Each year, our Emanu El Houston community gathers for the High Holy Days: a season of reflection, renewal, memory, music, and connection. From the month of Elul through Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah, we make space the look back at the year that has passed, look ahead at the year in front of us, and to be present with one another.
Whether you join us every year, are returning, are exploring Jewish life, or are coming with someone you love, you are welcome here.
The High Holy Days, also known as the Days of Awe, invite us to pause the hustle of daily life and consider who we have been, who we want to be, and how we hope to move forward.
This is the season of teshuvah: a time to reflect, make things right, and return to what matters most. The word is often translated as “repentance” or “return,” but it is really about recognizing where we have missed the mark, repairing harm when we can, and reconnecting with God, with others, and with ourselves. Teshuvah is, of course, something we can practice all year, but it takes on special meaning in the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
At Emanu El, our hallmarks of this season are worship, music, learning, remembrance, celebration, and moments of quiet reflection. As a community, we welcome a new year with gratitude for what has been and hope for what lies ahead.
The High Holy Days begin at Emanu El with preparation in Elul, and continue through Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
In the month of Elul leading up to the High Holy Days, we make room for reflection and intention. Through EmanuElul, we begin preparing our minds and our hearts for the year ahead.
The High Holy Days begin with S’lichot (also Selichot), which translates to “forgiveness,” and is where we begin the work of making things right. During our S’lichot service, the Torah scrolls are redressed in their white covers for the High Holy Days.
On Rosh Hashanah, we welcome the new year with gratitude and possibility… and the shofar. Join us for worship, music, family experiences, and opportunities to gather in community. After our Morning Services, we gather at a nearby body of water for Tashlich to reflect and cast off the mistakes and burdens that we don’t want to carry forward into the new year.
On Yom Kippur, we turn toward honest reflection, forgiveness, healing, and renewal. Yom Kippur at Emanu El includes a full day of worship and afternoon electives and experiences that offer different ways to reflect, learn, and connect. As the day comes to a close, we gather for Yizkor and N’ilah (also Ne’ilah), the final service of Yom Kippur, and then come together as a community for our Break the Fast.
A few days after Yom Kippur, we begin preparations for Sukkot, a holiday of celebration and hospitality, and a variety of events for all ages in the sukkah. At Emanu El, a community favorite is our annual Sukkot on Sunset, which begins with a brief service, followed by lunch and games and festivities resembling a neighborhood block party!
At the end of Sukkot is Simchat Torah, a celebration of Torah marking the completion and beginning of the annual Torah-reading cycle. It’s customary to read the end of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Genesis in one breath! At Emanu El, on Simchat Torah evening, we unscroll the entire Torah in the Proler Chapel and—as it is being held by our community—highlight favorite stories and moments… usually in song! After the service, we march with the Torah scroll into a dinner and fulfill the mitzvah of learning Torah with a guest speaker.
There is no single way to experience the High Holy Days. Whether you are seeking worship or quiet moments for reflection, bringing children, joining us online, or visiting for the first time, we are here to help you find your place.
New to Emanu El? See our High Holy Days 2026|5787 page to get an idea of what you can expect to see, hear, and experience.
Coming with children? The High Holy Days are for every generation. Our clergy team creates a unique worship experience for young children, and we offer opportunities that help every generation connect with the themes of the season: gratitude, forgiveness, kindness, courage, memory, and hope. Family-friendly worship, children’s stories, youth gatherings, and more help make the High Holy Days accessible.
Seeking spiritual preparation? Explore EmanuElul and take a moment each day to pause and reflect on Psalm 27.
Want to rewatch or revisit moments from High Holy Days 2026? Explore the High Holy Days Media Library to watch our services or listen to sermons or music.
Looking for an opportunity to give? The High Holy Days present a number of opportunities for tzedakah, or recognizing our responsibility to care for one another and help meet others’ needs. Gifts to our High Holy Days Appeal and the High Holy Days Hunger Fund are appreciated.
A meaningful moment can stay with us long after the holidays have ended. Explore High Holy Day services, clergy sermons, music, children’s stories, and more from past years.
Whether you are revisiting a specific moment, sharing a resource with someone else, or just looking for a place to begin, we are here for you.
High Holy Days 2026 Media Library Listen to Cantor Simmons High Holy Days Music PreviewThe High Holy Days ask us to consider how we can help build the kind of community and world we hope to enter in the year ahead. At Emanu El, giving and service are expressions of shared responsibility. Through the High Holy Days Appeal, we help sustain a community where people can worship, learn, celebrate, find comfort, and belong—regardless of financial circumstance. And through our hunger relief efforts, we extend care and support to neighbors across Houston who are experiencing food insecurity.
Learn more about our High Holy Days Appeal Help us fight food insecurity in our community
Visiting a synagogue for the first time—especially during the High Holy Days—can be daunting. We understand and we are here to welcome you and make your experience as comfortable, memorable, and straightforward as possible.
When the current year’s information is available, you’ll be able to find service times, parking guidance, accessibility resources, childcare details, digital passes and guest passes, and livestream options all in one place.
If you’re unsure where to start, please reach out. Ali Bamberger, our Membership & Engagement Associate, is here to answer your questions and help you plan for your visit.
Learn about Emanu El Houston Explore membership at Emanu ElThe High Holy Days invite us to step out of the ordinary rhythm of daily life and into a season when we remember, repair, give thanks, seek forgiveness, and start fresh again in a new year.
At Congregation Emanu El, we look forward to sharing that journey with you.
