Youth and Family Experiences

Join VBS for Fun-Filled and Meaningful High Holiday Opportunities 🍎 🍯 On Site, Off Site and Online!

We are so excited to announce this variety of thoughtful and engaging family experiences, from a Rosh Hashanah Pop-Up to a Beach Service to hiking opportunities and virtual services. Scroll down for all the details!

Community Candle Lighting (Virtual)

Monday, September 6 (Erev Rosh Hashanah) and Wednesday, September 15 (Erev Yom Kippur)

5:00-5:15pm on Facebook Live and YouTube Live

Gather your family close for a little music and blessing as we welcome the holiday with candle lighting, kiddish, apples and honey. Share sacred moments together with all VBS Rabbis and Cantors.

High Holidays: BACHUTZ Style

Alternative Outdoor Services for Teens in Grades 7-12

Tuesday, September 7 (Rosh Hashanah Day 1) and Thursday, September 16 (Yom Kippur)

9:30am-12:00pm

Experience alternative High Holiday programming with the VBS Youth Department. Bus transportation is available for fully vaccinated participants. Limited spaces available. Click here for details and registration >

Family Rosh Hashanah Pop-Up

It's A New Year! After All

Tuesday Afternoon, September 7

All the prayers, celebrations, tastes and sounds that you love about Rosh Hashanah, plus a few added treats.

Enjoy a fun-filled immersive Rosh Hashanah experience with VBS Rabbis, Shofar blowing, apple and honey tasting, story telling, prayers, family blessings and more surprises in small, safe groups. Limited spaces available. For VBS members only.

Click here to sign up

Beach & Blessings

Family Service and Tashlich

Wednesday, September 8 (Rosh Hashanah Day 2)

10:00am at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica (adjacent to Annenberg Community Beach House) between lifeguard towers 2 and 4

Join Rabbi Avi and song leaders Daphna Gutman and Gitai Vinshtok for a casual outdoor Rosh Hashanah experience. We will come together safely for a brief service, shofar blowing and Tashlich – bring your own crumbs, shofars and masks!

All are welcome; registration is not required.

Click here to help plan your visit to this location >

Tashlich

Tashlich at Lake Balboa

Anthony Beilenson Park • Lake Balboa, 6300 Balboa Boulevard

Cast away your sins (ok, old crumbs!) and begin the year with song and celebration.

All are welcome; registration is not required.

Choose Your Days:

Wednesday, September 8 at 5:00pm - Bring Your Dogs for "Tash-leash"

Led by Rabbi Ed Feinstein and Cantor Phil Baron. All dogs will receive a special blessing as we celebrate a communal “Bark Mitzvah.”

Thursday, September 9 at 5:30pm

Led by Rabbi Deborah Schuldenfrei and Rabbi Avi Taff

Friday, September 10 at 4:00pm

Led by Rabbi Noah Farkas

Virtual Services

Stream Any Time: Rosh Hashanah Tot Shofar Service

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with the Levity Puppets

Watch last year's Tot Shofar High Holiday Services on VBS TV!

Stream Any Time: Yom Kippur Tot Shofar Service

Observe Yom Kippur with the Levity Puppets