High Holiday Nusach

This course is designed for anyone who wants to become a prayer leader or who wants to expand and refine his or her skills as a ba'al tfilah, with particular focus on all the major prayer services of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.  This series begins at an intermediate level, and moves people to the advanced level.

Through learning the nusach in these videos - and, crucially, by trying them in real life! - you can become a High Holiday prayer leader in your community. 

You will learn all of the major liturgy for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, and be able to lead any of these services at a synagogue or prayer gathering of any size. Through Joey's teachings in this series, you will develop the aesthetic and spiritual sensitivity to both lead and step out of the way, empowering diverse groups of people to lift and transform their prayers into powerful, collective song.

There are more than 100 videos organized into 11 distinct units. Videos are up to 15 minutes long, amounting to many hours of instructional sessions with a master practitioner. Here’s the outline:

1. Nusach Roadmap
2. Pesukei D'Zimrah for Rosh HaShanah
3. Shacharit for Rosh HaShanah
4. Musaf for Rosh HaShanah
5. Yizkor
6. Kol Nidre
7. Yom Kippur Morning
8. Musaf for Yom Kippur
9. Mincha for Yom Kippur
10. Neilah!
11. Modes & Scales of Nusach Asheknaz in America

Nusach Roadmap (6 videos)

Understand the arc of prayer from an aesthetic, spiritual and energetic point of view. Consider how to bring everyone into the prayer experience. 

Pesukei D'Zimrah for Rosh HaShanah (3 videos)

Warming up the atmosphere for a big day of davening. Learn to move swiftly through a lot of material. 

Shacharit for Rosh HaShanah (17 videos)

While it begins with a lot of familiar material, Rosh HaShanah Shacharit includes many special piyyutim and the iconic shofar calling. 

Musaf for Rosh HaShanah (32 videos)

Divided into four subsections, learn the choreography and liturgy of the epic Rosh HaShanah Musaf service, which includes shofar blasts.  

Yizkor (2 videos)

A memorial service where the leader's role is to stay out of the way, allowing those who have lost loved ones to deeply remember. 

Kol Nidre (29 videos)

Slichot, Avinu Malkeinu, Vidui and other elements that reappear throughout the day are included here, the opening service of Yom Kippur. 

Yom Kippur Morning (3 videos)

Review the Pesukei D'Zimrah and Shacharit services for Yom Kippur, which is very similar to  Rosh HaShanah but includes additional piyyutim. 

Musaf for Yom Kippur (12 videos)

Master the Musaf service for Yom Kippur, which is very similar to Rosh HaShanah but includes the unique and extensive Avodah service. 

Mincha for Yom Kippur (1 video)

If you have led the other High Holiday services, this one is easy. The trick is moving through it quickly. Learn how to get it done. 

Neilah! (11 videos)

The closing of the gates, the final service of Yom Kippur is urgent and powerful. Clock is ticking. Maintain the ruach of this epic day. 

Modes & Scales of Nusach Asheknaz in America (6 videos)

Learning the scales and modes associated with the predominant nusach in America. Fundamentals of music theory as it relates to Jewish prayer.

The structure of this series allows aspiring practitioners of every level to plot a path to High Holiday nusach mastery at their own pace. Some may choose to focus on shacharit and musaf for Rosh HaShanah while others will want to grasp the traditional mood Yom Kippur's opening service, Kol Nidre, and learn how to stoke and maintain the ecstatic energy of Neilah, "the closing of the gates" at the conclusion of the holiest day of the year.

Choose your own nusach adventure!