Dreaming Up High Holy Days:

Preparation Makes Perfect

Prep Makes Perfect

• Be Clear About All of Your Goals for the HHDs
• Examine Assumptions and Expectations
• Understand Your Limitations
• Back Up Plans

Prep Makes Perfect

• Reset the Communal Expectations
• a) Create a Framework and Imbue it Values
• b) Communicate in Many Ways

Prep Makes Perfect

• Survey the Community
• a) A tool to frame your HHD approach
• b) Strengthen community participation
• c) Get the feedback you need

Creating the Path

• Av/Elul
• a) community teshuvah groups
• b) shofar blowing
• c) playlist projects
• d) d'vrei Torah, Rosh Chodesh

Service Formats

ZOOMing in on the Basic Structure

• In Person
• a) What is the risk mitigation and enforcement plan?
• b) What are the plans for high risk members?
• c) What needs to change?
• d) Halachic considerations?

ZOOMing in on the Basic Structure

• All online
• a) Which platform(s) work best for you?
• b) Precorded or live? Webinar or group? A mix of some?
• c) What are the different needs?
• d) What are the back up plans?

ZOOMing in on the Basic Structure

• Hybrid
• a) What can be done safely in person? Do you have a reopening plan?
• b) Shofar, tashlich, etc.

Keep it Familiar?
a) a year of nostalgia
b) create a sense of normalcy
c) comfort

Keep it Familiar?
In-Person Consideration
a) Social Distancing & Space
b) Singing, Chanting, Humming
c) Duration (risk = proximity + behavior + time)
d) Multiple sittings
e) Getting to the heart of the experience

Keep it Familar?
On line
a) translate the feel of the holy days
b) essential parts of the liturgy
c) balancing polish vs organic
d) presentation vs interaction
e) what to do about the machzor
f) hiring a zoommaster

Shake It Up?
a) the pallette model
b) shorten & break apart
c) the thematic approach
d) new liturgy

Scrapped or Adapt?
a) Communal Singing
b) Shofar
c) Tashlich
d) Yizkor
e) Torah Service
f) The Sermon
g) Day 2

Hiddur Mitzvah
a)HHDs in a Box
b)Machzor/Slides
c)Mikdash Me'at
d)Zoom Backgrounds
e)Videos to Create Moments

Quick Takes
Family, Kids, Teens
a) RH Seder
b) Scavenger Hunts
c) Book of Life Slam

Quick Takes
Fundraising
a)Video Appeals
b)Pre-Ask
c)journal with ads

Resources

• JEDLAB
• Center for Rabbinic Innovation
• Dreaming Up the HHDs 2020
• Spiritual and Communal Responses to Covid-19
• The Movements
• Music by Dan Lee https://www.musicbydanlee.com/hhds
• RobBen Music Productions http://www.RobBenMusic.com/

Resources

• Eliana Light Family Prayer Experiences Eliana@elianalight.com
• http://www.magneticshul.com
• Bayit yourbayit.org customizable machzor presentations
• Digital Machzor Lev Shalem http://bit.ly/2OSO5Ee
• Water optional Tashlich by Susan Elkodsi shorturl.at/dswEG