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Music to Listen to During the High Holidays
Listen to this selection of songs to help you get in the spirit of self-reflection, in preparation for the High Holidays.
What is Rosh HaShanah?
Rosh HaShanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection, and (repentance). It begins the ten days of Yamim Nora-im (“Days of Awe” or “High Holidays”), culminating with Yom Kippur (the “Day of Atonement”). Observed worldwide with synagogue services and home rituals, the holiday emphasizes reviewing the past year and committing to growth in the year ahead.
Falling on the first day of the Hebrew month of , which corresponds to September or October, customs associated with the holiday include sounding the , sharing round , and eating apples with honey to represent a sweet New Year.
Learn at the Jewish Discovery Hub
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ONLINE CLASS: Jewish High Holidays 101
Join us on September 10th at 8 PM ET to explore the heart of Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, as well as Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. We'll consider timeless traditions, share fresh perspectives, and offer practical ways to make these holidays personal, meaningful, and joyful.
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FREE DOWNLOAD: 5 Steps to Forgiveness
In Jewish tradition, asking for forgiveness isn't a quick fix: it's a path of reflection and change. Register at the Jewish Discovery Hub to get this free download that can help you cultivate genuine forgiveness and repair.
Find Virtual or In-Person Services
Many congregations offer virtual High Holiday services and programs for non-members. If you are a member of a Union for Reform Judaism congregation and will be away from home, you can request seating at another member congregation.
Congregations Offering Virtual Services
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Nine Rosh HaShanah Foods to Prepare in Advance for a Stress-Free Holiday
Even if you're just cooking for your immediate family, making a successful holiday dinner can be an overwhelming, frantic experience. But with some planning, it doesn’t have to be!
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Six Ways to Prepare for the High Holidays
Jewish tradition provides us with several reminders of the upcoming Days of Awe, as well as a number of ways we can prepare for them.
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Rosh HaShanah Videos
Learn about Rosh Hashanah, how to blow shofar, how to braid challah, tasty recipes, and more.
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Jewish Questions
- Can I Get Married between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
- Do Reform Jews Celebrate One or Two Days of Rosh HaShanah?
- I plan to attend Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services this year for the first time. Will I be expected to donate money during the service, like in a church service? If so, what’s the "right” amount?
- What Greetings are Appropriate on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
- What’s the Difference Between the Secular and Jewish New Year?
- Why do Jewish Holidays Begin at Night?
- Why do we eat a round challah on Rosh HaShanah?
Social Action Guide for the High Holidays
The High Holidays are a time of personal reflection and repentance and an opportunity to reaffirm the Jewish tradition’s longstanding commitment to tikkun olam (repair of the world).
What's New
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Crossing the Bridge from the Particular to the Universal
This year, as Jews across the globe begin to prepare for the High Holy Days, the most sacred time of year, I personally feel a sense of deep despair and fierce urgency to enter the year of 5786 embracing the particular and the universal.
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Two Pockets, Two Lessons, One New Year
As the shofar’s call approaches and we step into the sacred space of a new year, we are invited to hold two truths at once: that our lives matter beyond measure, and that we are but a small part of a vast and unfolding universe.
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Let Kids Read Books During High Holiday Services
In the fifth grade, I aged out of my synagogue’s High Holidays kiddie services. Countless Jewish families have faced this dilemma over the years. Many of us consider Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur the only two occasions when attending services is mandatory.
Give the gift of tikkun olam
Honor a Jewish hero for justice by making a tax-deductible gift to the Union for Reform Judaism in their name. Your gift will provide funding for creative Reform Jewish programming and help ensure the continued growth and strength of Reform Judaism.