Tonight We're Gonna Party Like It's 5776: Jewish High Holidays in Beijing
Happy New Year! Beijing's Jewish community begins their celebration of the year 5776 this weekend when the high holidays kick in, beginning with Rosh Hashanah today and concluding with Yom Kippur Sep 23.
(For those of you unfamiliar with this 10-day holiday and wondering how the Jews got 3,761 years ahead of everyone else, Chabad Beijing has a quick primer worth reading here).
Two Beijing communities are hosting services and events: Chabad Beijing (Orthodox) and Kehillat Beijing (liberal). Click through to their websites to find the full schedules (and get tickets -- some require advanced purchase). Newcomers to Beijing are always welcome; in the mean time here's a rundown of what to expect over the next ten days:
Rosh Hashanah -- First Night
Sunday September 13 2015
Candle Lighting 6:10 pm
Services at 6:15 pm followed by Rosh Hashanah community dinner
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House - Fang Yuan Xi Lu, Si De Park South Gate
Special program for kids and prizes
Beijing resident adults- RMB 200
Children and university students - RMB 100
Overseas guests - RMB 350
Rosh Hashanah -- First Day
Monday September 14 2015
Services/Shacharit at 10:00 am
Tekiat Shofar/sounding of the Shofar at 11:30 am
Special program for kids and prizes
Followed by Kiddush lunch
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Community wide Tashlich Service, 3:30 pm
Location: Meet at the Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Rosh Hashanah -- Second Night
Monday Evening September 14 2015
Candle Lighting 7:06 pm
Services/Arvit at 7:15 pm followed by community dinner
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Rosh Hashanah -- Second Day
Tuesday September 15 2015
Services/Shacharit at 10:00 am
Tekiat Shofar/sounding of the Shofar at 11:30 am
Special program for kids and prizes
Followed by Kiddush lunch
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Havdalah 7:05pm
Tzom Gedalia ~ Fast of Gedalia
Wednesday September 16 2015
Fast begins 4:35 am, Fast ends 6:50 pm
Shacharit 7:30 am
Mincha / Marriv 5:50 pm
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Shabbat Shuva
Friday September 18th 2015
Candle Lighting 6:01 pm
Mincha 6:10pm
Services/Arvit at 6:20 pm followed by Shabbat dinner
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Shabbat Shuva
September 19th 2015
Services/Shacharit at 11:00 am
Weekly children's program
Followed by Kiddush lunch
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Havdalah 6:58 pm
Erev Yom Kippur
Tuesday September 22 2015
Pre-fast meal from 4:30 pm at Dini's kosher restaurant
Candle Lighting at 5:55 pm
Kol Nidre Services at 6 pm followed by a group discussion.
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Special program for kids and prizes
Yom Kippur
Wednesday September 23 2015
Morning Service/Shacharit at 10:00 am
Special morning program for kids (with lunch) and prizes
Yiskor at 11:30 am followed by Musaf Mincha at 4:50 pm
Special afternoon program for kids and prizes!
Ne'elah at 5:50 pm
Havdalla at 6:51 pm
Location: Bet Yaakov Chabad House
Community Breakfast following Havdalah - All welcome
Sunday, September 13th - Erev Rosh Hashana
18:00 – Doors Open
19:00 – Services Begin
Dinner to follow
Monday, September 14th -- Rosh Hashana
09:45 – Services begin
Noon-ish – Kehillat Tashlich behind the Capital Club
12:30 -- Lunch at Great Leap Brewing #45 Xinyuan, tickets online
15:30 – Chabad Tashlich Service
Friday, September 18th
19:00 Shabbat Services
Services are free, but dinner requires a ticket.
Weekend, September 19th - 20th
Great Wall Retreat at Mutianyu (pre-registration absolutely required!)
Tuesday, September 22nd -- Kol Nidre
16:30 – Pre-fast meal, tickets online
17:45 – Kol Nidre Services begin (no children’s activities)
Wednesday, September 23rd -- Yom Kippur
09:45 – Services begin, continuing until around 13:30
17:00 – Evening Services begin
18:50 – Breakfast meal, tickets online