The Torah tells us to welcome the stranger.
So, this year on the High Holidays, like in other years, local synagogues are opening their doors to non-members.
If you’re looking for a service, the list below can help. It’s not comprehensive, but it does offer several in-person and virtual options. Due to the delta variant, several shuls have both.
Rosh Hashanah begins Sept. 6 at sundown.
IN-PERSON
Congregation Ohev Shalom (Conservative)
2 Chester Road
Wallingford
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 6 (6:30 p.m. for two hours), 7 (9 a.m. for four hours) and 8 (9 a.m. for four hours)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 15 (6:30 p.m. for two hours) and
16 (9 a.m. for four hours and 3:30 p.m. for three hours)
Masks and registrations required. Donations encouraged.
Contact: 610-874-1465, [email protected]
Temple Adath Israel of the Main Line (Conservative)
250 N. Highland Ave.
Merion Station
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 6 (6 p.m. for one hour), 7 (10:45 a.m. for two hours) and 8 (10:45 a.m. for two hours)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 15 (5:45 p.m. for three hours) and
16 (10:45 a.m. for three hours and 5:30 p.m. for two hours)
Donations requested.
Contact: 610-934-1903
Beth Chaim Reform Congregation
389 Conestoga Road
Malvern
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 6 (7:30 p.m. for one hour) and
7 (10 a.m. for one hour)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 15 (8 p.m. for one hour) and
16 (10 a.m. for one hour)
Donations appreciated.
Contact: 610-640-2147, [email protected]
Bensalem Jewish Outreach Center (Orthodox)
2446 Bristol Road
Bensalem
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 7 (8 a.m. for over four hours and 2 p.m. for one hour) and 8 (8 a.m. for more than four hours)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 15 (6:50 p.m. for two hours) and
16 (8 a.m. for more than four hours and 6 p.m. for two hours)
Free.
Contact: 215-752-5032
Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue (Orthodox)
1500 Walnut St., #206
Philadelphia
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 7 (9 a.m. for two hours) and 8 (9 a.m. for two hours)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 16 (9 a.m. for two hours and 5 p.m. for three hours)
Reservations and donations required.
Contact: 215-525-4246, [email protected]
Congregation Beth Israel Media (Reconstructionist)
542 S. New Middletown Road
Media
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 6 (5:30 p.m. for one hour), 7 (10 a.m. for two hours) and 8 (10 a.m. for two hours)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 15 (7 p.m. for two hours) and 16 (10 a.m. for three hours and 5:30 p.m. for two hours)
Donations appreciated.
Contact: 302-373-3158, [email protected]
Chabad Lubavitch of Delaware County
400 Marple Road
Broomall
Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 6 (7 p.m. for one hour), 7 (9:30 a.m. for three hours) and 8 (9:30 a.m. for three hours)
Yom Kippur: Sept. 15 (7 p.m. for two hours) and 16 (9:30 a.m. for four hours and 5:30 p.m. for two hours)
Free.
Contact: 610-353-3835, [email protected]
VIRTUAL
Several of the synagogues above are offering virtual options, too. A list of those synagogues, as well as others, follows. For more information, reach out through the contact info above or check the links below.
Synagogues already listed: Congregation Ohev Shalom, Temple Adath Israel of the Main Line (adathisrael.org/livestream), Beth Chaim Reform Congregation (bethchaim.net), Congregation Beth Israel Media (bethisraelmedia.org/form/hhd-tickets)
Some Reconstructionist synagogues are hosting services online exclusively. Here’s a list, along with access links or contact info:
Virtual Reconstructionist options: Kol Tzedek (kol-tzedek.org/high-holidays.html), Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir (215-629-1995, [email protected]), Or Hadash (215-283-0276, [email protected])
Check out this resource from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia for a more extensive list of prayer options: jewishphilly.org/high-holidays-services-2021/.
[email protected]; 215-832-0740
