Yom Kippur Afternoon Sessions

1:15 pm - Film and Discussion with Dr. Deborah Holdstein
We’ll be watching the film An American Pickle and having a discussion led by Deborah Holdstein. An American Pickle is a comedy about a Jewish immigrant from 1919 who falls into a vat of pickles, and is perfectly preserved for 100 years, waking up in modern day brooklyn, where he seeks connection with his last living relative.

1:30 pm - Ancient Poetry for Yom Kippur with Dr. Cynthia Bernard
For more than two thousand years, passionate and religious Jews have written their longing and repentance at the High Holidays into poems, intended as part of the prayer service. We will take a look at a few of these ancient works of the human heart known as piyyutim. We will read piyyutim drawn from medieval Spain, when they reached an especially impressive level of form and beauty, and we might find our own Yom Kippur reflections and emotions reflected in them in surprising ways.

2:30 pm - Meditation with Dr. Lisa Lombard
Take time to nurture your spirit with a guided meditation led by Lisa Lombard. Through quiet reflection and gentle mindfulness practice, this session creates space to pause, breathe, and renew ourselves during this most contemplative day of the year.