Thursday 18 September 2014

The High Holidays in Berlin: Activities, Feasts and More!

For those of you who feel the need to get an apology for me (Yom Kippur and all), there is one about the lack of time in the bottom of the page. Not really an interesting piece, so in small print... 

However, most of you are here because you're interested in celebrating the High Holidays of 2014 in Berlin, so here's the information. 

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Rosh Hashanah


Rosh Hashanah will begin this year on the evening of September 24th and will end on September 26th. All of the synagogues and temples in Berlin will offer Rosh Hashanah services. Usually one does not have to coordinate the visit or pay for a seat, but it is going to be pretty tight. 

Before the holiday, there will be several activities, mostly for children. On September 21st, Bambinim will offer the show  "Liat empfängt das neue Jahr" (in German 3 pm, Fürstenwalder Str, for a fee); the same show will be offered in Hebrew on the 22nd in Brandenburgische Str (5 pm). 

The beginning of the year also marks the beginning of the activities of two Israeli youth movements in Berlin. HaShomer HaTzair will offer activities in German (with a little Hebrew); will the Hebrew Scouts (text in Hebrew) will offer activities in Hebrew. Both will lounch this Sunday with a respective Rosh Hashanah party and will continue to be active on Sundays throughout the year. Activities are for second graders and older kids. 

Hashomer Hatzair (click to enlarge and get the details)


Holiday Meals 
 From the Feinberg Invitation


There will also be some communal Rosh Hashanah dinners on September 24th

  • Chabad Alexanderplatz (Hebrew) , 6:45 pm, limited space; registration closes on September 17th (registration form)
  • Also at 7 pm, a meal at Shiloh, Keren Shachar's wonderful vegetarian on Torstr. (Facebook info)
  • Milo in the Western Chabad House will offer the meal at 8 pm, details on the poster (click to enlarge) 



How lucky are Todanke? Rosh Hashanah is this year during their regular day, Thursday! They will offer a party for the kids that will include storytime, activities and the big attraction - Shofar blowing. Further information 

Bambinim in West Berlin (Brandenburgische Str) will also hold a Rosh Hashanah party, starting at 4 pm, on September 26th

from Bambinim



Yom Kippur 

Yom Kippur will take place between October 3rd in the evening and will end by the evening of October 4th. You can find services for Yom Kippur in all synagogues and temples in Berlin , expect it to be pretty tight. 

A break fast meal will be offered at the Milo kosher restaurant at the West Berlin Chabad House, at 7:45 pm. Details in the image (click to enlarge):



Bambinim (in Brandenburgische Str) will offer a Yom Kippur even for children and families on October 5th. 
Picture by Bambinim

Sukkot

On October 6th, Bambinim will start (in Brandenburgische Str) to decorate the Sukkah. Bambinim will also offer a summer camp to children who have a Sukkot holiday from school/kita. 

Bambinim will celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah on October 17th in Friedrichshain 

Picture : Bambinim





Due apology: I started to update this blog and translate what I publish in the Hebrew blog. This, however, is a mammoth task that I unfortunately cannot find the time to do every week! I hope I will have more time soon, once the tourist season will calm down. However, having said that - there are so many nice activities for the High Holidays, I decided to translate my Hebrew article on the subject. I hope this also means I will re-start to publish here as well as the Hebrew blog.