At Temple Chai we welcome children of all ages at each of our worship services. We also have planned special services and programs for certain age groups to ensure a meaningful High Holy Day experience for people and families of all ages and life stages. The only service that is restricted to a particular age group is our teen service, where we give our teenagers their own space to create meaningful prayer and spiritual experiences. You know your family best and we encourage you to read through the descriptions of our various services and decide what is best for your family. If you think it would be helpful, we also encourage you to bring quiet (non-electronic) toys, books, or activities for your children to enjoy during services that are not directed specifically for their age group. Please also feel free to stand or walk around with them in the rear of the sanctuary, in the sanctuary lobby where the service can be heard, or in the courtyard if a breath of fresh air is needed. Children are a joy in our services and we welcome them! Babysitting is available for children from 0-8 years old during selected services. (Register Here).
SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS
S’lichot S'lichot is a special service marking the beginning of the High Holy Days. It is a meaningful and spiritual service of introspection, a taste of High Holy Day melodies, study, and the presence of community. A highlight of the evening will be the changing of the Torah covers to white for the holidays. The evening will also showcase Temple Chai artists in a special exhibit, with works inspired by the "Al Cheyt" prayer from the Mishkan haNefesh Machzor. Artists are invited to choose a line from the prayer and illustrate it in their chosen medium. Bring your silver Yom Kippur prayerbook. Prayer Lab – An Experiential Service Our Prayer Lab service is perfect for those who want to delve more deeply into the High Holy Day experience. We will take the powerful themes of these important days “off the bimah” and put them into your hands for personal contemplation and inspiration. These services are welcoming for beginners and thought-provoking for those already comfortable with prayer. Please note that on Erev Rosh Hashanah, our service will be a marriage of our signature Prayer Lab service style with our familiar evening service.
Dorot – Multi-Generational Service Our Dorot – Multi-Generational Service offers a wonderful spiritual opportunity for all members of our families. Not only is this service welcoming to children of all ages but it will be meaningful for individuals and families of all ages and life stages as the generations of our community come together. These services will be musical, accessible, and feature a story rather than a traditional sermon.
Tot Services Our Tot service is designed for families with children up to age 6 and welcomes older siblings as well. We will sing High Holy Day songs, share about these important holidays in ways appropriate for our youngest community members, and experience the blast of the shofar – all within 30 minutes.
Teen High Holy Day Experiences Our Teen High Holy Day Experiences are alternative services for all those teens who are post-B-Mitzvah age. These experiences will be interactive, experiential, meaningful, and fun, and they will give Teens a chance to deepen their ties to their own Jewish youth community. Please note that these service experiences are only available in person and will not be streamed.
Tashlich Meaningful for all ages and life stages, Tashlich is a very special and brief ritual of music, readings, and carrying out the tradition of symbolically casting off our sins to begin the new year with a clean slate. Tashlich will take place at 4:30pm at Roadrunner Park (3502 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032). Please note: out of consideration for the environment and animals, please bring bird seed or duck seed instead of traditional breadcrumbs or bread. Temple Chai will also provide a limited amount of bird seed to those who need.
Yom Kippur Afternoon Learning Session Enhance your Yom Kippur experience with study and discussion in between our traditional service experiences.
Yom Kippur Afternoon Music & Meditation Enjoy an hour of reflection and prayer in our Main Sanctuary, concurrent with both Yom Kippur Tot Shabbat and our learning session. Musicians will fill our sacred space with contemplative music to invite quiet moments of personal prayer.
Healing Service Our Healing Service is always a moving moment as Yom Kippur begins to draw to a close. We open our hearts in prayer for loved ones to offer a blessing for well-being of body, mind, and soul. You will have an opportunity to join others embraced in the Shalom Center Mi Shebeirach tapestries, and to be uplifted by the powerful words of “Heal Us Now.”
Yizkor Service We keenly feel the loss of our dear ones at this time of the Jewish year. The Yizkor (memorial) section of our Yom Kippur services will provide a special space in time and in our hearts to remember our loved ones.
N'ilah Service As we near the end of Yom Kippur, we join together in the spiritual crescendo of N'ilah (concluding) prayers and Havdalah, concluding the holiday together through the senses and with joy.