High Holidays
Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur
Yom HaDin
"Day of Judgement;" alternate name for Rosh HaShanah
Yom T'ruah
"Day of Shofar Blowing;" alternate name for Rosh HaShanah.
Tishrei
Seventh month on the Hebrew calendar; Rosh HaShanah falls on the first day of this month.
Akeidah
"Binding." The story in Genesis of the near-sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham’s son, which is read on Rosh HaShanah.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu
"May you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year" is a greeting offered on Rosh HaShanah.
Shabbat Shuvah
"Sabbath of Return;" the Shabbat (sabbath) between the holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. A special haftarah is read and traditionally the rabbi gives a sermon related to repentance.
Elul
The Hebrew month preceding Rosh HaShanah during which one engages in self-reflection and evaluation in preparation for the High Holidays. Traditionally, the shofar is blown each day during the month.
Tashlich
"Casting away;" A traditional ceremony held during the Yamim Nora-im (Days of Awe), usually on the first day of Rosh HaShanah, in which individuals symbolically “cast away” their sins or wrongdoings from the past year by throwing breadcrumbs into a flowing body of water.
g'mar chatimah tovah
"A good final sealing;" a High Holiday greeting used between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. Often abbreviated as g'mar tov.