Hidur Mitzvah
High Holy Days
As we prepare for the High Holy Days of 2025/5786, we are guided by the idea of Hidur Mitzvah—the Jewish tradition of beautifying a mitzvah. Not just doing what is required, but doing it with care, creativity, and intention.
It reminds us that how we show up matters just as much as that we show up. During these Days of Awe, we are invited to approach our lives as artists: shaping meaning, deepening connection, and adding beauty to our relationships, our rituals, and our responsibilities.
Life is a work of art. This year, let’s create it together.
In the year ahead, may we find new ways to bring light, color, and purpose to the world around us—through the mitzvot we embrace and the community we build.
Below is our full schedule of High Holy Day events, offering moments to gather, reflect, and begin anew.
Wishing you a Shanah Tovah—a year of beauty, purpose, and renewal.
Community S’lichot
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Erev Rosh Hashanah
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Temple Isaiah
This brief but meaningful service allows us to begin the High Holy Days immersed in both community and family. On this Rosh Hashanah evening, our clergy will lead us in kindling the Yom Tov lights, introducing the sound of the shofar, and giving us a taste of the meaning and melodies of the High Holy Days. We will gather as a community in the Sanctuary on Wednesday evening, enabling us to welcome the New Year in our Isaiah home, concluding before dinner.
Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Morning Service for Young(ish) Families
UCLA Royce Hall Terrace
Our clergy, songleaders and our Pop-up Choir will begin the Rosh Hashanah celebration through interactive and fun services for families with young(ish) children (0-8). All families and children are invited to the conclusion of the Main Rosh Hashanah service for the final shofar blasts and joyful singing (~12 -12:30pm).
Morning Childcare
UCLA Royce Hall Donor Lounge
Childcare will be available for children ages 2-6 following the Young(ish) Families Service until we all join together for the end of the Main Rosh Hashanah Service (~12-12:30pm). RSVP required through the membership portal – no sign-ups at the door.
Morning Service
UCLA Royce Hall
Our clergy, choir, band and community will greet the New Year with thought-provoking and profound words, powerful and engaging music, chanting from our sacred Torah, and the dramatic sounding of the shofar. Separate Youth Services and Teen Services will be held for 2nd-6th graders and 7th-12th graders respectively (see below). The entire community (all ages) will join for the conclusion of the service for the final shofar blasts and joyful singing (~12 -12:30pm).
Youth Service (2nd-6th Grade)
UCLA Royce Hall Terrace
Engaging and fun services for 2nd through 6th graders. Parents not required, but warmly welcomed!
Teen Service (7th-12th Grade)
UCLA Royce Hall Basement
 Participatory, meaningful services for our teens, led by our teens!
Tashlich
Santa Monica Beach Tower 22
The Clergy and our Ba’alei T’kiah (Shofar Blowers) will share blessings, songs and the sounds of Shofar as we participate in Tashlic, the ritual casting off of sins into living waters, the Pacific Ocean. This beautiful ritual and casual service is appropriate for all ages. We will offer two chances to participate in services, at 3:30pm and 4:30pm.
Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Service and Playtime for Young(ish) Families
Temple Isaiah Sanctuary & Vollmer Deck
Our clergy and our Pop-up Choir will continue the Rosh Hashanah celebration through interactive and fun services for families with young(ish) children (0-8). Playtime on the Vollmer Deck continues at 10am following services.
Morning Service and Lunch
Temple Isaiah
The Second Day of Rosh Hashanah allows for not just a repeat of the first day’s rituals, but an exploration of Rosh Hashanah in a more intimate, community environment in the Temple Isaiah Sanctuary, followed by lunch in the Social Hall.
Kol Nidre & Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur Eve/Kol Nidrei
UCLA Royce Hall
Our clergy, singers and instrumentalists help us prepare for the ultimate day of the High Holy Days. This most solemn day of the Jewish year begins with the seminal, sacred music of Kol Nidrei, and features words and music of self-reflection, repentance, and renewal. This year, in lieu of a single sermon, our clergy will each share reflections on the challenges of the last year, the October 7th attack on Israel and its aftermath.
Morning Service for Young(ish) Families
UCLA Royce Hall Terrace
Our clergy, songleaders and our Pop-up Choir will lead an engaging and age-appropriate service for families with young(ish) children (0-8).
Morning Childcare
UCLA Royce Hall Donor Lounge
Childcare will be available for children ages 2-6 following the Young(ish) Families Service until the end of the Main Yom Kippur Morning Service (~12:30pm). RSVP required through the membership portal – no sign-ups at the door.
Morning Service
UCLA Royce Hall
As on Rosh Hashanah, our clergy, choir, and band will lead us with powerful and sacred words and music, inviting us to continue the meaningful process of t’shuvah, reflection and repentance. This service will also feature the voices of our community and chanting of Torah. Separate Youth Services and Teen Services will be held for 2nd-6th graders and 7th-12th graders respectively (see below).
Youth Service (2nd-6th Grade)
UCLA Royce Hall West Lobby
Upbeat and engaging services for 2nd through 6th graders.
Teen Service (7th-12th Grade)
UCLA Royce Hall Basement
Participatory, meaningful services for our teens, led by our teens!
Yom Kippur R&R
UCLA Royce Hall Lobby
Join Rabbis Klein Miles and Cohen for a Reflective and Restorative Practice, including, yoga, poetry, music and meditation on this sacred afternoon.
Afternoon Service & Mincha
UCLA Royce Hall
Join us for sacred words of Torah, the reading of the Book of Jonah, and poetry and music of healing
Yizkor
UCLA Royce Hall
Perhaps Judaism’s most powerful moments are found in the communal blessings and music of memory. Amid a day of self-reflection, we take time to honor the memories of those we have lost and to reflect on grief. Families with young children will be welcomed back to the Sanctuary for the start of N’ilah at 5pm.
N'ilah
UCLA Royce Hall
The gates do not close and the Book of Life is not sealed until the sun sets on Yom Kippur. This holiest of days concludes with this uplifting and joyful service—a perfect way to end the day before breaking the fast.
As we look ahead to 2025-2026, you will see the generous donations of our congregation hard at work. From new, engaging programming to upgrades to our physical campus, your generous gift ensures the growth and development of our community as we lead the way into 5786.
As part of our tradition of Yizkor during the Yamim Nora’im, we invite you to join us in remembering our loved ones who have died at this season and in seasons past. Our Digital Book of Remembrance will be accessible on the Temple Isaiah website for Yom Kippur and throughout the year.