Category: Rosh Hashanah

A Talmudic Reading Of The High Holiday Prayer Un’taneh Tokef

Un'taneh Tokef: What makes this prayer so attractive? Could it be the poignant question, “Who will live and who will die?”

Dr. Judith Hauptman September 23, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

תכלה שנה וקללותיה – תחל שנה וברכותיה

ובאמת, לצד האסונות שידענו לאורך אלפי שנות קיומנו, ידענו גם לקום, להתאחד ולהתחזק מתוך השבר. וכך יהיה גם הפעם.

Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger September 23, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

End the Year and Its Curses – Begin the Year with Its Blessings

Despite the disasters we have faced, we have known how to rise, unite, and grow stronger from the fractures.

Rabbi Nathalie Lastreger September 23, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Caring For Creation Prayer

A short prayer, inspired by and quoting the Prophet Isaiah, connecting us to nature, the environment, and all of creation.

Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, Rabbi Avram Israel Reisner September 23, 2024 Climate and Environment High Holidays

A Meditation/Kavannah on the Shofar and Civic Engagement

May the shofar blasts become our catalysts inspiring us to civic participation and the preservation of our democracy.

Rabbi Josh Ratner, Social Justice Commission September 23, 2024 Elul High Holidays

The Shofar Is Calling Us Toward Queer Reconciliation: A Kavvanah

The shofar's call urges us to examine our own biases and privileges, to stand in solidarity and to advocate for change.

puck glass, Rabbi Dr. J.B. Sacks, Social Justice Commission September 23, 2024 Elul High Holidays

Social Justice Commission High Holiday Reader 5785

Our tradition teaches: the sound of the shofar can literally break down the walls, both physical and spiritual. It can shatter complacency and indifference.

Social Justice Commission September 23, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Approaching Tashlikh: Casting Off Racism

May our casting of the bread upon the waters lead to a concerted common effort to confront and confound racism throughout the New Year.

Rabbi Dr. J.B. Sacks, Social Justice Commission September 23, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Hagar, Enslaved Woman

May these Days of Awe help us understand more deeply and act more forcefully on behalf of the enslaved and marginalized in our society.

Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Social Justice Commission September 22, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Sovereign of All the Earth: The Meaning of the Malkhuyot

Acknowledging God’s sovereignty marks our responsibility toward all of life, through which the one creative, life-sustaining spirit flows.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg September 19, 2024 Climate and Environment High Holidays

The Binding of Isaac: What Does God Want?

How might we make meaning of the Binding of Isaac, a troubling, watershed story that shakes us to our core? What can we learn?

Rabbi Nelly Altenburger September 19, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

High Holiday Liturgy: Making Meaning from the Metaphors for God

By understanding the nuance of Divine justice, we are given a powerful model for healthier relationships in the human realm.

Rabbi Amalya Volz September 18, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Holding Both Joy and Sorrow

Our hearts are big enough to hold all the emotions we feel during this holiday season, as we pray, eat, and observe the holidays together.

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz September 17, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

How to Prevent High Holiday Burnout

The delicate balancing act of celebrating and observing the High Holidays can be mixed with a bit of overwhelm. Here's what you can do.

Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah September 17, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

Davening with Leonard Cohen

A rockstar-poet-monk and a humble Jew, a roshi and just another rabbi. In some moments, we trade places, imagining what could have been.

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover September 17, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

The Power of Memory-Making

Memory-making, the way we tell ourselves our story, the way we frame our history, offers the opportunity to give us power and, ultimately, hope.

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal September 17, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

High Holiday Reader 5785: Not A Mahzor

Exploring Judaism's 2024 (5785) High Holiday Reader, Not A Machzor, includes essays to inspire a meaningful Holiday season.

Exploring Judaism September 13, 2024 High Holidays Holidays

How To Get Religious Accommodations At Work

Want to know your rights as a Jew in the workplace? Need religious accommodations? Find out what your rights are and how to exercise them.

Andrew J. Horowitz, Partner at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP September 9, 2024 Elul Government

Listener of Prayer

"Listener of Prayer" is an important phrase in many of our blessings and prayers. Learn more about why that is.

Rabbi Alex Hamilton July 3, 2024 Amidah Every Day

Netzach and Hod (Rosh Hashanah)

Rabbi Friedson explains the middot—soul traits—of netzach and hod and relates the required tenacity and glory to this time of year.

