Literally “casting”, tashlikh is a lovely ceremony carried out on Rosh Hashanah during which we “cast away our sins” by throwing breadcrumbs into a running body of water. Here at CKS, we are fortunate enough to be able to hike on our own property to Pike Creek. This is a wonderful, short, fun, and meaningful ceremony for adult and child alike. At the conclusion of tashlikh, the shofar is blown.

Alternative to morning service. Led by Peggy Fass. Meet at the Laurel Avenue parking lot for the Rocky Hill Canal. Casual hiking dress.

A memorial service on Yom Kippur that calls to mind our deceased loved ones through the recitation of special prayers, such as Mourner’s Kaddish. Members at CKS have the option of listing their loved ones whose names are then read during the course of the service. Yizkor services are also traditionally held on Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot.

The word “Avodah” in this context refers to worship in the form of sacrifices or offerings that were performed in ancient times in the Temple in Jerusalem. In those days, the High Priest performed a special sacrifice on Yom Kippur and made a full range of confessions on behalf of all the people.

Today, naturally, we no longer make sacrifices. We still, however, have offerings to make to God, to each other, and to ourselves. As we did last year, we will hold a non-traditional Avodah service on Yom Kippur afternoon, during which you may bring in your own personal offerings – poems, stories, artifacts, songs – that convey the spirit of the High Holidays: teshuvah, return, repentance, forgiveness, and so on.

Neilah is the final service of Yom Kippur during which our last round of confessional prayers are recited. The ark remains open and we stand (if we are able) throughout most of this deeply spiritual and moving service. Here at CKS, we dim the lights, allowing the words and music to wash over us as we turn inward one last time. The service concludes when the sun has set with a final, long shofar blast.