Every year, your clergy and staff try to create for you, our congregants, the most spiritually enriching High Holy Day experience.

And this year, in response to hearing what worked and what could be improved, we have designed a new menu of service offerings, as seen below.

First, in the evenings, we have added a Family Service, while still offering a more traditional Sanctuary Service.

The Family Service, geared for elementary and middle-school children, will begin at 6:30 pm, and take place in the chapel. This informal and accessible service will be led by one of our rabbis and Ira Levin, a wonderful song leader and story-teller.

The Evening, or Main Service, in the sanctuary, will begin at 7:30 pm and be led by one of our rabbis and Cantor Barry. The sanctuary service - please note, there is only one seating at 7:30, as opposed to an early and late service - will be a traditional blend of music and liturgy, creating a spiritually powerful and elevating experience.

During the day, we will present a revamped preschool service for families, called High Holy Day Tots 'n Torah, at 8:45 am in our sanctuary. This service, led by one of our rabbis and Cantor Barry, will be fun and warm, accessible and engaging, the perfect way to introduce our young to the themes and customs of the High Holy Days.

As in past years, there will be two Family Services in the chapel, with one of our rabbis and Ira Levin, at 9:45 am and 11:45 am, while the traditional main sanctuary service, with one of our rabbis and Cantor Barry, will begin at 10:30 am. A service for our teens also begins at 11:45 am.

In keeping with custom, on Rosh Hashanah afternoon please join us for a wonderful family experience of Tashlich at 4:30 pm at Ryder Park in San Mateo. The brief service, by the shores of the bay, allows us to symbolically cast away our sins by tossing bread into the running water, and is perfect for children, as well as people of all ages.

And on Yom Kippur afternoon, we will once again meet in the sanctuary after our morning service for a stimulating panel discussion, before commemorating Yizkor and beginning our afternoon service. Watch for more specific information on the panel in the September Bulletin.

Finally, please join us for a family Neilah Service, concluding the High Holy Days with the final sounding of the shofar. All shofar blowers are welcome to participate in the final blasts on the bimah. As the service ends, please enjoy a piece of challah and a sip of juice before going to your break-the-fast meal.

We believe our service offerings, which endeavor to meet the wide-ranging needs of our community, will touch people's hearts, minds and souls.

Note: This article has been updated from the version published in the August PTS Bulletin to reflect some changes in service times.