's theme!
PESACH/Passover
The Feast of Freedom
First seder, Saturday, April 12
In place of a community seder, we match people up to enjoy seder in members' homes.
Pesach Service: Saturday, April 12 10:00am-12:30pm with Yizkor
Yom Hashoah
Thursday, April 24
Holocaust Remembrance Day falls one week after Passover ends.
Light your candle Sunday night after sunset. To order your candle contact the office: 617-323-0486 or bblock@templehbt.org
We hold a special evening service each year with a speaker or program.
Yom Ha'atzma'ut
Israel Independence Day Thursday, May 1
We celebrate Israel’s independence on Yom Ha’Atzmaut. It commemorates when David Ben-Gurion, who was Israel’s first prime minister, publicly read the Israel’s Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948. According to the Jewish calendar, this was the fifth day of Iyar, the eighth month of the civil year, in the year 5708.
Shavuot
Festival of Receiving Torah,Sunday, June 1 & Monday June 2
The word Shavuot means “weeks.” It marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. The Torah was given by G‑d to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai on Shavuot more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of G‑d’s gift, and G‑d “re-gives” the Torah.