High Holidays 5787

Jewish Community of Amherst  ·  Fall 2026

Welcome to the Days of Awe

High Holidays at the JCA are multifaceted experiences, blending traditional prayer with contemporary melodies, and providing meaningful and engaging opportunities for all ages. Our services are led by Rabbi Benjamin Weiner and Hazzan Diana Brewer, along with a small group of singers and musicians.

Our High Holiday services combine elements of both our Ne'imah musical and Lev Shalem traditional services, complete with a spirited shacharit, full Torah reading, and musaf. Members of the congregation play important roles as Torah and haftarah readers, meditation leaders, and also offer probing personal reflections and inspiring original poetry alongside Rabbi Weiner's thoughtful sermons.

Zoom access is available for most services. If you register for Zoom access, you will receive the Zoom link two hours before each service.

For additional community programs throughout the season, including Sukkot and Simchat Torah, please check the JCA calendar.

Coming Soon

Rabbi Weiner's letter for 5787 will be posted here before the holidays. Please check back.

Registration

Thank you for your interest in attending JCA High Holiday services. Due to space limitations, registration is required for all in-person services.

JCA Members in good standing will have early access to registration. Non-members may register and will be placed on a waiting list until spaces are confirmed.

Attending on Zoom? Please register even if you are joining remotely. For security reasons we do not make the Zoom link publicly accessible — registration is how you receive it.

Register for High Holiday Services

Donations

All events at the JCA are free of charge. We ask that you consider making a donation to support the work of the JCA. High Holiday donations this year will go to support adult, youth, and family education — helping to grow the future of our community.

You can make a donation during registration, or separately using the button below.

Make a High Holiday Donation

Schedule of Services

Services are listed below. Registration links are included within each service listing. Dates and times subject to change — check back for updates.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available on Zoom for all services marked with an asterisk (*), with the exception of Musaf for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. ASL interpretation is not available at the Family Services.

Service schedule will appear here once the calendar is updated.

One of the joyful and fulfilling elements of High Holidays at the JCA is the opportunity to help build community as volunteer ushers and greeters. Many participants have told us how much they appreciate the feelings of connection and safety created by greeters and ushers.

You can use the sign-up link to choose your time slot, make changes, or see when other JCA members are volunteering.

Volunteer Sign-Up Coming Soon

Questions about volunteering? Contact the JCA office at info@jcamherst.org or (413) 256-0160.

As a member of our community, you are invited to submit the name(s) of deceased loved ones for inclusion in the Yom Kippur Yizkor service. Each year we generate a new list — even if a name has been included in previous years, you must resubmit.

All names will be listed in the memorial booklet, which is available in print at Yom Kippur services and on the website. Please note the date of death (month and year) if the person passed away in the Jewish year 5786. Only the names of those who passed away in 5786 will be read aloud at the Yizkor service.

It is customary to offer a tzedakah donation in memory of those whose names are listed. We suggest a donation of $18 for a listing. However, all names are welcome as part of our community's Yizkor service, whether or not a donation has been made.

Submission deadline: Friday, September 4, 2026.

Submit Yizkor Book Entry

Coming Soon

Details about Pre-Rosh Hashanah workshops and learning opportunities will be posted here as they are confirmed. Please check back closer to the season.

At this time of year, the JCA Tikkun Olam Committee hosts a food donation drive in support of the Amherst Survival Center Free Pantry. Please consider bringing a food or hygiene item for donation. The food drive will continue through Yom Kippur.

Most-requested items:

  • Breakfast cereal
  • Pasta
  • Hygiene items (toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper)
  • Gluten-free items
  • Snacks
  • Peanut butter

If you would like to donate but cannot make it to a drop-off, a pickup can be arranged by reaching out to the Tikkun Olam Committee at TikkunOlamJCA@JCAmherst.org.

To support the Survival Center directly with a cash donation, visit amherstsurvival.org/donate and mention "JCA Holiday Food Drive" in the comment section.

Driving

Whenever possible, please carpool with family, friends, and neighbors — particularly on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur when parking will be more limited. Walking and biking are also encouraged if you live nearby.

Arriving at the JCA

There is only one way to enter and exit the JCA parking lot. Look for the JCA sign — if you do not see it as you turn into the driveway, you have the wrong entrance.

The correct JCA parking entrance: a red arrow points right toward the JCA sign reading Parking / Entrance, approached from the street.
✓ Correct entrance
The wrong entrance: a red arrow points left toward a second JCA sign, which is the exit side of the driveway. Do not turn here.
✗ Wrong entrance — this is the exit

JCA Parking

Parking volunteers will be present to direct traffic and maximize use of the lots. A few important notes:

  • The JCA parking lot is designated for elderly and handicapped drivers during high-attendance services.
  • No parking in fire lanes. Passengers may be dropped off at the JCA entrance.
  • Please do not park between the entrance signs for the overflow grass lot, so as not to block cars entering and exiting.

Overflow Parking (see map below)

  • Fort River School parking lot is available during services that take place outside of school hours (evenings and weekends).
  • Field parking at the corner of N. East Street and Main Street is available only during school hours, when the Fort River lot is not available. Please do not use the field on evenings or weekends — it is not an overflow option on those days. The entrance to the field is off N. East Street. Look for posted signs.
  • South East Street Service Road and Salem Street — street parking is available during all services. These streets are posted as "no parking," but we have obtained permission to park here during services and you will not be ticketed. Please do not block driveways.

Public Transportation

Bus Route 30 (N. Amherst / Old Belchertown Road) stops at the JCA. During the school year it runs every 15 minutes from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays, and every half hour thereafter. On weekends it runs hourly. Schedules are available at pvta.com.

Overhead map showing parking areas near the JCA. JCA Parking is directly behind the building, accessible from Main Street via the correct entrance. Field Parking is to the northeast. Salem Street parking is to the northwest. South East Street Service Road parking is to the south. Fort River School parking is to the east, available evenings and weekends.
Parking map — JCA and overflow lots