New folks are welcome to join us for the High Holidays! As the High Holidays are quite large, they have a different feel from our yearly offerings. We encourage you to explore our programs before the High Holidays (or return in the fall) to get a deeper sense of our intimate community!

Based on last year’s attendance numbers and this year’s anticipated costs, the true cost-per-person to run our five days worth of High Holiday services and programs will be $250. We recognize that the requested registration amount may seem like a lot. In truth, this amount reflects the real costs of the infrastructure Kavana needs to be able to offer our holiday services and programs (think: providing rabbinic and other staffing, educators, administrative support, renting venues, procuring prayer books and materials, etc.) -- and as a non-profit organization, we are simply aiming to cover as much of the costs as possible. We ask Kavana partners to pay significantly less at the High Holidays because their annual contributions already help to cover our operating costs. Ultimately, we hope that everyone who wants to will be able to participate in Kavana's High Holiday experience. We ask that you consider paying the $300 "true cost with overhead"/requested amount if you are able; this is the time of year to be generous and communal-minded, and it is your support that allows us to keep our services and programs open to the community. But, if the requested amount feels daunting for whatever reason, we are including multiple price points. We encourage you to choose the price point that feels meaningful and comfortable for you. If even these amounts truly feel out of reach, please feel free to contact us - we want you there and we’ll work with you!

Yes! The venue is ADA compliant. Let us know if you have any accessibility questions or concerns.

Our community vibe during the High Holidays is more casual than fancy. On Rosh Hashanah, the atmosphere will feel a little festive, and on Yom Kippur, many people choose to wear white. But most importantly, we want you to feel comfortable, so dress in whatever makes you feel at ease!

We recommend bringing any ritual items that you’ll want with you, such as a tallit (prayer shawl). We'll be providing kippot for anyone who needs them, and all of our services will have machzorim (prayer books) or prayer packets available.

If you plan to spend the entire day at the venue, you might want to consider bringing extra snacks, a sweater or layers, or anything else that might come in handy. We want you to be comfortable!

Absolutely! You'll find plenty of support for building relationships and connecting with others. Look out for name-tags, social corners, and other elements to help you meet and connect with others along the way. We can't wait to meet you!

Yes! We love having families and people of all ages in our community spaces. We have special family-oriented prayer services and youth-oriented activities and discussions planned for Rosh Hashanah Day 1 and Yom Kippur. Additionally, we'll provide quiet and calm corners for children who want some downtime with their own books and activities. If there are any programs or spaces that aren't suitable for kids, we'll make sure to communicate that clearly.

Our schedule is packed with programming, but we understand that everyone has their own pace and flow. If you choose to stay at the venue throughout Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we'll have programming and spaces to nourish your spirit and keep you engaged. However, you're free to leave whenever you need to or when you've attended the events that excite you.

We will be providing snacks and drinks on Rosh Hashanah Day 1, and a casual (not seated) Break-the-Fast meal at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. Outside food and drink is not permitted in the venue, but you are welcome to step outside or hang on the rooftop deck (which is open to the public) for any additional snack breaks, etc.

Yes, we would much rather have this be a long-term relationship and not a transaction, and for many people, the High Holidays are indeed the perfect entry point! If you've already explored the Kavana community as a participant and have a sense that this is a good fit for you, by all means please email us about becoming a partner. (We'll send you a Partner Intake Form, get a meeting for you on Rabbi Rachel's or Rabbi Jay’s calendar, and then of course you can register for the High Holidays at the partner rate.) Or, if the High Holidays this year will be your first Kavana exposure, we actually would encourage you to register as a non-partner, check it out, and then decide whether this community is the right fit. If you choose to join as a partner before the end of calendar year 2025, we will happily credit any High Holiday payments you’ve made beyond the partner rate towards your first partner contribution.

Our venue in Seattle is readily accessible by public transportation (bus, lightrail), and by bicycle. For those who plan to drive, please note that the venue has a parking garage attached, and ample paid street parking available. We will send more details about transportation and parking to those who register. For those who will be driving but prefer not to use money during the holidays, we will help arrange pre-paid parking vouchers from the venue.

We’d be happy to answer any additional questions you may have! Feel free to reach out to our Director of Programs & Communications, Yoela, for any additional questions or information.