On Rosh Hashanah we pray to be inscribed in the “Book of Life” for a good and sweet year, as we renew and refresh our commitment to Jewish life.

The machzor prayer book helps focus our hopes for health, peace, prosperity and security for ourselves, Israel and all mankind, especially during the current tensions and crises around the world.

We back up our prayers with a firm resolution to improve our relationships with G-d and with our fellows, exchanging the traditional greeting: Leshana Tova Tikatev Vetachatem “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good New Year.”

Candle Lighting
Women and girls usher in Rosh Hashanah by kindling and blessing the holiday candles.

Sweet Foods
Rosh Hashanah’s special foods symbolize sweetness, blessing and abundance for the New Year. We begin the evening holiday dinner with an apple dipped in honey.

Unlike the regular braided Shabbat Challah, the round High Holiday Challah resembles a crown, symbolizing the Divine Coronation and our hopes for a smooth and easy New Year all around.

A popular dish is Tzimmes, a stew of carrots, sweet potatoes and prunes. A favorite pastry is taiglach, a pyramid of honey covered dough balls topped by a maraschino cherry. Some serve the head of a fish, representing “heads” vs. “tails,” and success over failure. We also eat pomegranates, whose abundant seeds represent multiple Mitzvah merits.

“Eruv Tavshilin”
We are allowed to cook or bake food on Yom Tov, but only for eating on the holiday itself, not for another day. So how can we prepare for Shabbat when Yom Tov comes on Friday?

To overcome this problem, the Talmud advises us to prepare two foods (a challah, an egg, a piece of fish etc.) intended for Shabbos, before the holiday. We take these foods and recite: Baruch Atah Ado-noy Elo(k)aynu Melech HaOlam, Asher Kidshanu B’Mitzvosav V’Tzivanu Al Mitzvas Airuv, marking it as the start of our Shabbos preparations, allowing us to continue our Shabbos cooking on Friday.

One mitzvah leads to another. It is customary to use the “Eruv” Challah as one of Friday night’s two challos.

The Shofar
Rosh Hashanah’s highlight is the sounding of the Shofar on Thursday, Sept. 16 and Friday Sept 17. If you can’t join in the full synagogue service, try to arrange to hear at least the Shofar, a very important Mitzvah in itself.

Like the heartfelt cry of a lost child seeking its parent, the Shofar sounds touch our soul’s innermost chords. The Shofar exclaims: “Awake from your sleep, and arise from your slumber. Examine your deeds, improve your ways, return, and remember your Creator.” (Maimonides)

Proclaiming Rosh Hashanah’s Divine Coronation, the Shofar recalls historic ram's horn events: Isaac’s Binding on Mount Moriah, the Shofar blasts at Sinai, and heralding Moshiach’s final Redemption, speedily in our days.

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, a new fruit (not yet eaten that season) is eaten after reciting Kiddush, before the Hamotzi blessing on the Challah. Popular fruits include fresh figs, dates, kiwi, mango, pomegranate or papaya.

The Tashlich Ceremony
Thursday afternoon following the services, we recite Tashlich at a lake or pond, symbolizing our 'casting away' of sin. As fish depend on water for life, so do our lives depend on Divine Providence for protection.

Window of Repentance
The 'Ten days of Teshuvah’ between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us a heavenly window, a time for personal reflection and improvement. During this week we increase our Mitzvah observance. The verdict of Rosh Hashanah’s Divine Judgment is not sealed until Yom Kippur’s closing Neilah prayer.

Repentance is welcome all year round, but these special days are most opportune for coming closer to G-d.

Shabbat Shuvah Sept.18
Shabbat Shuvah echoes the Haftorah: “Return O Israel to G-d,” when the rabbi traditionally addresses the congregation on repentance.

The Fast of Gedalia
Sunday, September 19, we commemorate the tragic assassination of Gedalia, the last Jewish governor after the First Temple's destruction.

Yom Kippur
Friday Evening Sept. 24 through Nightfall Saturday Sept 25

Eve of Yom Kippur Sept. 24
The Kapparot custom is performed early in the morning by circling a white chicken overhead, reciting a prayer and donating to charity. The ceremony can also be observed by circling a monetary gift given to the needy.

We eat two festive meals on Friday, September 24. The first is eaten at noon, while the final meal is started about one hour before sunset.

It is customary to request a piece of lekach (honey cake) from another person, often the rabbi, a symbolic substitute for aid we may have been fated to beg in the coming year, and wishing the recipient to enjoy a sweet year.

