It’s an uncomfortable fact of Jewish life in contemporary America: You need a ticket to attend most High Holy Day services.
Synagogue leaders know that many flock to their local congregations on these ceremonious fall days, a time of repentance, prayer and kinship, and the congregations use the money they get from tickets to fund programs for the rest of the year.
Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish New Year, begins on the evening of Sept. 22, ushering in a 10-day period of reflection that ends with Yom Kippur on Oct. 2, a solemn day of fasting and forgiveness.
Synagogue members who pay dues throughout the year usually don’t have to pay for tickets. At most synagogues, nonmembers can buy tickets that typically range in price from $100 to $200.
For nonmembers who are looking for a way to connect to their Judaism during this High Holy Days season, there are still a few South Florida synagogues that allow Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur worshipers to enter without paying.
Check out the list below and find the closest congregation. A new year is about to begin, along with new ways to connect with the Jewish community.
BROWARD COUNTY
Congregation Kol Tikvah, 6750 N. University Drive, Parkland; 954-346-7878; koltikvah.net
Yizkor, a High Holy Days memorial service for the deceased, will be at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 2. Free and open to the public. Livestream all services at koltikvah.net/live-stream.
Temple Sholom, 132 SE 11th Ave., Pompano Beach; 954-942-6410; templesholomflorida.org
Community Yizkor will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 2. Free and no RSVP required.
Young Israel of Hollywood Beach/Ahavat Shalom, 315 Madison St., Hollywood; 954-922-4544; beachshul.org
All services are free, but visitors should RSVP by calling the synagogue or email beachshul@beachshul.org.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Congregation B’nai Israel, 2200 Yamato Road, Boca Raton; 561-241-8118; cbiboca.org
These services at B’nai Israel are free of charge.
- Tashlich, 3:30 p.m. Sept 23
- Rosh Hashana second day, 10:30 a.m. Sept 24
- Yom Kippur Fast Talk, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 2
- Yom Kippur Afternoon Service and Sounding of the Shofar, 4:45 p.m. Oct. 2
Make sure to RSVP at cbiboca.org/hhd-tickets. Or visit the website to access free streaming of services via YouTube.
Chabad of West Boca Raton, 19701 State Road 7, Boca Raton; 561-487-2934; chabadwestboca.com
For the fifth year, this Chabad is offering “The Shul is All Yours.” From Sept. 25 to 29, visitors can have the sanctuary to themselves for 30 minutes of prayer. “We’ve been doing it since COVID, when people weren’t comfortable coming to services,” office manager Rivka Bukiet told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 2024. Reserve a time through the website.
Delray Torah Center, 7273 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 347-206-9853; delraytc.com
Seating is free at this Orthodox congregation, but synagogue leaders will ask for donations during a special appeal. Register at the website.
Chabad at the City of Delray Beach; 561-285-1024; delrayjewish.org
Free, family friendly services will be led by Rabbi Mendy Heber at The Seagate Golf Club, 3600 Hamlet Drive, Delray Beach.
Temple Beth El, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton; 561-391-8900; tbeboca.org
The following services are complimentary: Rosh Hashanah Eve service, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22; Rosh Hashanah second day congregational worship, 10 a.m. Sept. 24; Yom Kippur service of healing and renewal, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2; Yom Kippur Yizkor and afternoon service, 4 p.m. Oct. 2. Register at tbeboca.org/high-holy-days-2025.
LESS THAN $100
Congregation Etz Chaim, 2038 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors; 954-564-9232; etzchaimflorida.org
This synagogue combines Reform and Conservative traditions and is widely known for its LGBTQ-friendliness. Tickets are $85 for a single service or $300 for all four services.
High Holy Day Explanatory Services, Zinman Hall at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, 9901 Donna Klein Blvd., Boca Raton; 561-702-3864; bocaratonjewishexperience.org
The Boca Raton Jewish Experience offers High Holiday Beginners’ Services, led by Rabbi Josh Broide. Cost is $50; reservations required.
Temple Beth Shira, meeting at Bethel Evangelical Baptist Church, 5780 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561- 912-1453; templebethshira.org
Beth Shira’s services will be at a church that used to be a Conservative synagogue, Temple Emeth, and still maintains its stunning stained glass windows infused with Hebrew from the Torah. Tickets are $99 for nonmembers; register at form.jotform.com/TempleBethShira/tbs-high-holy-days.
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
Chabad, chabad.org
There are more than 30 Chabad Orthodox synagogues in Broward and Palm Beach counties. These congregations typically allow worshipers to attend services without tickets, but call ahead to make sure. Find a site close to where you live at chabad.org/jewish-centers/state/Florida.
Reverse Tashlich, repairthesea.org
Tashlich is the act of symbolically casting away the past year’s sins into water to start fresh for the New Year. Reverse Tashlich, a contemporary take on the ancient tradition, takes sins, such as pollution, out of the water. On Sept. 28, join Repair the Sea as volunteers remove debris from local beaches. Find a site near you at repairthesea.org/reverse-tashlich-2025.
