High Holiday Ritual Lab 5785

There’s a lot to remember this year — both from whence we have come and where we stand together right now. The phrase “Where Am I” is a foundational statement of our High Holiday Liturgy. Captured in the “Hineini” prayer, these words are traditionally sung by a grand entrance of the Chazzan (cantor).

At Open Temple, we do not pray in proxy; rather, we are empowered to learn how to pray through a blend of ancient and contemporary modalities inviting all of the power of our ancient texts to alchemize within. At Open Temple, Hineini, a grand statement of Being that translates as “Here I am” is a return home.

This year, so many who stood before Eternity one year ago are ghosts standing alongside us as we face the Holiness of Being. We move beyond the question of “Here I am,” to ask “Where are you?”.  Where is our God concept in a post-10/7 world? How do we cultivate this presence through our own actions? This year, it is time for all of us to stand and listen for the Voice Within for a response to these questions, as that may be all we will ever capable of knowing.

In a world where moral assertions defining Good Vs. Evil present as diametric opposites, it is upon us to turn our attention to the true work of the season: not to stand in judgment of others; but, rather, face our Creator and self-assess our own complicity in this mess as the refining of our own interiority and moral consistency is the only path to redemption in our time.

Open Temple’s High Holiday Ritual Lab, now in its 9th year, is a Threshold into the Soul. This year, we explore the High Holidays as a Desert Festival Morality Tale, combining the traditions of the American Western with Desert Festivals — be it Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle or Nova. “Rosh Requiem” combines elements of traditional liturgy with radical ritual re-imaging in of what High Holidays could and should be. 

High Holiday Ritual Lab 5785: Rosh Requiem. A Morality Tale for our Time.

Open Temple never wants financial constraints to be a barrier to participation. For help with attending our services or if you need help in finding alternative free or low-cost services for the High Holidays, please reach out to hello@opentemple.org.