Days of Awe - Some Frequently Asked Questions

High Holiday FAQs - Upstairs

• Do I need to wear a Kippah or a Tallis? Kippot or yarmulkes are the headcoverings you’ll see people wearing and a tallis is the prayer shawl. If you’re comfortable wearing either or both, wear them! If you have questions, ask one of the ushers. If you want to experiment and try wearing one, try it! If it’s not for you, or not for you right now, don’t worry about it. We do ask that people who are coming up on the bima (stage) for Torah honors wear a tallis and kippah out of respect for the Torah.
• I notice that the person next to me isn’t wearing a tallis and/or kippah and it's really bothering me. Can I remind them to wear one? No, please don’t. Focus on how you can best get your heart right with the Holy One and let your neighbor worry about how he or she can best get their heart right with the Holy One.
• I want to be at services, but I can’t focus for five (plus) hours. Can I bring a book? Great idea - some Jewish books that might be good for the season are This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation and These Are the Words: A Vocabulary of Jewish Spiritual Life. But please leave the electronics - phones, kindles, ipads, etc - at home, and if people big and small can refrain from writing during the upstairs service, that would be appreciated.
• My neighbor is flipping furiously through the pages. Can I help them find their place? Absolutely - a good rule of thumb when it comes to giving direction to a fellow congregant is to ask if you are helping them get where they want to be or where you think they should be. If it’s the former, please help; if it’s the latter, please don’t.

High Holiday FAQs - Downstairs

• Can I leave my kids downstairs and then go back upstairs? We rather you didn’t. We’d like for every child downstairs to have a specific adult who is looking after them and helping to guide them through the holidays. We’re going to have three rotations, so kids can be in age appropriate activities, and we’re going to need your help moving groups of kids.
• OK - I’m downstairs with my kid(s) - can I stand in the back and talk to my friends? We really rather you didn’t. Adults talking during kids programming is a major problem for the people leading the program and it sends the message that you don’t care about what is going on. Please engage in the program with your kids and if you need to take a break, please take it outside our very small building.
• Can my kids eat? Yes. we’ve got snacks for the kids on Rosh HaShona and for kids, even on Yom Kippor. Please don’t bring any outside food into BHA unless you are sure you understand our food policy.  
• My kids are bored and a little rambunctious. Is it cool if they just run around and scream?  Ummm.... no.