Don’t belong to a synagogue? Don’t have a place to go for the High Holidays? Welcome to our annual list of free and low-cost services open to the public.
All of the Yom Kippur services listed here are $40 and under. Some synagogues offer free services for students or new attendees, some offer a sliding scale, some have child care. Almost all welcome donations, and won’t turn anyone away for lack of funds. But check ahead whether registration is required.
Only the first service of the day is listed; see individual websites for other service times.
Yom Kippur begins at sundown Tuesday, Oct. 8.
San Francisco
Chabad of Noe Valley—Free. Donations suggested. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. 3771 Cesar Chavez St. (415) 648-8000 or chabadnoevalley.org
Chabad of San Francisco—Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St. Reservations requested. (415) 668-6178 or chabadsf.org
Congregation B’nai Emunah—Free. Family service in the sanctuary, 3 p.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 3595 Taraval St. (415) 664-7373 or bnaiemunahsf.org/celebrate/high-holydays
Congregation Emanu-El—Free family services. 5 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. 2 Lake St. (415) 751-2535 or emanuelsf.org/hhd
Congregation Ner Tamid—Free for students and first-time guests. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 1250 Quintara St. (415) 661-3383 or nertamidsf.org
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav—Free. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Also, two free services for families with preschoolers through third-graders: 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave. (415) 861-6932 or shaarzahav.org/high-holidays-2019
Congregation Sherith Israel—Free services for children under 5 and their families. 5 p.m Oct. 8. Reform. 2266 California St. (415) 346-1720 or sherithisrael.org
Keneset HaLev—Sliding scale up to $40, walk-ins welcome. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Independent/post-denominational. County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, near Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. (415) 339-7485 or kenesethalev.org
Or Shalom Jewish Community—Free family services. 6 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Reconstructionist. First Unitarian Universalist Center, 1187 Franklin St. (415) 469-5542 or orshalom.org/high-holy-days
East Bay
Aquarian Minyan—Free for current students with ID. 6 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Jewish Renewal. (818) 746-6174 or aquarianminyan.com
Berkeley Community—Free. 7 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Cross-denominational. JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. (510) 917-5314 or highholydayservices.org
Beyt Tikkun—Free for UC Berkeley students and children (under 16). All other students $25. 6:45 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Jewish Renewal. The Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley. beyttikkun.org/article.php/HHDMain
Chabad of Alameda—Free, some require registration. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. For location, call or register. (510) 640-2590 or jewishalameda.com/services
Chabad of Contra Costa—Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9. At Clarion Hotel, 1050 Burnett Ave., Concord. (925) 937-4101 or [email protected]
Chabad of El Cerrito—Free. RSVP requested. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 10 a.m. Oct. 9. 7422 Seaview Place, El Cerrito. (510) 455-2770 or chabadelcerrito.com
Chabad of the Tri-Valley—Free. 6:15 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. $20 break-the-fast. 3370 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. (925) 846-0700 or jewishtrivalley.com
Chochmat HaLev—Pay-what-you-can option, $18 minimum requested. Under 13 free with paid adult. 6:15 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Renewal. First Presbyterian Church, 2407 Dana St., Berkeley. (510) 704-9687 or chochmat.org/high-holy-days-2
Congregation Beth El—Some services free; all are free to students with ID. Check website to see which services are for tots, teens or families. 6:15 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 8; services throughout day on Oct. 9. Reform. 1301 Oxford St., Berkeley. (510) 848-3988 or bethelberkeley.org/highholydays
Congregation B’nai Shalom—Free family services. 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. (925) 934-9446 or bshalom.org
Congregation B’nai Tikvah—Free. For families with kids 5 and under. 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. (925) 933-5397 or tikvah.org
Congregation B’nai Torah—Free. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. 50 Sand Creek Road, Suite 150, Brentwood. (925) 754-2545 or bnaitoraheastbay.org
Congregation Zohar Yisrael—Students $40, children 5-13 $30. 6:45 p.m. Oct. 8; 4:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Sephardic/egalitarian. Thousand Oaks Baptist Church, 1821 Catalina Ave., Berkeley. zoharyisrael.org or [email protected]
Jewish Gateways—Family services for $25. 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Interfaith/nondenominational. Held in and around a big white tent at JCC East Bay, but not affiliated with center. 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley. (510) 545-9977 or jewishgateways.org
