High Holidays 5785

Please note the following update - 09/19/2024:

In our constant efforts to serve the diverse needs of our members, and in an effort to create additional seating opportunities for the Yamim Noraim, we are proud to announce a new "Yeshiva-Style Minyan" taking place this year in the Ogden Building Lower Level (generally home to our Sephardic Minyan). This minyan will daven at a slower pace than our other minyanim, with an emphasis on ruach and quiet outside of the davening itself. 

The minyan will begin at 7:30 am and will take the place of the Hashkama Minyan (which, as previously constituted and advertised, did not get enough reservations to take place this year).

While registration for most of our minyanim has already closed - our seating committee is working hard to accommodate the more than 1,850 people who signed up to daven at CBY this Yamim Noraim - we would like to offer anyone who has registered to request placement in this new minyan. Please consider joining!

In order to properly seat all members of this new minyan, we do quickly need a sense of the total numbers and size. Accordingly, if you would like to move some or all of your existing High Holiday seat reservations to this minyan please complete THIS FORM no later than Friday, September 20th at 1:00 pm.

Please note the following update - 09/10/2024:

Due to the overwhelming number of reservations we have received we will no longer be accepting reservations for CBY minyanim for the High Holidays with the exception of our Hashkama Minyan and our Sephardic Minyan (purchase seats HERE).

If you are interested in joining our Wait List for possible availability at any other minyanim, please click HERE. 

The Yamim Noraim have always been a special time in our shul and we have continuously tried to make our davening and comfort equally as special. Over the past number of years we have seen tremendous growth in the number of members and their families looking to spend the Yamim Noraim at CBY, and we have been fortunate to accommodate more than 1,600 seats each year.

The online reservation form for the 5785 High Holiday Seating will open on Thursday, July 25th at 8:00 am. 

While our hope would be to accommodate every member’s seating request, given the number of seats in each location, placement of those seats, and the number of requests that come in, it is impossible to accommodate every request. We also remind you that reservation forms with a greater number of seats than prior years may have a higher likelihood of being moved within the sanctuary, being split within the sanctuary, and/or fulfilled in different/multiple locations.

We ask that you please read this document thoroughly before submitting your High Holiday Reservation Form as a number of things have changed from prior years. Of course, should you have any questions please contact Elysia Stein at office@bnaiyeshurun.org.

Please note the following details and instructions:

Minyan Locations:

• Hashkama Minyan – Beginning on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at 6:45 am. This minyan will take place on-site in the Ogden Building Lower Level (normally housing our Sephardic Minyan). NOTE: Youth Educators committed to work at High Holiday babysitting may purchase seats at the Hashkama Minyan with a 50% discount.
• New Main Shul
• Old Main Shul
• Beis Medrash (Nusach Sefard)
• Social Hall
• CBY Tent – In recognition of issues in the Tent during the past two years, this year’s tent will have a floor installed and will once again be climate-controlled. Additionally, we are happy to announce that Rabbi Ari Lamm will be joining CBY as a High Holiday Scholar in Residence. Like our Rabbinic staff, Rabbi Lamm will spend time in numerous CBY High Holiday minyanim, but he will have a particular focus on the CBY Tent Minyan.
• Sephardic Minyan (off-site) – for reservations at this minyan please click HERE.

Reservations:

Reservations will be processed exclusively via an online form through the CBY website, which will open on Thursday, July 25th at 8:00 am. Immediate online payment (via credit card, debit card, or e-check) will be required to submit the form. If you intend to pay via charitable trust, donor advised fund, etc. you must contact Elysia Stein in advance of completing your reservation form to make specialized arrangements.

As you fill out your reservations, please keep in mind the following:

• Due to space constraints, we intend to prioritize the location preferences of our Full Members and those who reside with them over invited guests and family members who do not reside with a member (while we will do our best to group families together, we cannot guarantee more than 4 consecutive seats to any family grouping).
• Seats may only be reserved for children age 9 and above.
• We are pleased to announce we will once again offer High Holiday babysitting/groups for children (Pre-K through 4th grade) by advanced registration. For babysitting details and registration please click HERE.
• The reservation form will require a first choice and second choice location for each seat purchased. You may NOT submit the same location for both choices; if you do this, you may well be seated in a location you did not choose.
• Seats are non-transferable and we reserve the right to seat people in any open seats.
• Re-selling seats is strictly forbidden and may result in forfeiting your right to purchase seats next year.

As we have communicated since May, the reservation form will only be accessible to members who are in financial good standing, having cleared any past-fiscal year financial obligations or made a financial arrangement with Elysia Stein. If you have an open balance from prior to June 1, 2024 and have NOT made a financial arrangement with Elysia, you WILL NOT BE ABLE to access the reservation form when it opens.

Members who require financial assistance to cover the cost of seats or to satisfy their obligations with the shul must be in touch with Elysia Stein. As always, we will make every effort to accommodate the needs of our members in full confidentiality. Please bear in mind that financial arrangements are made on the basis of the shul’s fiscal year, which began on June 1st and that such arrangements must be renewed annually.

Deadlines, Pricing, & Refunds:

• Full Members through Wednesday, August 14th: $175
• Full Members beginning Thursday, August 15th: $250
• Affiliate Members, accepted only beginning Monday, August 26th: $300
• Non-Members, accepted only beginning Monday, September 9th: $350
   
• Seats for Yom Kippur only, accepted ONLY after Rosh Hashanah, and only based on availability: $115

Please understand that no exceptions will be made to these deadlines. Additionally, our refund policy is as follows:

• Cancellations made before Wednesday, September 4th will receive a 35% refund, as credit on your CBY account.
• No refunds will be issued for cancellations after Wednesday, September 4th.

Please do not pressure the Shul office or Seating Committee to make any exceptions to this policy. Additionally, please note that not being seated in a minyan location of your choice is NOT grounds for refund.

We urge you to complete your online reservation form as soon as possible so that we can best accommodate our members’ needs.

We remind all members that our tefilot will be heard from every location and that all our minyanim will be conducted in a manner that befits the holiness and dignity of the Yamim Noraim.

Thank you,

High Holiday Seating Committee