Rabbi Sarah Freidson November 5, 2023 High Holidays Holidays

Hope is a Rope (Rosh Hashanah)

We learn from Rabbi Friedson to keep our hope in mind for this next year. Our hope is a rope, just as strong and tenacious.

Rabbi Sarah Freidson November 5, 2023 High Holidays Holidays

How to recite Kiddush on Rosh Hashanah (even on Shabbat)

On Rosh Hashanah, we recite a special kiddush blessing that marks the moment. On Shabbat and Saturday nights, there are special inclusions.

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz September 14, 2023 Holidays How to observe Rosh Hashanah

What Can I Expect at My First Rosh Hashanah Services?

The intensity of Rosh Hashanah can be intimidating; read this guide to get to know what to expect at services on our New Year.

Rabbi Lindsey Healey-Pollack September 11, 2023 Holidays Rosh Hashanah

When the Holidays Are Hard

Everyone celebrates Rosh Hashanah differently, but sometimes, the holidays are hard. What can we do when this is true?

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman September 11, 2023 Elul Holidays

Celebrating the High Holy Days From Home

Celebrating the high holy days from home gives us ample opportunity to bring the sacred even further into our lives.

Rabbi Sydni Adler Rubinstein August 13, 2023 Elul High Holidays

Tashlikh: A Quick Overview

One of the beautiful customs associated with Rosh Hashanah is Tashlikh, a brief service that takes place by a body of water.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 20, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

What is Tashlich?

What is Tashlich? How do you do it, what is its history, what are the environmental concerns and, of course, why I love Tashlich.

Emily Jaeger September 19, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Dress to Impress Yourself…Into the Book of Life

Sara Beth Berman teaches us: Everything you need to know about clothing the body that holds your precious soul for the High Holidays.

Sara Beth Berman (she/her) September 19, 2022 Clothing High Holidays

What to Read to Prepare for the High Holidays this Year

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover recommends these reads to help you prepare for the themes, liturgy, and spirit of the High Holidays.

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover September 16, 2022 Elul High Holidays

Rosh Hashanah Musaf Service

The Musaf Service for Rosh Hashanah contains familiar opening and closing blessings of the Amidah with the usual High Holiday interpolations.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

The Shofar on Rosh Hashanah

Sounding of the shofar is a characteristic mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The holiday is alternatively called the Day of Sounding the Shofar.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Rosh Hashanah Torah Reading

Rosh Hashanah Torah reading includes Abraham, Sarah, and the Binding of Isaac. Haftarot tell the story of Samuel and other relevant themes.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Rosh Hashanah Synagogue Services

For most people, Rosh Hashanah means a lot of time spent praying in the synagogue. These are the complex explanations behind those prayers.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

My Bangin’ Rosh Hashanah Seder

Emily Jaeger explains to us: What is the Rosh Hashanah seder, how do we perform it, and why you might consider doing one too.

Emily Jaeger September 15, 2022 Food High Holidays

Being Called by God

When we say hineni to ourselves and our lives have a spiritual center, our existence will be more meaningful, and we'll live a more purposeful ...

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman September 15, 2022 Elul High Holidays

Rosh Hashanah At Home

Personal and at-home Rosh Hashanah rituals include candle lighting, eating apples with honey, and sharing meals.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 15, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Candle Lighting for Rosh Hashanah

When and how to do Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting. We usher in Rosh Hashanah by lighting candles, just as we do on Shabbat.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 12, 2022 Blessings Every Day

Customs before Rosh Hashanah

There are customs in order to prepare for Rosh Hashanah, including Selichot, physical changes in the synagogue, and immersing in the mikveh.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas August 30, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Living With No Regrets

While introspection is healthy, too much regret can discourage us from embracing our unchangeable past and our openness to future choices.

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal August 25, 2022 Elul High Holidays

(Not) Announcing Rosh Hashanah

On Rosh Hashanah, we do not recite the traditional blessings announcing a new month for a variety of different reasons.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas August 21, 2022 Elul High Holidays

When is the Jewish New Year?

There are four New Years, each with its own purpose. That said, the counting of the new year begins with Rosh Hashanah, in the seventh ...

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas August 21, 2022 Elul High Holidays

Category: Rosh Hashanah

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