Kehilla Community Synagogue—Family and tot services $40 per family. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8. Main services on sliding scale starting at $30. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 4:30 p.m. Jewish Renewal. Oct. 9. Scottish Rite Temple, 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. (510) 547-2424 or [email protected]
Reutlinger Community—Senior care and living facility. Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Nondenominational. 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville. (925) 648-2800 or [email protected]
Temple Israel—Free for college students with ID. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. 3183 Mecartney Road, Alameda. (510) 522-9355 or templeisraelalameda.org/high-holy-days
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews—$20; free for kids under 13. 7 p.m. Oct. 8. Humanistic/secular. At Bothwell Arts Center, 2466 Eighth St., Livermore. (925) 485-1049 or tinyurl.com/tvcj-rosh-2019
North Bay
B’nai Israel Jewish Center—Free. Donations appreciated. 6:45 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Independent. 740 Western Ave., Petaluma. (707) 762-0340 or bnaiisrael.net
Chabad of Napa Valley—Free. 6:25 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Napa Valley, 101 Gateway Road East, Napa. (707) 492-5993 or jewishnapavalley.com
Chabad of Novato—Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. At three different sites in Novato. (415) 878-6770 or jewishnovato.com
Chabad of Solano County—Free. 6:15 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. 730 E. Main St., Vacaville. (707) 592-5300 or tinyurl.com/csol-hh2019
Congregation Beth Ami—Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa. (707) 360-3000 or bethamisr.org
Peninsula and South Bay
Chabad MidPen—Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Courtyard Marriott, 600 Bair Island Road, Redwood City. (650) 232-0995 or [email protected]
Chabad North Peninsula—Free. 6:15 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Locations in San Mateo and Foster City given with RSVP. (650) 667-9556 or chabadnp.com/highholidays
Chabad Sunnyvale—Free. Donations appreciated. 6:40 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Sunnyvale Community Center Ballroom, 550 East Remington Drive. (408) 720-0553 or chabadsunnyvale.com
Coastside Jewish Community—Free for ages 18-26 as part of Synagogue Connect. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. (family service), 10:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Independent. United Methodist Church, 777 Miramontes St., Half Moon Bay. (650) 479-5252 or coastsidejewishcommunity.org
Congregation Beth Am—Free family services. 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9. $36 for under 36 and free for full-time students and military. See website for times. Reform. Redemption Bay Area, 105 Nortech Parkway, San Jose. (650) 493-4661 or betham.org/hhd2019
Congregation Beth David—Donation-based tickets. 6 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. (408) 257-3333 or beth-david.org/hhd-5780
Congregation Beth Jacob—All services free for college students, military personnel and prospective members. 5 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City. (650) 366-8481 or bethjacobrwc.org/worship/high-holy-days
Congregation Kol Emeth—$36 for nonmember young adults and Kesher families attending for the first time. See website for schedule. Conservative egalitarian. 2525 Charleston Road, Suite 204, Mountain View. (650) 948-7498 or kolemeth.org
Congregation Shir Hadash—Free family services. 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Reform. 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos. (408) 358-1751 or shirhadash.org
Congregation Sinai—Free for new South Bay residents, college students and members of the military. 6 p.m. Oct. 8; 8:30 a.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 1532 Willowbrae Ave., San Jose. (408) 264-8542 or tinyurl.com/sinai-sj-HH2019
Keddem Congregation—Free, RSVP requested. 7 p.m. Oct. 8; 9:15 a.m. Oct. 9. Reconstructionist. Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. (650) 494-6400 or keddem.org/#HHD
Los Altos Chabad—Free. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Address given upon registration. (650) 241-8770 or tinyurl.com/cla-hh2019
Peninsula Sinai Congregation—Free. 6 p.m. Oct. 8; 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Conservative. 499 Boothbay Ave., Foster City. RSVP required. (650) 349-2816 or peninsulasinai.org/high-holy-days
Temple Emanu-El—Free for first-time attendees, students and military with ID. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Free children’s services (preschool-K) 9 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. Heritage Theatre, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell. (408) 292-0939 or templesanjose.org/highholydays
Beyond the Bay Area
Temple Beth El—Free, reservations required. 8 p.m. Oct. 8; 10 a.m. Oct. 9. Reform. 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos. (831) 479-3444 or tbeaptos.org/high-holidays.html