From Vallejo to Nob Hill, free Holy Day services abound

At least 15 congregations across the Bay Area are offering free High Holy Day services this year, providing an array of opportunities to unaffiliated Jews.

According to Jewish Community Information and Referral, free Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services will take place in regions from Solano County in the north, Santa Cruz County in the south and Contra Costa in the east. The services encompass the spectrum of affiliations from Reconstructionist to Lubavitch.

On the Peninsula, for instance, Reconstructionist Keddem Congregation will continue its five-year practice of offering three free community-led services for Rosh Hashanah and three for Yom Kippur. It will also offer free children's services.

Those interested in attending Keddem's services in Palo Alto are asked to reserve a spot, as the demand for seats has increased, partially the result of last year's decision by Stanford Hillel to start charging for High Holy Day programming. Walk-ins, however, will not be turned away, if there is space remaining.

"It's what we believe is right," said Elaine Moise, president of the Los Altos congregation. "Many Jews only want a place to go on the High Holidays -- they shouldn't have to pay to pray."

But it is not always financially feasible for synagogues to offer free High Holy Day services.

"Money is an important factor in keeping a synagogue's doors open 365 days a year," said Janice Sands-Weinstein, executive director of New Bridges, a Peninsula group that reaches out to unaffiliated Jews and is connecting them with High Holy Day events.

For that reason, many synagogues have made what they believe to be reasonable compromises.

Reform Temple Isaiah of Lafayette, for instance, broadcasts its High Holy Day services to Contra Costa County areas, with the help of AT&T.

At Reform Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, meanwhile, High Holy Day services and memberships are made available to the unaffiliated community through a voluntary dues system.

"It is like free access to the temple," explained Gary Cohn, executive director. "Anyone who comes to us and decides not to join the temple is asked to make a contribution."

Asking for contributions, according to Cohn, is not out of line for the synagogue.

"Those who are saying they shouldn't have to pay are forgetting that we are here to provide services year round," he said. "While some only come on the High Holy Days, the rabbis, the staff, the building needs to be available 12 months a year. It takes money to run a synagogue."

Still, the benefits of offering free services to the unaffiliated community extend beyond financial issues. According to Sands-Weinstein, the High Holy Days provide the perfect opportunity for bridging gaps and free services forge meaningful Jewish relationships.

"This is one of the most important times for people to re-identify their Judaism," said Sands-Weinstein. "We need to make it as easy as possible for them to gain access."

That is the motivation behind the Berkeley Community High Holiday Services. Started around 15 years ago by a late Berkeley resident, Mayer Goldberg, the services are entirely free and open to the public.

Before he passed away in the late 1990s, Goldberg would fund the services, held at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, entirely out of his own pocket. Now the tradition is carried on by Jewish community volunteers.

"Synagogue membership is a wonderful thing but many people, for one reason or another, don't want to join," said Daniel Brody, a volunteer who helps put the services together. "They should have a place where they can just drop in and not have to worry about tickets or advanced planning."

The BRJCC services will be led by Rabbi Jay Krause and Cantor Sandra Lipsman in an egalitarian and participatory manner.

In addition to two Rosh Hashanah and two Yom Kippur services, this year a children's services will also be held. It has been funded with money from a community member.

Although there is no cost to attend the services, as at Emanu-El, non-mandatory donations are requested to help pay for the janitorial staff, rabbi, cantor, rental of additional chairs, and postage and mailings for the services. The BRJCC provides space free of charge.

In fact, last year's budget of $10,000 was completely covered by donations, ranging from $1 to $500. Donation envelopes will be available at the services, and those who donate will later receive a letter providing a breakdown on where their money went.

"People can come even if they don't make a donation," said Joel Bashevkin, executive director of the BRJCC. "We try to make a distinct separation between expected giving and desired giving."

Farther north in Vallejo, Congregation B'nai Israel will offer free, egalitarian services "for the first time in recent history," according to that synagogue's cantor, Bella Bogart Gelven.

"There are so many more Jews in Solano County than those who are affiliated," she said. "We wanted to give them an opportunity to participate and maybe raise their interest. We think that once they're here, they'll want to stay."

Bogart Gelven noted, however, that the free services are "not by any means a membership drive."

"Our sense is that a lot of the Jews in Solano County aren't even aware a Jewish community exists here," she said. "We just want to let them know we are here and allow them to experience Jewish community."

For those whose spirituality is ignited in a setting Tony Bennett sang about, Chabad of S.F. will offer an unusual opportunity for adults and children to observe the High Holy Days atop Nob Hill. Free services led by Rabbi Yosef Langer and Rabbi-Cantor Asi Spiegel will take place at the Fairmont Hotel.

"We chose this location partially in connection to our outreach," said Langer. "Those Jews who are not as involved with Jewish life are often intimidated by a synagogue setting. In this type of environment, they may be more willing to tiptoe into the tulips."

This is the first time the Lubavitch Chassidic group will hold its High Holy Day services at the San Francisco hotel. In the past, Chabad has rented out other secular locations, including a Japanese restaurant.

"New faces show up every year -- it's a really refreshing experience," said Langer. "Many of those faces will show up at other Chabad events through the years."

Chabad of S.F. will also be offering gourmet kosher meals during Rosh Hashanah as well as before and after the Yom Kippur fast, "to bring in the holiday flavor," said Langer. The meals, however, are not free.

The cost of the meals and any possible community donations will help to cover half the $23,000 budget. The other half has been underwritten by a donor.