Stephen Wise Temple High Holy Day Frequently Asked Questions
Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday night, September 15, and we are looking forward to welcoming the New Year with you. Below, you will find answers to frequently asked questions. We hope that this information will make your experience easier and more meaningful.
Worship Services and Registration
- What time are services?
Here is our complete service schedule. - Where will services be held?
We are thrilled to once again welcome our entire community and guests to our scenic mountaintop, where all of our High Holy Day services will be held, either in our Katz Family Pavilion and Nahmias Plaza, or our historic Sanctuary. - What happens if it is really hot?
As always, our air conditioning units are fully serviced immediately prior to High Holy Days and we will have technicians standing by. Furthermore, for our outdoor spaces we will provide evaporative coolers to keep things comfortable. All of our outdoor seating on Nahmias Plaza will be covered by a large shade structure. We will have a hydration station available, with water and cups. We also advise you to wear appropriate clothing. If heat is a concern for you, please select tickets for our air-conditioned Sanctuary service in advance. If you have already reserved tickets, you can call 310.889.2230 or email [email protected] if you would like to request a ticket change. - Are food and drink allowed?
We ask that you do not bring food or drink into Katz Family Pavilion or our historic Sanctuary, both out of respect for your fellow worshippers (who may be fasting) and out of respect for the service. We will provide water at hydration stations outside the worship areas, and we ask that you stay there while you drink. - What makes a service “family-friendly”?
While worshippers of all ages are welcome at any of Stephen Wise Temple’s High Holy Day services, our family-friendly services are designed to be spiritually meaningful but also a little easier for our younger worshippers. These services are shorter in duration, and while the major High Holy Day liturgy and rituals are covered, these services will feature more melodies that inspire communal singing and you’ll get a story rather than a traditional sermon. - What are my options to observe Yizkor?
There will be a brief Yizkor reflection at the 12:15 p.m. Yom Kippur Day adult service in Katz Family Pavilion on Monday, Sept. 25. Our entire community is invited to observe Yizkor together in a 5:15 p.m. service in Katz Family Pavilion. Because our beautiful campus affords us unparalleled opportunities for outdoor worship, this service will be illuminated by the light of the setting sun, bringing a warm and peaceful end to the Days of Awe.
- Where will I park for services?
With reduced on-campus parking because of our Aaron Milken Center construction, we will be able to accommodate anyone who needs accessible parking on campus, with remaining on-campus parking reserved for members on a first-come, first-served basis. We will have plentiful parking across the street on the campus of American Jewish University and in the Casiano neighborhood, with continuous air-conditioned shuttle service to and from our campus. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft will have a designated drop-off and pick-up spot on campus, should you prefer that option.
- Are there services for Second Day Rosh Hashanah?
Yes. We will gather in our Sanctuary as a community on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. This service will also be streamed online at WiseLA.org/Online and WiseLA.org/HighHolyDays. Immediately following services, we will have a bagel nosh luncheon and musical celebration in Zeldin-Hershenson Hall. All are welcome! Later, at 2 p.m., we invite you and your family to join us at Will Rogers State Beach for Tashlich. Details can be found HERE.
- What if I didn’t get my tickets in my email?
Tickets were emailed to those who had reserved them on Sept. 11. They will be emailed once again on Friday, Sept. 15. If you reserved tickets and have not yet received them, please check your junk or spam folder. If you still cannot find them, please contact the Membership office at 310.889.2230 or [email protected]. - What if I need to change my tickets?
As always, we will do our best to accommodate your needs. If you need to change your location requests after they have been submitted, please contact the Membership office at 310.889.2230 or [email protected]. You will also be able to change your tickets at our Will Call tables, located in front of the Sanctuary building, and on the east (driveway-side) wall of Katz Family Pavilion. - Can I get tickets at the door?
Our online ticketing form will be closed from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept.18. If you need to request tickets for Rosh Hashanah services between those times, you can call 310.889.2230, email [email protected], or request tickets at the Will Call tables in front of our Sanctuary or Katz Family Pavilion.
- I want to bring my family with me, but they are not members. What do I do?
Each member family may purchase up to four (4) guest tickets for each service at a special member rate. You can do that on your ticket request form or by contacting the Membership office at 310.889.2230 or \[email protected]. - I need more than four guest tickets. What do I do?
If you need more than four (4) additional tickets for guests, you or your guests may purchase them using this form. - Can non-members purchase tickets for services?
Yes! We are excited to continue our tradition of welcoming the wider community to our campus for High Holy Day worship. There are, however, several members-only services (noted on our service schedule). Non-members must have their tickets for those services purchased by a Wise member. If you are not a member of Stephen Wise Temple, you can purchase tickets using this form. - Can I share our streamed services with my relatives?
Yes! We are proud to provide our beautiful services online free of charge. You can simply share this link with anyone you’d like to welcome to our online experience. And, if you think they would appreciate an ongoing connection to our community, feel free to invite them to join WorldWiseAccess, our special, low-cost membership for our friends living outside Southern California. - Can non-members attend “Members-Only” services?
