Schedule of Services
Updated August 18, 2025. Subject to Change.
General Information
Updated August 21, 2025. Subject to Change.
Main Services
Location: Services will be held in the large sanctuary with extended seating in the social hall. A livestream feed is also available here.
Entry Requirements: All of our services are free and open to the public so tickets are not required, however we do ask that you RSVP here to let us know which services you expect to attend.
Reserved Seats: Reserved seats are available for $100 each and help to provide funding for TBE's high holiday services. If you'd like to reserve a seat, click here. However, anyone is welcome to sit in any open seat free of charge.
Food & Refreshments: Both buffet-style food and refreshments will be available on Rosh Hashanah. On Yom Kippur, a snack and drink station will be available in the gift shop for anyone who needs it for any reason.
Volunteers: Sign up to help with general High Holiday needs or to volunteer as an usher during services.
Children's Services
Location: All children's services will be held indoors.
Meeting Point: On Rosh Hashanah I and Yom Kippur, children and their parents should first come to the large sanctuary where children will be invited to the bima for the beginning of the Torah Service. On Rosh Hashanah I, we will also return to the sanctuary for the Shofar service after the family program. Learn more about children's services and other family programming here.
Entry Requirements: Tickets are not required, however we do ask that you RSVP here to let us know which services you expect to attend.
Parent Participation:
Parents are encouraged to attend family services.
Childcare: TBE will be offering free childcare for ages 3 and up from 11:00am to 1:30pm on Rosh Hashanah I and Yom Kippur (September 23 and October 2) and from 10:00am-1:30pm on Rosh Hashanah II (September 24). Preregistration is required by September 12. If you do not sign up for childcare in advance, you may be turned away at the door due to staffing.
Food + Refreshments: Children's snacks will be available after children's services and programming on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There will be a family kiddush on Rosh Hashanah I. Snacks will also be available at babysitting on Rosh Hashanah II since there is no family service that day.
Parking and Accessibility
- The primary entrance to the building is on Wadsworth St. (in the semicircle). There are two accessible entrances available for those unable to walk down stairs from the Wadsworth Street entrance into the sanctuary. There is a courtyard entrance through the gate on Devonshire St., and access through the school wing door to the left of the main entrance on the semicircle. A staff member will be posted at both accessible entrances to assist.
- The semicircle parallel parking spaces and the first three spaces in the TBE parking lot are reserved for disability parking.
- A wheelchair is available for those who would like additional assistance.
- Special street parking permission during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services: Parking is permitted on both sides of Devonshire Street, the TBE side of Deering Avenue, and on the Temple side only of Wadsworth Street.
- When parking on the street, please help us to maintain good relationships with our neighbors by noting that parking within five feet of a driveway, hydrant, or crosswalk is prohibited. And again, do not park in front of the houses on Wadsworth Street; you may only park on the TBE side of that street.
- The Portland Center for Assisted Living on Devonshire Street is available to us again this year for limited parking. Please only park in the marked spaces; do not park on the grass or in areas of the lot that are not designated for parking, as this can inhibit ambulance access.
Selichot, Elul, Tashlich,
Simchat Torah & Sukkot
Selichot Services
Saturday, September 13 at 7:30pm
Susan T. Goldberg Courtyard @ TBE
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Rabbi Sruli Dresdner, and Rebbetzin Lisa Mayer will lead us as we sing penitential prayers and center ourselves for the coming Days of Awe.
Selichot are special prayers that are recited in anticipation of the High Holidays. These beautiful prayers composed by the greatest ancient and medieval poets introduce us to the themes of the upcoming High Holidays and intensify our avid anticipation of their arrival. Learn more at Exploring Judaism.
Elul Class with Rabbi Simmons
August 31, September 7 and 14 at 7pm
Join Rabbi Simmons for a three-week Elul series to get into the High Holidays mindset! Together we will examine several of the core prayers of the High Holidays and share our own stories and experiences finding meaning in the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. No preparation or Hebrew knowledge necessary, attendance at every class not required. Classes will be held virtually on Zoom.
Sign up here.
Tashlich at Jewell Falls
Tuesday, September 23 at 4:30pm
Jewell Falls, Portland - Trailhead on Hillcrest Ave., off Brighton Ave.
Please join us after services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah as we go to beautiful Jewell Falls here in Portland for tashlich. Through this ritual, we express not only our desire to be free from sin but our continuing hope that we will be forgiven for past misdeeds. On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to go to a flowing body of water and to recite prayers while "casting" our sins (represented by rice paper and/or birdseed) into the water.
