High Holidays and Festivals 2023-5784
All service times and registration options for High Holidays and new year festivals at East Melbourne synagogue.
Melbourne's Synagogue in the City
It would be our absolute pleasure to host you in our serene sanctuary of prayer here in East Melbourne these High Holydays.
Our friendly shul runs a warm, engaging and welcoming traditional prayer service featuring many of the familiar songs and liturgies. The Rabbi provides a running commentary and gives direction for what to do in the service. We also offer you a reserved seat, complimentary prayer books, a play area for children in the rear hall, tea and coffee and a nice kiddush with refreshments after the service.
Service times are found further down this page and all services take place at our Synagogue premises in East Melbourne.
Historically, the model for attending a Synagogue over High Holydays has been a membership or some other affiliation fee. We feel very strongly that a Shul by definition is open to all and here at East Melbourne we welcome everyone regardless of formal affiliation or contribution and have guest seats provided precisely because we know not all are able to contribute. However should you wish to support the continued operation of our congregation and reserve a seat, there are generally two ways in which this can be done:
The first is a full membership/seatholder. Membership Fees are relatively manageable (compared to other Shuls in Melbourne and around the world) and affords you a range of benefits such as pastoral support from the Rabbi, access to special events, and free lifecycle ceremonies (Bar/Bat Mitzvah etc) at the Shul. Membership can be applied for here on our website.
The alternative option is to fill out an attendance form notifying us of who is attending. You will notice that it is followed by an optional donation form in which you can make a voluntary donation of your choosing if you so wish.
We very much look forward to welcoming you into our congregation and upon receipt of your registration, will make sure that you are named on the entry list.
If it is your first time attending our Synagogue, for security reasons, please include a reference such as your Rabbi, regular or previous congregation or even your employer.
If for whatever reason Shul is not your thing, we have the shofar being sounded in at least two local parks across the afternoon of the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Click here for details.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at office@melbournecitysynagogue.com
Friday 15 September – Rosh Hashanah Eve
Yom Tov starts at 5:52pm
Evening Service Davening 6:15pm
Saturday 16 September – Day 1 Rosh Hashanah
Shachris morning Prayer service Begins 9:30am .
Torah reading 10:30am .
Children service. 11-12pm.
Sermon 11:30am .
End service and Kiddush 12:30pm .
Sunday 17 September – Day 2 Rosh Hashanah
Shachris morning prayer service 9:30am
Torah Reading 10:30am
Sermon and Shofar 11:15am
end service and kiddush 12:30pm
Tashlich and shofar at Carlton Gardens 1:30pm
Tashlich and Shofar at Fitzroy Gardens 5:30pm
Festival ends 6:51pm
Sunday 24 September – Yom Kippur Eve
Fast Starts 6pm
Kol Nidre Shul Service 6:30pm
Service ends 8:30pm
Monday 25 September – Yom Kippur Day
Shachris 9:30am
Torah Reading 11am
Children service 11:30am – 12:30pm.
Yizkor Service 12pm
Mincha 5:00pm
Neilah 6:00pm
Fast Ends 6:58pm
SUKKOT AND SIMCHAT TORAH
Sukkot Eve – Friday 29 September
Festival starts (Candle Lighting) 6:04pm
Evening festival Service 6:30pm
1st Day Sukkot – Saturday 30 September
Shachris 10am
kiddush in sukkah 11:45am
2nd Day Sukkot Sunday 1 October
Shachris 10am
Kiddush in Sukkah 11:45am
First part of festival ends 8:03pm
Open Sukkah and Lunch – Monday 2 October – Thursday 5 October
Shmini Atzeret – Saturday 7 October
Shul 9:30am
Yizkor 11am
Kiddush 11:45am
Simchas Torah Eve – Saturday 7 October
Celebrate with the Torah (Children welcome) 6:30pm
Simchas Torah morning – Sunday 8 October.
Shachris -10am
Completion of Torah – 11am
Musaph and Kiddush – 11:30 am
Yom Tov ends – 8:10pm