Dear Friends,
As the Jewish High Holidays approach, I want to reflect on this meaningful time of year and invite you to join us in our celebrations.
The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are commonly referred to as the Days of Awe
In Jewish tradition, this is a time for introspection, renewal, and reconnection with our community and faith. The Days of Awe culminate with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year
This year, the new year begins the evening of October 2 and ends on Friday evening, October 4. Rosh Hashanah, which literally means ‘head of the year,’ marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar. Traditionally, the shofar (a ram’s horn) is sounded, and it serves as a spiritual wake-up call to reflect on our lives. This reflection encourages us to consider our actions over the past year and seek ways to improve ourselves in the year ahead.
Many people mark the occasion by eating apples and honey, honey cake, and pomegranates (the seeds symbolizing countless possibilities) to bring sweetness into the world. Finally, we greet each other with “Shanah Tovah,” hoping for a good and sweet year ahead.
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement starts on the evening of Friday, October 11, and ends on Saturday evening, October 12. For many, it is a day of fasting, prayer, and seeking forgiveness for wrongs made during the year, mending relationships, and improving themselves for the coming year. Fasting is a way to cleanse the body and soul, allowing individuals to focus on repentance and spiritual renewal. The greeting for Yom Kippur is “G’mar Chatimah Tovah,” meaning “May you be sealed in the Book of Life.”
Celebrate Together
We invite our staff to celebrate the New Year on Friday, October 4 in our Bakar Noshery and the Osher Performance Center. And on Sunday, October 20 from 3-5pm, our greater community is invited to join us for a celebration in our sukkah, located in the Helen Diller Family Fountain Courtyard. Both will be a wonderful opportunity to gather, share delicious food, and welcome the year together ahead with joy and in community. I look forward to seeing you.
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah—wishing you a sweet and good New Year!
Rabbi Debora Kohn