(Above from the Yom Kippur episode of JLTV’s ‘The Goldbergs.’ Source: YouTube video)
L’shanah tovah! With the Jewish High Holy Days starting tonight and many synagogues having cancelled in-person services due to Covid-19, The Savvy Screener is happy to present our annual viewing guide to free online observances.
Because Jewish

Because Jewish will stream “a suite of musically and spiritually driven” services live from an audience-free Brooklyn Bowl in New York City.
Rosh Hashanah services are tonight at 7:30 pm ET, with Bowl Hashanah tomorrow at 10 am. Kol Nidre services will follow on Sunday, September 27, at 7 pm and Yom Kippur services on Monday, September 28 at 10 am. You can attend any or all of the services by clicking on the times above and providing your email address.
The musical director for Because Jewish is Antibalas co-founder Jordan McLean. Sydney Rose of Dharma Punks will lead a guided meditation at each event, and musical guests will include Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Group and Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
For a more complete list of participants, consult the poster image above right, or visit BecauseJewish.com
Jewish Life Television
JLTV’s High Holiday schedule will include:
- Unwritten, tonight and Sunday, September 27, at 7 pm , 10 pm and 1 am ET. Josh Nelson curates and leads “a new High Holiday prayer experience,” first for Erev Rosh Hashanah and then for Yom Kippur. Here’s a sample:
- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday, September 28 at 6 am, 9 am and noon. Services feature Rabbi Mark Blazer, Noreen Green from the Los Angeles Jewish Community Chorale, and more.
- Kol Nidre, Sunday, September 27 at 8 am and 11 am. Groman Eden Mortuary & Eden Memorial Park present a Kever Avot Virtual Memorial Service.
- The Goldbergs, “A Sad Day,” Sunday, September 27, at 8:30 pm. 11:30 pm and 1:30 am. The original 1950s version of the Goldberg Family attends synagogue for the solemn Kol Nidre Service, which concludes with pianist/composer Vladimir Heifitz directing the Cantor’s Concert Ensemble:
You can stream Jewish Life Television at jltv.tv/watchjltv.php.
You can also stream the Yom Kippur episode of The Goldbergs for free from Tubi or buy it from Amazon, 99 cents for Prime subscribers and $1.99 for non-subscribers.
Jewish Broadcasting Service
JBS offers High Holiday services divided by the three branches of Judaism: Reform, Conservative and Orthodox.
Reform, from Central Synagogue, New York City
(Above: Central Synagogue, pre-pandemic)
- Erev Rosh Hashanah, tonight, 6 pm
- Rosh Hashanah, tomorrow, 10:30 am Saturday and Sunday, and 2 pm Saturday
- Kol Nidre, Sunday, September 27, 8 pm
- Yom Kippur, Monday, September 28, 10:30 am
- Yizkor, Monday, September 28, 4 pm
Conservative, from Sinai Temple, Los Angeles
- Rosh Hashanah, tomorrow, 9 pm
- Kol Nidre, Sunday, September 27, 9:30 pm
- Yom Kippur, Monday, September 28, 2 pm
Orthodox, from Hampton Synagogue, Westhampton Beach, NY
- Erev Rosh Hashanah, tonight, 6 pm
- Rosh Hashanah, 9 am Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 pm Saturday, and 1 pm Sunday
- Kol Nidre, Sunday, September 27, 6:30 pm
- Yom Kippur, Monday, September 28, 9 am
- Yizkor, Monday, September 28, 6 pm
You can find a complete schedule, including replays, at jbstv.org, and then pray along with the channel’s livestream at jbstv.org/watch-live or on Roku.
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- Streaming ‘Blithe Spirit’ - February 15, 2021
- Fame’s Gonna Live Forever! - February 11, 2021
- A Western Roundup - February 4, 2021
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- Remembering Cicely Tyson - January 28, 2021
- HBO Max’s ‘Possessions’ - January 28, 2021