High Holidays 5785 Seating Reservations

This year Rosh HaShana 5785 begins on Wednesday evening, October 2, through Friday, October 4, and Kippur is Friday evening, October 11 through Shabbat, October 12.

Regarding seating, please review the information provided below (click here for a printer-friendly version).

To submit your requests (along with payment information if needed):

Members, click here.

Non-Members, click here.

Please submit your registration as soon as possible. The official deadline was September 9, but we still welcome reservations.

If you need assistance logging in to your account and/or completing your seat request, please contact Sarah Gross at sgross@shearithisrael.org.

NEW FOR 2024:

We are eager to experience the High Holidays together as one united kehilla. To that end, this year we will hold one service throughout the High Holidays for all of our members and guests in the Main Sanctuary. We hope this creates an especially meaningful experience for all.

Rosh HaShana Main Sanctuary Seating (for ALL):

Seats in the Main Sanctuary are generally in high demand, especially during “peak” times. All members must opt-in or opt-out.

Individual and Add-On Memberships include one reserved seat in the Main Sanctuary. Family Memberships include two seats, one in the men’s section and one in the women’s section. If you do have a permanent assigned seat, and you opt-in by September 9, we will endeavor to reserve that seat for you for the High Holidays. While we will do our best, there may be circumstances where members are assigned different seats in their area. Please be understanding and flexible in this event. If you do not have a permanent assigned seat and you opt in this year, you will be assigned a temporary seat for this holiday season (in some cases, some, but not all, family members hold permanent assigned seats).

Members may purchase additional holiday seats for family members and guests, as can Non-Members – see price listings below.

If you or your guests do not plan on attending both holidays, please let us know which one(s) you will not attend so we can accommodate others. If you need additional seats, please submit your request via the Member form or Non-Member form (depending on your membership status). Seat requests will not be fulfilled without payment, and charges for seats cannot be added to your account.

Accessibility:

We have designated two areas on the lower level of the Main Sanctuary exclusively for women with mobility issues (who can, with assistance, manage the short stairwell to the Main Sanctuary) and their aides: a row in the rear of the Sanctuary, and a designated section in the front of the Sanctuary. To request these seats, please indicate your preference on the reservation form.

Any congregant who needs help getting up the few stairs to the Main Sanctuary will be offered assistance using our wheelchair climber and/or staff and volunteers.

Important:

• All Members are asked to respond: All Members, even if you DO NOT intend on reserving any seats for Rosh HaShana or Kippur, please click here to let us know.
• Seat assignments will be honored only for members whose accounts are current. All outstanding balances (membership dues, fees, offerings, sponsorships or other past due items) must be settled before seating requests are processed, and no later than September 9. If we do not hear from you by then, we may temporarily reassign your seat for this High Holiday season.
• We do not wish to exclude anyone due to financial hardship. For financial assistance, contact Sarah Gross at sgross@shearithisrael.org or 212-873-0300 x230.
• Children’s programming and/or childcare is available on both mornings of Rosh HaShana and throughout Kippur (Kal Nidre, Kippur morning, and Neila) and is open to all participants. Please be sure to register your children, grandchildren, or young guests.
• Please bear in mind that our plans are subject to change.

We encourage you to submit your seating and other requests online at your earliest convenience but no later than September 9. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Gross at sgross@shearithisrael.org or 212-873-0300 x230.

Tickets will be sent by email (or by USPS to those congregants who do not have email) the week before Rosh HaShana (the week of September 23). Your ticket will include the names of everyone on your reservation and seat assignments. You will need to print your tickets at home and bring them to services. Please do not bring smartphones or present digital tickets; paper only please.

To ensure everyone’s security, no one can be admitted to the building on Rosh HaShana and Kippur without a paper ticket.

Pricing:

For Members – submit reservations here

Members and Add-Ons are entitled to seats as listed below BUT MUST OPT-IN TO RESERVE:

Member Individuals: 1 seat at no charge

Member Couples/Families: 2 seats (1 men’s and 1 women’s) at no charge

Add-On Members: 1 seat at no charge

Additional guest pricing:

Guests of Full members: $200

Guests of Associate Members: $225

For Non-Members – submit reservations here

Non-Member seat: $250

Price includes all or any of the services: both days of Rosh HaShana as well as Kippur. If you don’t expect to attend both holidays, please let us know which one(s) you will not attend, so we can accommodate others.

Kippur and Succot Offerings

It is our custom to make memorial offerings during Kippur services and offerings of thanksgiving on Succot. These offerings are a beautiful way to memorialize or pay tribute to loved ones and are a vital source of synagogue revenue.

Click here to make your offerings.