High Holy Days Services
Hayom’s services were established in the mid-1970s to fill the needs of those Jews not yet affiliated with a temple, those newly arrived or visiting the area or those in transit. The services were first held in Sharon, Massachusetts, then in Stoughton, MA. Because we outgrew facilities in both these towns, we moved to the beautiful Cole Chapel on the campus of Wheaton College in Norton, MA where we have been conducting services since 1980. However, because of a recent serious parking problem at Wheaton we sadly moved from there after 25 years and will be conducting our services in 2010 at the Stanetsky Memorial Chapel in Canton.
The services are not affiliated with any of the major Jewish movements. Rather they are a unique blend of the best of the liturgy and music with a strong feeling for tradition tempered by a contemporary touch. For example the first two days of Rosh Hashannah are not considered as separate entities, but as a continuing experience with Shacharit and the Torah service emphasized on the first day and the dramatic Musaf highlighted on the second day. The second day also includes a very powerful service of healing. While much of the singing and chanting is done in Hebrew, the congregational readings are for the most part in English.

Husband and wife, Bernie and Iris Jacobs co-officiated at these services for twenty-five years. Sorrowfully, Bernie passed from this life in July 2001. His place at the pulpit has been taken by his daughter, Lee Andra, aided by Dr. Marty Abrams and the critically acclaimed Kol Miriam Choir. Prayer, poetry and song are as ancient as our second Temple and as modern as the music of Leonard Bernstein and Naomi Shemer.

Although individual aliyot are given on Rosh Hashannah, the entire congregation is called to the Torah on Yom Kippur according to the season in which they were born. A special aliyah is also reserved for those young people who became Bar and Bat Mitzvah within the past year.

We provide prayer books and yarmulkes, but men and women are encouraged to bring and wear their own tallit.

Names of your deceased loved ones are included in a special booklet on Yom Kippur, and the names of those who have passed away within the past year are read aloud during the Yizkor service. Each year, we choose a different Jewish charity to which we donate your tzedakah funds collectively. Since Bernie’s death, we have also established the Bernie Jacobs Memorial Music Fund, moneys from which are given to deserving Sharon High School seniors who are continuing with their musical studies in college.

Rosh Hashannah falls on September 9 and September 10; Yom Kippur on September 17 and 18. For information on how to obtain passes for services please contact Hayom at our e-mail address.