High Holidays

The High Holidays – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – are a time for reflection, renewal, and new beginnings. Our High Holiday services, held annually in Morris County, NJ, are a time for us to gather as a community and also welcome new members and families for the new year. Services are included in the membership fee for current members, and we welcome prospective members for a small donation.

Kahal Chaverim celebrates the High Holidays in ways consistent with our humanistic philosophy and our Jewish cultural heritage. We offer creative, meaningful, non-theistic High Holiday services that are relevant to our contemporary lives and thought. We find special meaning in these high holidays and enjoy sharing this important time with family, friends and community.

Rosh Hashanah

Unlike traditional congregations, our primary Rosh Hashanah service is on “Erev” Rosh Hashanah, the evening before the first day of Rosh Hashanah. We gather for a celebratory service that includes the traditional blowing of the shofar, followed by a pot-luck sharing of dessert – a sweet way to start the new year. During the day on Rosh Hashanah, we gather for a short service and adult discussion, while the children engage in a children’s service/activity.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is a time for Jews to remember and ask forgiveness, and the Kahal Chaverim Yom Kippur services help us to celebrate in a meaningful, thought-provoking way that is consistent with our Humanistic beliefs. Our Erev Yom Kippur service, Kol Nidre, is held the evening before the day of Yom Kippur and features the melodic and traditional Kol Nidre music.

Our Yom Kippur day service is a moving and reflective memorial service, and included in our service is a memorial we call Nizkor, “Let us Remember.” Although our service is largely in English, we also include the traditional Mourners Kaddish in Hebrew. After the Yom Kippur Memorial Service, we join in a “Break-the-Fast”, a meal where all members of the congregation bring a dish to share. Our Break-the-Fast is a holiday tradition for us and one that we all enjoy.

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Learn more about our Ceremonial Leader, who performs ceremonies for our community as well as for non members.

Want to Join Us

Kahal Chaverim is a growing community that brings together families from all around Morris and neighboring counties to celebrate Jewish culture and values. We are one of 30 congregations affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism, founded in 1963 by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine.