Why do Jewish Holidays Begin at Night?
On the Jewish calendar, holidays begin in the evening, at sundown, and they continue through the next day.
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?
The Music of the Shofar Service
Tekiah! Teruah! Shevarim! Tekiah Gedolah!
Un’taneh Tokef: The Awesome Sanctity of This Day
In the traditional liturgy, the special character of each holiday is particularly conveyed by the piyyutim (hymns, liturgical poems) that are recited or chanted on that day. Most of these piyyutim have been omitted in Reform liturgies since the nineteenth century, out of a sense that their Hebrew diction is too arcane and their theology too medieval. Yet, some of these poems have routinely been retained in Reform High Holy Day prayer books, particularly for Yom Kippur.
What Is the Zionist Message in Israel's Spring Holidays?
Thriving Reform Jewish congregations in Israel can help Israelis meet modern life and all its challenges in today's Promised Land.
How to Understand the Timelessness of Jewish Time
Although we may think time moves in a linear fashion, Jewish holidays insert themselves in unexpected moments and places, seemingly out-of-sync with our expectations.
The Soap Myth: A Conversation with Playwright Jeff Cohen
The Soap Myth, a new play about Holocaust denial, stars Ed Asner and Tovah Feldshuh.
7 Ideas for Observing Yom HaShoah This Year
Here are just a few of the many stories, prayers, and other resources to help you commemorate this solemn holiday.
A New Jewish Initiative Will Stand Up for Immigrant and Refugee Justice
On the eve of Yom HaShoah, the Kraus Family Foundation and the Union for Reform Judaism announced a new initiative to galvanize people to action around the immigration and refugee crisis in the U.S.