There is no need to RSVP. It is a great ritual for the whole family! You can even bring your four-legged family members (on leash only).
Erev Simchat Torah
Tuesday, October 14 at 6:30pm
Join together for a family oriented, fun filled evening as we celebrate receiving of Torah at Mt Sinai. Dance, song, and a special unrolling of the entire sefer torah will highlight the evening.
Sukkot Programs
Sukkah Raising
Friday, October 3 at 11:00am
TBE’s Sukkah is ready to make a comeback and we need your help! Join us in the Susan T. Goldberg Courtyard to build it, and enjoy a light nosh with gluten free options. RSVPs are encouraged but not required so that we have enough snacks. Please RSVP here. Questions? Email office@tbemaine.org.
Potluck in the Sukkah
Wednesday, October 8 at 5:30pm
Join us for a family friendly potluck in the sukkah! Please bring a vegetarian/dairy dish to share. We'll provide chana masala (dairy and gluten free), mac and cheese, drinks, plates, and utensils. And if you don't have time to put together a dish mid-week, we'd still love to see you! Please RSVP
here.
Spirits & Spirits in the Sukkah
Thursday, October 9 at 5:30pm
Join Rabbi Simmons for an evening of spirited and thoughtful discussion over some delicious beverages in TBE’s sukkah. L’chaim!
RSVPs are encouraged but not required so that we have enough food and drinks for everyone.
Resources
Elul Resources
Online Learning About/During Elul from the Conservative Movement's Exploring Judaism:
Reflective Reading, Writing, and Listening
- Elul: A Time To Be Hollow by Tel Shemesh, an organization integrating earth-based practices into Judaism
- Turn Your Hope to God: Kavay El Yah by Rabbi Shefa Gold
- Rosh Chodesh Elul – New Moon of Elul: An audio meditation led by Rabbi Sarah Tasman
Rosh Hashanah Resources
Rosh Hashanah Insights
- From Exploring Judasim
- The Akedah Project
- Commentaries on the Torah portions read on Rosh Hashanah
- Shana Tova Coloring Book for all ages!
Rosh Hashanah Seder: Pesach does not have a monopoly on seders! While most widely observed in Sephardi or Mizrachi homes, the Rosh Hashanah Seder has started to gain observance in the Ashkenazi world. Try something new at your Rosh Hashanah celebration.
- Blessings for a Year of Justice
- Recustom's Selection of Rosh Hashanah Seders
- A Family Seder for Rosh Hashanah
- The Rabbinical Assembly’s Rosh Hashanah Seder
Bake-It-Yourself with TBE’s Rosh Hashanah Recipes
DIY Tashlich: Here you will find curated resources to lead your own meaningful tashlich ritual.
- Release and Renew: A Tashlich Reflection
- A Personal Tashlich
- Wash My Soul Tashlich Ceremony
- An Ecosensitive Alternative Tashlich Ritual for Those Unable to Access Flowing Water
- A Woman’s Tashlich
Yom Kippur Resources
Yom Kippur Insights
- High Holidays with the Conservative Movement's online database.
- The Days Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
- Five Myths about T’shuvah
- Yom Kippur 101
Torah Explorations
- From Rabbi Braun (2021)
- Podcast
- Commentaries from Judaism Unbound
Family Resources
Lulav and Etrog Orders
The Deadline for ordering your Lulav & Etrog is
Thursday, September 11 at 5:30pm.
We should be receiving the sets by October 1; pick up will be at TBE. We will coordinate pick-up times with those who have placed an order.
Submit a Holiday Greeting
Would you like to honor or remember someone special? Send a holiday greeting to our community? Consider submitting your message to our annual holiday slideshow. The slides—with your words and, if you'd like, an image—will play on the screen in TBE's lobby during high holiday services.
Sponsorship + Volunteer Opportunities
Sponsor the Holidays
Every year, our high holidays are sweeter, more beautiful, and more comfortable, thanks to the generous support from High Holiday sponsors. Please consider becoming a High Holiday sponsor this year—details are embedded in the form.
Volunteer
The holidays are made possible by folks who volunteer their time to help things run smoothly. From apple cake baking to silver polishing to ushering during High Holiday services, there's something for everyone!
Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman
We are delighted to welcome Rabbi Shoshana back to Portland, where she will be leading High Holiday services with Rabbi Simmons! Click the button below to learn more about Rabbi Shoshana.
