FAQ
Livestreaming
What is the schedule for livestreaming the High Holy Day services?
The livestreaming schedule is available on our Livestreaming page.
How can I join Central for services virtually?
Online: All may join us virtually for High Holy Day services which will be livestreamed on our general website’s Livestreaming page, our High Holy Day website’s Livestreaming page, our YouTube channel, or our Facebook page,
Television: Cable channel JBS (Jewish Broadcasting Service) will broadcast all our livestreamed services. Visit the JBS website here to see if the JBS channel is available in your area, or contact your cable company to learn more.
Phone: Additionally, all may join us via our call-in services by dialing (929) 205-6099. Then, enter the ID number 942 2375 3751 and press #, followed by another # (no “additional Participant ID” needed).
Machzors (Prayer Books)
What prayer books are being used for this year's High Holy Days?
Central’s Clergy has created unique prayer books to lead our High Holy Days worship services. There are four separate prayer books for this year's High Holy Days for S’lichot, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and our Family services. We are using the same prayer books as last year.
How do I access the prayer books?
Members: Prayer books will be available in-person at the venue for the duration of the High Holy Days. If you would like to order your own or are joining us virtually, we will include an order form in our weekly newsletters for hard copies of the Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur prayer books only. Please note that these are the same books used last year. The deadline to order is Friday, September 1. If you cannot locate the order form, please email us at membership@censyn.org. To access the S’lichot or Family Service prayer book PDFs, visit our Livestreaming page.
Neighbors: All Neighbors who are new to Central (as of last year’s High Holy Days) will automatically be sent the Machzors used for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. They will not have to submit an order form.
General Public: The prayer books are available as free PDFs on our Livestreaming page. The PDFs are downloadable and printable.
How can I print the prayer book PDF without a printer?
We recommend downloading the PDF and emailing it as an attachment to your local print center (Office Max, Staples, etc.) These establishments typically have a unique email address for you to send printable documents to. Contact your local printer to find out more information.
Tickets & Services
What are the requirements for members to receive tickets?
All members in good standing are automatically registered for services. Being in good standing means you have either paid your current membership dues, are on a payment plan, or have been in touch with the Membership department about your membership dues.
How do members receive tickets?
Central will be emailing tickets in mid-August. In addition, starting Sunday, August 20, members can find a link to their tickets at the top of the Central Weekly newsletter, which is emailed out every Sunday.
Members without emails will be mailed physical tickets. If you have not received your tickets by Friday, August 25, please contact membership@censyn.org.
I am a member. What is the service schedule and where do I go?
Your service schedule and location are printed on your tickets. Please reach out to membership@censyn.org with any questions.
How do members order guest tickets?
Members were emailed an order form in late July to purchase guest tickets. Each member household is eligible to purchase up to 2 guest tickets. Please note your guest’s ticket will be sent to you, not your guest. The deadline to order guest tickets is August 31.
If a member has any questions about purchasing guest tickets, please reach out to membership@censyn.org for assistance.
How much are guest tickets for the members-only services?
Tickets are required to attend any service (including free services).
Rosh HaShanah Full Holiday $225 (includes Rosh HaShanah Morning, Erev Rosh HaShanah, and Tot & Family services; no tickets required for Rosh HaShanah 2nd Day)
Erev Rosh HaShanah only $125
Rosh HaShanah Family services $0
Yom Kippur Full Holiday $225 (includes Yom Kippur Morning, Kol Nidrei, Yom Kippur Afternoon, and Tot & Family services)
Kol Nidrei only $125
Yom Kippur Afternoon (Yizkor) only $0
Yom Kippur Family services $0
How can the general public join Central for in-person services?
Central offers services for the general public called the Community Services. These are open to all who would like to attend and are held in Central’s Beir Chapel located in our Community House which is just down the street from the Main Sanctuary. Tickets are required and are available for purchase here.
Those who are current members at another synagogue can attend Community Services with reciprocity for free (See more information about reciprocity below).
How does reciprocity work?
As a URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) affiliated synagogue, Central Synagogue is able to participate in outgoing and incoming reciprocity for anyone traveling during the High Holy Days. If you are a member in good standing at another congregation, you are qualified to receive a High Holy Day ticket through reciprocity.
Guests of current Central members will be assigned the same service schedule as your Central host through reciprocity.
Those who are not guests of current Central members but would like to attend in-person services through reciprocity are accepted only for Community Services in Beir Chapel.
If you are a member of a Reform URJ-Affiliated congregation, please complete the URJ Reciprocity Request Form. Central’s Membership team will process these requests in August, and tickets will then be sent.
If you are a member of a Conservative, or other non-URJ-Affiliated congregation, please have a representative from your home congregation complete this Domestic Courtesy Seating Request for Reciprocity Form. Email the completed form to tickets@censyn.org or mail it to Central at 123 E 55th Street, New York City, NY 10022.
Are all service locations fully accessible?
Yes. Accessibility details for all holiday service locations (Main Sanctuary, David Geffen Hall, and Beir Chapel) can be found on our Venues page.
Remembrance during Yom Kippur
How are names of loved ones honored on Yom Kippur?
Members:
Names of loved ones who have passed away in the last year will be read aloud during the Yom Kippur Yizkor service on September 25.
Additional names submitted by members will be added to the Memory Book, a printed booklet available for members to pick up at services.
General Public and Neighbors:
Names submitted by the general public and Neighbors will be added to The Book of Remembrance, a digital booklet which will be published online on September 24 (Kol Nidrei). During the Yom Kippur Yizkor service on September 25, a QR code will appear on-screen which links to The Book of Remembrance.
How do we submit a name for remembrance?
Members:
A submission form will be emailed later this summer for you to submit names to be added to the Memory Book. For members who do not have email, a card will be mailed out for you to write names on and send back to Central.
General Public and Neighbors:
The general public and Neighbors can use this online form to submit up to three names of immediate family members (who passed away between September 28, 2022, and September 17, 2023) to be added to The Book of Remembrance. Please note that a contribution to Central does not automatically add a loved one to The Book of Remembrance.
Submission deadline is Monday, September 18, 2023, 5:00 pm ET.
Sukkot
Will Central have a Sukkah that is open to the public?
Central will have a Sukkah inside the Main Sanctuary beginning on Erev Sukkot, September 29. Those who wish to visit will be allowed in the Sanctuary only during our visiting hours on Wednesday, October 4 from 12:30-2:00 pm. Please note that this is not a kosher Sukkah and food is not permitted in the Main Sanctuary.
Questions?
Email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (212) 838-5122.
Accessibility
Learn more about the accommodations available during our High Holy Day events.