High Holy Days 2026/5787

Click Here to Register (Registration Required) 

[Updates for 2026 are still in progress. Registration will open soon.]

Schedule of Services and Events 

Most High Holy Day services will be both online (on Zoom) and in person at the Herbst Theater (401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco). Some services and events will take place at Sha’ar Zahav (290 Dolores Street, San Francisco) or at other locations. Details are noted below.

The day before Rosh Hashanah, and the day before Yom Kippur, everyone who registered will receive an email with full details for all services and events, including links to the Zoom livestream, an online version of the machzor, and supplemental liturgical materials.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 – L’eil S’lichot
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
S’lichot Service – On Zoom only
Prayers to help us enter into the High Holy Day season.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 – Erev Rosh Hashanah
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.   
Rosh Hashanah Evening Service – In person at the Herbst Theater, and on Zoom

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 – Rosh Hashanah Day 1

9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Morning Services – In person at the Herbst Theater, and on Zoom

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Family Program – In person only, at the Herbst Theater
Service and interactive activity for children aged preschool to fifth grade. Children must be accompanied by an adult. At the conclusion of the Family Program kids are welcome to remain in the room for quiet holiday hangout time with Rabbi Q, until the conclusion of the regular morning services in the theater (approximately 12:00). We will have books, puzzles, games, and gentle toys for all ages.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 – Rosh Hashanah Day 2

9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Morning Services – In person at Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores Street, and on Zoom

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Tashlich (San Francisco) – In person** at Crissy Field, East Beach
Tashlich is our short ritual of figuratively tossing our past wrongdoings into the ocean and singing our way into a new year, free of our burdens. Bring your own lunch (and blanket if you want one) any time from 3:00 on to greet old and new friends at the easternmost part of the East Beach. The brief service will begin promptly at 3:30.  Click here for a detailed map of the meeting spot. Click here for information about accessibility at Crissy Field, East Beach.  [**Possible informal Zoom livestream, to be announced]

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Tashlich (Oakland) – In person only, at Lake Merritt, Snow Park
Join us for Tashlich at Snow Park, on Lake Merritt in Oakland. Bring your own lunch (and blanket if you want one) any time from 3:00 on to greet old and new friends. Meet at the black metal picnic tables at the northwest corner of the park, near the intersection of Harrison Street and Thomas L. Berkley Way (close to the “Makkeweks” sculpture). The brief service will begin promptly at 3:30. Click here for more information about Snow Park and here for information about accessibility at Lake Merritt.

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Tashlich (Zoom) – On Zoom only
Join us as we reflect and symbolically let go of shortcomings in a unique, beautiful, participatory Tashlich gathering on Zoom. You may want to prepare two to five ice cubes per person and a bowl or jar half filled with warm water to assist in casting away what you want to release. Greet friends starting at 3:00. The brief service will begin promptly at 3:15.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – Erev Shabbat Shuvah
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service – In person at Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores Street, and on Zoom

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 – Shabbat Shuvah
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Shabbat Morning Service – In person at Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores Street, and on Zoom

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 – Erev Yom Kippur
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.    
Kol Nidre Service – In person at the Herbst Theater, and on Zoom

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 – Yom Kippur

9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Yom Kippur Morning and Afternoon Services – In person at the Herbst Theater, and on Zoom
9:30 to 12:30    Morning Services
1:00 to 2:00       Niggun Singing Circle
1:00 to 2:00       Yoga
2:15 to 3:30       Afternoon Service/Text Study
3:45 to 5:00       Discussion, reflection, inspiration (multiple sessions)

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Yom Kippur Family Program – In person only, at the Herbst Theater
Service and interactive activity for children aged preschool to fifth grade. Children must be accompanied by an adult. At the conclusion of the Family Program kids are welcome to remain in the room for quiet holiday hangout time with Rabbi Q, until the conclusion of the regular morning services in the theater (approximately 12:30). We will have books, puzzles, games, and gentle toys for all ages.

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Yom Kippur Evening Services – In person at the Herbst Theater, and on Zoom
5:30 to 6:30     Yizkor
6:30 to 7:30     Neilah

PLEASE NOTE:

The times and events above are subject to change. This page will be updated to reflect any changes that may occur.

The day before Rosh Hashanah, and the day before Yom Kippur, everyone who registered will receive an email with full details for all services and events, including links to the Zoom livestream, an online version of the machzor, and supplemental liturgical materials.

For everything you need to know about our High Holy Day services and events, please be sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have any other questions, email us at [email protected].

   ~~ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ~~

Do I have to pay to attend High Holy Day services?

