High Holidays Cheat Code: Understanding Services from the Inside

On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Sixth & I Historic Synagogue offers a one-evening class designed to demystify the High Holiday service experience. Led by guest Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, the session frames attending Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services without background knowledge as similar to watching a film in an unfamiliar language: powerful, but not entirely accessible. The class aims to change that by explaining the internal logic of the holiday liturgy so participants can feel genuinely connected rather than merely observing those around them.

The program combines social connection with learning. Attendees are invited to arrive early for a happy hour, described as a chance to toast the new year and meet fellow participants, including potential service companions. The class itself explores the structure, symbolism, and theology behind the High Holidays, including the architecture of the prayerbook, the meaning of central prayers, the intended impact of the shofar, and the psychological sophistication underlying the liturgy. Participants are promised to walk away with new insight into what the event describes as one of Judaism’s most powerful ritual experiences.

When: Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Happy hour begins at 6:00 pm ET, and the class starts at 6:30 pm ET.

Venue: Sixth & I Historic Synagogue.

Tickets: $18; registration is completed online and additional fees apply.

Instructor: Guest Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, who is slated to co-lead the synagogue’s High Holiday services this year alongside Rabbi Jenna.

Program: The class unpacks the structure, symbolism, and theology of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, covering the prayerbook’s architecture, the meaning behind central prayers, the purpose of the shofar, and the psychological depth of the holiday liturgy.

Note: The page also includes a separate schedule for the synagogue’s High Holiday services, including Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur, but those services are distinct events from this class.