With soulful music to the prayers, Torah chanting by teens and adults, and an ode to love in Ladino and Hebrew from the poetry of the Song of Songs, our Yom Kippur will be a celebration of our local partnerships to improve the city we love. Guests will include Pastor Will Kroeze of Trinity Church, Manuela Robles, director of the shelter for unhoused families, the Flatbush Family Residence, multidisciplinary artist and producer, Zaire Baptiste and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) Executive Director, Audrey Sasson.
10:00 AM - YOM KIPPUR SERVICE
1:00 PM - YIZKOR
*Please dress in white for this event.
We are thrilled that Audrey Sasson, Executive Director of Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), will be our featured speaker on Yom Kippur morning.
Audrey is a longtime organizer and a leading voice in New York’s Jewish social justice community. For nearly 30 years, she has worked at the intersection of Jewish life and social change as a community organizer, and campaign leader, focusing on issues including immigrant and workers’ rights, disability rights, housing, racial justice, antisemitism, and Israel/Palestine.
More recently, Audrey has helped make JFREJ an influential player in local U.S. electoral politics, and in local protests calling to stop Israel’s destruction of Gaza, advocating for a ceasefire and campaigns such as “Not One More Bomb.”
As the first Mizrahi leader to serve as JFREJ’s Executive Director, Audrey has led the organization since 2017, helping build a grassroots Jewish community of more than 6,000 members working across New York City for a more just and caring city.Audrey’s presence feels especially meaningful as we explore this year’s High Holiday theme, Eyn Od — This Is It. As Rabbi Misha writes, “If you want to transform your life, if we want to improve our world, the first step is to make peace with what is.” Audrey’s life and work ask a related question: given the world as it is, what are we called to do — here, now, and together?
A guiding principle for both Audrey and JFREJ is the Yiddish concept of Doykeit, or Here-ness. This Yom Kippur, as we focus on our local issues and partnerships, we are excited to hear from Audrey and discuss what being Jewish means in this moment in our city and our people's history.
(New Shul Members, please find the required password in your membership confirmation email.)
Children’s Programming
Creative, engaging, and meaningful experiences for kids of all ages.
At The New Shul, we believe the High Holy Days should be a time of connection and inspiration for the entire family. That’s why we’re offering dynamic, age-appropriate programming for children during our services this Holiday season. We also pride ourselves on our intergenerational approach to many of the main services, so children will be able to choose whether to spend their time with their parents in the sanctuary, with the children’s programming in the lunch room or hanging out with their friends upstairs.
All sessions will be taught and led by educators from the School for Creative Judaism (SCJ), ensuring thoughtful, joyful, and age-appropriate experiences rooted in creativity and meaning.
Yom Kippur Morning:
While our Tots enjoy their own musical service upstairs, the main sanctuary service will be truly intergenerational, with children and teens taking an active role by chanting Torah, offering creative dramatic interpretations of the readings, and singing with the Creative Judaism Choir.
11:00 AM–12:30 PM – Creative Learning & Arts Program (Ages 5–12)
Children will have a morning of creative Jewish learning through storytelling, philosophical discussion, hands-on art, and interactive activities. They will also put the finishing touches on the interactive theater production they began on Rosh Hashanah and share their performance with the community. For children who prefer a less structured experience, supervised games, crafts, and free-play activities will also be available throughout the morning.
Pricing:
$36 per child per service or $120 for all services.
Free for New Shul Members.