High Holy Days

Rosh Hashana thought: Construction and clarity - opinion

Like street markings before construction, Rosh Hashana’s rituals guide us to clear away the old and lay strong foundations for the year ahead.

Mrs. Nechama Shemtov
This year, the call is not only to look inward but to act outwardly.

Israel Bonds High Holy Days: Invest in a land that endures

The Musaf prayer for Rosh Hashanah in a page of the rare 15th century Lisbon Mahzor now at the National Library of Israel.

Two-thirds of a 15th-century Portuguese High Holiday prayer book were lost to history. Until now.

Keeping it sweet

In the kitchen with Henny: Keeping it sweet


High Holy Days: The work of everyday decency

"Instead, focus on the small, everyday acts of decency, the simple moral choices we are called to make – especially when we feel weighed down by conflict and heated disputes."

IT’S HARD to know what the ‘right’ path might be.

Why my family is giving up impulse purchases for Rosh Hashanah this year - opinion

A daughter recalls her mother’s tradition of buying new holiday outfits, and how her family now honors her memory by embracing less and cherishing more.

Rosh Hashanah

‘Tekia’ – sound the shofar and a call to the Jewish people

"The shofar’s call tears through our silence. It stands as a symbol of spiritual resistance and a means of maintaining our Jewish identity."

DR. BENJAMIN FENICHEL sounds the shofar on Guadacanal Island, Rosh Hashanah 1943.

Are Jews forbidden from praying on Shabbat?

“On Shabbat, we do not escape either the state or the sense of need. That would deny our creaturely humanity. We do, however, reorient our needs.”

WOMEN PRAYING in the Western Wall tunnels.

Deputy A-G: Haredi draft dodgers must not be allowed to go to Uman for Rosh Hashanah

The government does not have the authority to create a plan that would interfere in law enforcement activities, specifically in regards to allowing draft dodgers to leave Israel, Gil Limon said.

 Jewish men in the street during Tikkun HaKlali near the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, on eve of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, September 15, 2023.

Why the shofar matters now: A call for unity, strength, and hope - opinion

The shofar’s blast is more than a call; it’s a symbol of Israel’s resilience, unity, and hope, echoing through times of grief and awakening hearts for the future.

A SHOFAR is blown in a synagogue. Each morning, the cry of the shofar echoes – raw, ancient, and unmelodic, preparing us for the drama of the High Holy Days, the writer notes.

'Acharei Hachagim': A diary entry from after the holidays in Israel

A look in the life of an Israeli resident the day after the Tishrei holiday season ends.

 Signs calling for the freedom of hostages are seen in Tel Aviv.

Celebrating amid loss, unity, and hope - opinion

For the first time in recent memory, the Jewish people were faced with the challenge of adapting an ancient holiday to modern events.

 A CHILD holds a Simchat Torah flag featuring photos of the hostages, a prayer for their release, and a slogan: ‘Singing together for their return.’

Hate is anti-Jewish: Remaining human in the face of war – opinion

Judaism must continue to be a symbol of peace and acceptance of others.

Jewish and Arab Israelis are seen holding a pro-coexistence rally in Tel Aviv, on May 13, 2021.

Grapevine: Synagogue scene

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

Jerusalem Great Synagogue

Yom Kippur 2024: Reconciling our personal journeys and collective experiences - opinion

How do we reconcile the deeply personal journey of Yom Kippur with the overwhelming collective experiences of the past year?

 The Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.