High Holy Days

6 Ways to Prepare - As summer winds down and the back-to-school season approaches, so, too, do the High Holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, which begin the Jewish new year with a 10-day period of prayer, self-reflection, and repentance. Our tradition provides us with several reminders of the upcoming Days of Awe (Yamim Nora-im in Hebrew), as well as ways we can prepare during Elul, the Hebrew month that precedes them.

1. Make Time For Spiritual Self-Reflection and Study

Elul customarily is a time to engage in spiritual self-reflection and evaluation. As we face our transgressions and strive to be better people in the coming year, it’s equally important to focus on self-care and our own spiritual nourishment. The Hebrew letters that comprise the word “Elul” – aleph, lamed, vav, lamed – are an acronym for “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li,” a verse from Song of Songs that means “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Most often interpreted as love poetry between two people, the phrase also reflects the love between God and the Jewish people, especially at this season, as we assess our actions and behaviors during the past year and hope for blessings in the coming year....More

Rosh HaShanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer and self-reflection. 

Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" and refers to the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Sukkot is one of the most joyful festivals on the Jewish calendar. “Sukkot,” a Hebrew word meaning "booths" or "huts," refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest.

Immediately following Sukkot, we observe Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, a fun-filled day during which we celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah

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