We do not charge a set fee for High Holy Days, but we encourage everyone to support us as you are able.

Do I have to register to attend High Holy Day services?

Yes. Tickets are not required, but everyone — members, family, and guests — must register to attend either online or in person. If you are unsure if you will attend online or in person, please register and mark  “undecided.” After you register, you will receive an email confirmation. Those who do not register in advance may be able to join us, but only on a space-available basis.

The day before Rosh Hashanah, and the day before Yom Kippur, everyone who registered will receive an email with full details for all services and events, including links to the Zoom livestream, an online version of the machzor, and supplemental liturgical materials.

What makes Sha’ar Zahav services unique?

Our congregation and our liturgy are rooted in the LGBTQ+ community and are open to all. We embrace all sexualities, genders, races, and abilities. We welcome a diversity of participants: single members, interfaith, single-parent, multiple-parent, and multicultural families. We lift each other up to do what we never thought possible.

We are led by our extraordinary clergy, Rabbi Mychal Copeland and Cantor Sharon Bernstein, as well as by several talented and diverse lay leaders.

I’m new. Will I feel comfortable at High Holy Day services?

Every year we welcome many new participants as well as long-time members. Our services embrace both those experienced in traditions and those new to High Holy Days. We invite every person joining us to bring their unique gifts in creating our sanctuary together.

What are your safety and health requirements? 

Identification 

We require personal photo identification for all in-person services and events. For members with key cards, this will serve as your photo ID. For all others, we will check photo ID’s against registration lists. 

General

For the health and safety of our community, we recommend that everyone follow California Department of Public Health guidelines to stay up to date on vaccinations for respiratory illnesses. We ask that if you are sick, please join us for services and events on Zoom rather than in person; and if you have symptoms of a possible transmissible respiratory illness, exercise good judgment and either attend on Zoom or wear a well-fitting mask. For everyone, masks are optional, but we are mask-friendly and fully supportive of visitors, members and service leaders who choose to wear them. For more recommendations from the California Department of Public Health, click here.

Fragrance-Free Environment

We maintain a fragrance-free environment to support those who are physically harmed when exposed to chemical fragrances. Please do not wear perfume/cologne or other scented products at in-person services and events. For more information, click here.

Zoom Backgrounds

On Zoom please do not use virtual or blurred backgrounds, as they cause migraines for many people.

How can children participate?

A Family Program, including a short service and an interactive activity, will be held in person at the Herbst Theater on Rosh Hashanah morning (Day 1) and Yom Kippur morning. The program is intended for children from preschool to about fifth grade. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

At the conclusion of the Family Program kids are welcome to remain in the room for quiet holiday hangout time with Rabbi Q, until the conclusion of the regular morning services in the theater. We will have books, puzzles, games, and gentle toys for all ages.

How are you making services accessible to people with disabilities?

For those unable to attend services in person, services are available to livestream on Zoom. Live transcription (closed captioning) on Zoom will be provided in English for all hybrid and Zoom-only services. No special equipment is required. Details on how to enable closed captioning and adjust the size of the text can be found here.

A limited number of large print machzors (prayerbooks) will be available; please inquire at the machzor table in the lobby.

Everyone who registers will receive an email the day before each service with a link to an online version of the machzor.

Assistive Listening headsets are available at the Herbst Theater; please inquire with the Herbst ushers at the theater entrance. Herbst requires a valid ID or credit card as a deposit, which will be returned upon return of the headset.

Sha’ar Zahav’s sanctuary and the Herbst Theater are wheelchair accessible. Designated seating is available in the Herbst Theater for persons using wheelchairs, and their companions. Please ask the Herbst ushers or Sha’ar Zahav ushers to be directed to wheelchair-accessible seating.

For more information about accessibility in the Herbst Theater, click here.

If you have other accessibility questions or require any special assistance please let us know on the registration form. We will do our best to accommodate everyone who would like to attend, but please note that limitations based on time, cost, venue, or other factors may preclude some accommodations.

Where can I find a machzor (High Holy Day prayer book)?

We use Mishkan Hanefesh: Machzor for the Days of Awe, published by CCAR Press, which will be  available for those who attend in person. If you would like personal copies for in-person or online use, you can purchase them here. A Kindle e-book version (no special device needed) and a large print hard copy version are also available for purchase.

Everyone who registers will receive an email the day before each service with a link to an online version of the machzors.

Are other programs offered beyond the High Holy Day services?

Elul is the Hebrew month preceding the High Holy Days. During this month, many take time to prepare themselves spiritually for the days ahead. We have developed High Holy Day Resources to assist you.  We also encourage you to check our calendar for updated Elul offerings.