Theme for the Year
All are welcome to join Pardes Hannah for our High Holy Day services and experience our unique approach to Judaism – grounded in the spiritual essence of our wisdom tradition. Our services include prayer, chant, song, movement and meditation. They draw on our traditional liturgy and Jewish mystical practices and teachings, knowing that not only we as humans, but the Living Earth, are faces of the divine. This year we are gathering for Leil Selichot, the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur Day.
Our High Holy Day services this year will be led by Rabbi Elliot K. Ginsburg, the founder of Pardes Hannah and Emeritus Professor of Jewish Mysticism and Modern Thought at the University of Michigan. Thirty three years ago Rabbi Elliot along with Karen Van Hook organized the first services that were held in the youth library of Beth Israel Congregation. Initially seeded by a visit to Ann Arbor by Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, the founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement, the community has evolved over the years and supported many on their Jewish spiritual path.
Each year the community selects a theme that is woven throughout the High Holy Days and grounds our work for the year ahead. Members of the community share their learnings throughout our time together. This year we will focus on “Gal Enai ve-abita Nifla’ot –Open my Eyes so I will see Wonders”. This builds on our theme from last year “Lev Tov – The Path of the Good Heart”. By moving from cultivating the open heart – Lev (which in gematria is 32) to Gal (which in gematria is 33), based on the insight that once the heart is open, one sees differently, with eyes made for wonder, and in ways that can enhance our capacity to hold complexity. More and more we are being asked to do this.
Pardes Hannah offers monthly Shabbat morning services , usually the first Shabbat morning of the month, which are co-led by Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg and Rabbi Aura Ahuvia. Our monthly online Rosh Chodesh Circles are led by Lucinda Kurtz along with Megan Sims, Shira Orit, and Linda Dominik. This year after the holidays, Rabbi Aura will lead a meditation session on the second shabbat morning of the month. This follows the successful sessions Rabbi Aura led this past year on “Opening the Siddur: Jewish Prayer, Sharing the Juice.” Rabbi Elliot will again offer monthly study and spiritual practice sessions that are held the third Shabbat afternoon. This past year we completed a year of study on The Cycle of theJewish Spiritual Year. Following the High Holy Days we will begin anew with the topic, “The Kabbalists of Tzfat,” focusing on an extraordinary community of visionaries and practitioners from which “Lecha Dodi “and other liturgical poems, Lurianic kabbalah, and innovative practices such as Kabbalat Shabbat emerged. If you would like to learn more about Pardes Hannah, our High Holy Day services and Jewish Renewal, please contact Linda at 734-645-5476.
Schedule of Services for the High Holy Days
Leil Selichot Practice
September 5, 2026, 8:30 PM Eastern Time
There will not be a morning service on September 5.
In-person at the home of Reb Elliot and Linda as well as online via Zoom.
Register for online access:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2iA-zkReQVG8KzMGNW5I-Q
Rosh Hashanah Day 1
No services
Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Chant & Meditation
September 13, 2026, 10:00am – 12:30 PM Eastern Time
Kiddush to follow service, Tashlich to follow Kiddish
In-person only, at the Jewish Community Center.
Kol Nidre
September 20, 2026, 6:30 PM Eastern Time
6:30 PM Preparation & Reflection Exercise
6:50 PM Candle lighting and services begin
In-person at St Aidan’s Episcopal Church and online.
Register for online access:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_A5AqZ_ZQOW80HKpbhgScw
Yom Kippur Day
September 21, 2026, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Shacharit Morning Services
1:00 – 2:00 PM Entering the Holy of Holies
2:00 – 5:00 PM Break
5:00 – 6:00 PM Mincha
6:00 – 7:00 PM Yizkor
7:00 – 8:15 PM Neilah
8:15 PM Shofar Blowing & Havdalah
Break the fast to follow
In-person at St Aidan’s Episcopal Church and online.
Register for online access:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7mN9qOETSWCPSNUMPMMWog
Other September Events
Rosh Chodesh Tishrei Circle
September 10, 2026, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Eastern Time
Online only
Register for online access:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6Rvnjbh2T6ymB0V7qQJ3ew
Kabbalat Shabbat at BIC
September 25, 2026, 6:00-7:00 PM Eastern Time
In-person only at Beth Israel Congregation, Main Sanctuary
Open Succah
September 26, 2026, 3:00-5:00 PM Eastern Time
Light refreshments
In-person at the home of Reb Elliot and Linda as well as online via Zoom.
Register for online access:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/UBrjFER5R56YKmwHRie-Bg