The Gather Guide: What’s Happening for the High Holidays

Dear friends,

Welcome—we’re so glad you’re here! This guide is your one-stop-shop for services, meals, events, and more across the East Bay and beyond.

This year, the High Holidays hold a particular and profound weight as we reflect on world events over the last year and approach the anniversary of October 7. At times like these, we often find ourselves turning toward the contemporary poet Ross Gay, for his brilliant way of describing the paradox of being human. In the introduction to his book Inciting Joy, he writes, 

“My hunch is that joy emerges from our common sorrow, which does not necessarily mean we have the same sorrows, but that we in common sorrow might draw us together.”

As we hold both the joys and the sorrows, the heartbreak of loss and the sweetness that community can offer, we also remember that Jewish tradition is full of complexity. We have tools for holding that multiplicity, like asking challenging questions, wrestling with text, prayer practices that expand our resilience, and of course, sharing meals and rituals.

We’re so grateful to live in a place with abundant and varied offerings across the Jewish world, and we hope this guide can be a useful tool as you craft the right-for-you combination of experiences, learnings, readings, and resources to mark this season.

If you’re not sure where to start or where to go, we’d love to take you for coffee (or tea!) and help you find your place. Looking forward to seeing you around town in the coming months—we can’t wait to gather with you!

Shana tovah u’metukah — wishing you a good and sweet New Year,

The GatherBay team (Caroline, R’Gray, and Lena)

PS: Did we miss your event? Take ~2 minutes to submit it to the calendar. Other questions? Email info@gatherbay.org. Check back here — we’ll be updating often! We recommend bookmarking this page 😉

Updated 9.9.24

A not-comprehensive list of articles, guides, how-tos, and more from a mix of organizations:

• JOCI
• A First-Timer’s Guide to Hosting Rosh Hashanah Dinner by Sonya Sanford from online publication Hey Alma
• High Holy Day Blessings + Ritual Guide from the D.C.-based org Den Collective
• How To Lead A Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Seder from My Jewish Learning
• Jewtina y Co, a Jewish & Latin org that nurtures Latin-Jewish community, identity, leadership and resiliency, created The Rosh Hashanah Seder: Latinx Edition, a Yom Kippur Workbook, a Sukkot Guide, a Simchat Torah Guide!
• Keshet, an org that works toward LGBTQ equality in Jewish life, has a bunch of resources. Note that these are from last year but many remain relevant! 
• OneTable, which empowers to find, share, and enjoy Shabbat dinners, has a number of resources around the High Holidays. Find a dinner in the Bay Area, become a host, or, if you’re a host already, you can get Nourishment for Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
  • OneTable also has compiled a robust list of resources for the post-October 7 world, including tools for reflecting, learning, and action

• Prayers and Rituals for those Who Need to Eat on Yom Kippur from A Mitzvah to Eat
• Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Readings and Rituals from American Jewish World Service
• Rosh Hashanah Sephardic-Style, recipes and stories from the Sephardic Spice Girls 
• Rosh Hashanah Guide from 18 Doors, an org focused on interfaith couples and families in formation
• Rosh HaShanah Haggadah from Schusterman Family Philanthropies
  • Includes English, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew translations
• Rosh Hashanah mental health resources, like meditations, essays, and videos from Blue Dove
• Seeker Season: A High Holiday Guidebook for the Curious and Courageous and Turn and Return High Holiday Guidebook, both from Recustom

Got a resource specific to the Bay Area? We’d love to hear about it! Drop us a line at info@gatherbay.org.