Guests of Stephen Wise Temple members may join our community for these services. We are proud to open most of our services to the whole community, regardless of membership; to purchase tickets for any of the services open to the public, please click here. - I forgot to renew my membership. Can I do that at services?
If you’ve forgotten to renew your membership, you can do so at our Will Call tables. Our helpful staff will be happy to assist you.
- Is seating assigned or open?
In keeping with the Stephen Wise Temple tradition, you need only choose your preferred time and venue – there are no assigned seats at our services. If you have accessibility needs, please be in touch with our office at 310.889.2230 or [email protected] so that we may accommodate you.
- Do I have to wear a mask on campus?
Masks are optional for both indoor and outdoor services. If you feel ill or have a cough or a fever, we ask that you please join us online. We will look forward to seeing you back on campus when you are feeling better!
Children and Family Services
How do I get tickets to the Family Services?
If you are a member with a child or children ages 12 and under, you will automatically receive a family ticket for each of our family-focused services. These include:
- Erev Rosh Hashanah in our Sanctuary at 6 p.m.
- Rosh Hashanah Day Tot Service in the Sanctuary (9 a.m.) or our K-6 service in Katz Family Pavilion (10 a.m.), or both, depending on the age(s) of your child(ren).
- Kol Nidre in our Sanctuary at 7 p.m.
- Yom Kippur Tot Service in the Sanctuary (9 a.m.) or our K-6 Family service in Katz Family Pavilion (10 a.m.), depending on the age(s) of your child(ren).
- Yizkor/Ne’ilah at 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 25 in the Sanctuary
If you are not a member of Stephen Wise Temple but want to bring your family to any of these services, you may purchase tickets here.
If you do not have children in that age range but want to attend any of these services, you can request tickets HERE.
Do you offer free childcare?
If you’d like to focus on your own spiritual experience while your children are enjoying age-appropriate High Holy Day activities, Days of Awesome programming for children ages 2-12 will be offered for members during the later congregational daytime services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur day. We offer complimentary childcare for children ages 2-5, and meaningful High Holy Day activities for children in grades K-8. You can find out more HERE.
Do I have to pre-register for Days of Awesome?
Yes. Registration is required to ensure appropriate child-to-teacher ratios, as mandated by the California Education Code and California State Law. You can sign up HERE.
- Please do! For children under 12, we recommend that your family join us for our family-oriented services. If your grandchildren are older, or you wish to bring them to our more adult-oriented services, you can request those tickets here.
- I love worshiping with my children, but I also want to experience prayer focused on my spiritual needs. What are my options?
Praying together as a family is so important for our children’s spiritual development, and we love being a part of the memories you make together at the High Holy Days. While we hope that you and your family pray together at our Tot or K-6 services, we also provide the opportunity for you to take the time and space to focus on your own spiritual growth during these Holy Days. As part of our Days of Awesome programming, we provide free childcare for children ages 2-5, and alternative activities for children in grades K-6 (pre-registration strongly recommended). Find out more about Days of Awesome HERE.
Streaming
- Which services will be livestreamed?We will be streaming the following services live:
- Erev Rosh Hashanah (6 p.m.)
- Rosh Hashanah morning (10:30 a.m.)
- Rosh Hashanah second day (10 a.m.)
- Kol Nidre (7 p.m.)
- Yom Kippur day (10:30 a.m.)
- Mincha/Yom Kippur Afternoon Service (3 p.m.)
- Yizkor/Ne’ilah service (5:15 p.m.)
- Where can I watch streamed services?
The easiest way is to bookmark our WiseLA.org/Online page, our High Holy Days page, and our Facebook age, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. We also encourage you to share the links far and wide, so that anyone you love can feel a part of our online community. In addition to our YouTube, Facebook, and webpage streams, you can also watch us on your smart TV. Here’s how:- Roku: Search for “Stephen Wise Temple” and add our channel
- FireTV and Apple TV: Download the YouTube app, and search for “Stephen Wise Temple”
- I missed the service! I couldn’t get enough of that beautiful music! I want to show that sermon to my mom! Can I find them later online?
Yes! You will be able to watch all of our streamed services after they have concluded as many times as you like at WiseLA.org/HighHolyDays, on our Facebook page, or on our YouTube channel. We’ll also have each sermon and musical highlights available within 48 hours of their initial broadcast! To get alerts when we add new content, be sure to hit the ‘Subscribe’ button.
Learn
- Will there still be Spirit of Shabbat during the High Holy Days?
Yes, but with a twist. Our morning Spirit of Shabbat Torah Study will feature studies on texts specifically centered on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They will be taught by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Rabbi David Woznica, and Rabbi Ron Stern. You can learn more about them HERE. - Will there be opportunities to study in the afternoon?
We invite you to spend your Yom Kippur afternoon with Wise as we fill the time between our morning services and Ne’ilah with several adult study offerings, a musical meditation, and a family learning experience led by our clergy. Find out more about them HERE.