What Is Elul?
No One Should Live in a Sukkah Year-Round
As we celebrate Sukkot—when we contemplate fragility, shelter, and resilience—let us remember the people of Haiti, who have endured unimaginable destruction from Hurricane Matthew.
A New Year for SCOTUS and the Jewish People
This year, the first day of Rosh Hashanah coincides with the start of the Supreme Court’s 2016-2017 term, a rare occurrence. The Supreme Court opens its term on the first Monday in October with its first oral arguments, and it is rare that Rosh Hashanah begins in October.
Emotion and Intellect: The High Holidays in Our Tradition
One of the most distinctive dimensions of the High Holy Days in our tradition is that among the major observances of the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are experienced primarily in the synagogue.
5 Ways Sukkot is the Perfect Inclusive Holiday
Every holiday should be inclusive, but some lend themselves more naturally toward being inclusive than others. Sukkot is one of those.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Vayeilech: The Sacred Art of Letting Go
Parashat Vayeilech is read between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a time of transition for all of us. We've brought in the new year with hopes, prayers, and the shofar, and we look toward Yom Kippur, where we are tasked with letting go of the last year and moving forward.
Why Children's Services Appeal to Me, Even When I Go Without Children
Say what you will, but I prefer the Rosh HaShanah children's service to the adult one. It's a little under an hour, and it's lighter on the lengthy recitations of the full evening service.
Celebrate Sukkot with Shalom Sesame: Learning About the Sukkah and Enjoying the Beauty of Nature
Mom's Honey Cake with Apple Confit
Honey cake is traditionally eaten for Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year—the honey’s sweetness symbolizes our wishes for a sweet year. This is my mother's recipe, which she makes in Israel, freezes, and sends to me in the mail.