After the final pre-fast meal, the father places his hands on the head of each child, reciting the Biblical blessing: “May G-d make you like Efraim and Menashe (for a son),” or “May G-d make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah” (for a daughter).

Yom Kippur begins before sunset with Candle Lighting and Blessing.

Fasting Prohibitions
On Yom Kippur, we are prohibited to eat or drink, wash or shampoo our body, wear leather shoes or have marital relations. White clothes are worn to symbolize purity.

After candle lighting, we rush to the synagogue for the Kol Nidrei prayer, when the Holy Ark and the Heavenly gates are opened.

The Kol Nidrei is chanted to an historic ancient tune traced to the hiding Jewish Marranos who used this opportunity to declare their faith, despite the Spanish Inquisition.

Throughout Yom Kippur, we reflect on our past misdeeds and resolve to improve in the future. Reciting the Viduy confessing our sins, we tap our heart and ask forgiveness, enumerating sins we may have committed. Viduy is said in the plural (“We have sinned...”) for we are one people- we are all responsible for each other.

The ‘Avodah’ service recalls the High Priest’s Yom Kippur service in the Holy Temple.

Yom Kippur atones only for sins against G-d, but not for wrongs against people. We must personally apologize and seek forgiveness for ill feelings during the year.

Yizkor
The Yizkor memorial prayer for deceased family and friends is recited during the service, as charity is pledged in their memory.

Sukkot
Wednesday Evening, September 29 through October 6

The solemnity of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur culminates with the joyous seven days of Sukkot. The first two days and the later two days of Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are full holidays, when we light the holiday candles, attend services, and recite Kiddush.

The intermediate Chol Hamoed days allow limited work, and are a time for family visits, outings and travel. We bless the ‘Four Kinds’ each weekday, and eat in a Sukkah booth, recalling the Israelites’ living in huts while wandering in the wilderness. The Sukkah also recalls the protective 'clouds of glory' surrounding Israel during their forty years in the desert.

All meals are eaten in the Sukkah, weather permitting. Some Sukkot are decorated; others prefer its unadorned natural simplicity.

Lacking the physical comforts of a house, the Sukkah’s weak frame and foliage are as frail and temporary as life itself. The rustic Sukkah suggests that Divine Providence is our most enduring shelter.

The ‘Four Kinds’
Each day of Sukkot (except Shabbat) we make a blessing and shake the 'Four Kinds' — the Etrog (citron), Lulav (palm branch), Hadassim (myrtle twigs) and Aravot (willow twigs).
The ‘Four Kinds’ are not a homogeneous group. Some of these species are highly fragrant and deliciously tasty, while others are quite plain and simple, thus representing different types of people. Holding them together symbolizes our unity and interdependence as a people: we all need each another. The four species are waved in all directions, signifying that G-d is everywhere.

Hoshanah Rabbah
Wednesday, October 6
The extended morning services include special Hoshanot prayers "Help us, O
G-d," encircling the synagogue bimah seven times, concluded by beating the aravot (hoshanot)- five bound willow twigs- on the floor five times.

In the afternoon we eat a festive meal in the Sukkah. Kiddush is not recited, but we eat Challa in honey, and delicious Kreplach symbolize severity covered by loving-kindness.

Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Wednesday Evening October 6 through Friday October 8

The Yizkor prayer is recited on Thursday, Shmini Atzeret, for departed family and friends.

On Thursday night, we begin Simchat Torah (some also do so Shemini Atzeret night) as we march seven encircling hakafot singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls.

The final Torah chapter on Simchat Torah morning completes the yearly cycle. Young and old are called to the Torah for an aliya, and we then start reading the Torah from the beginning.

LET'S GO TORAH!
On Simchat Torah we don’t just talk the talk; we also walk the walk.

"Sing and rejoice with the Torah...for it is our strength and light!" Simchat Torah unites Jews of all backgrounds. Young and old, rich and poor, observant or not, all share the Torah joy.

JOY, not 'OY'
We celebrate Torah with joy, not as a difficult obligatory burden. A mitzvah that is dry rote and routine, without joy and spirit, is lifeless without a soul.

To illustrate how a joyless mitzvah misses the point, the Dubner Magid offered this parable:

A diamond merchant gave his son a sum of money to purchase stones. When the son returned home, the father saw him sweating and groaning under a heavy load on his back.

He immediately realized his son's terrible mistake: “If he is ‘kvetching’ and complaining, he must have the wrong merchandise. Had he bought the PRECIOUS stones I wanted, he would not have suffered it as a burden, but enjoyed it with delight!”

Mitzvah Joy
“The Sukkot clelebrations surpasses the joy of all the holidays...The joy of doing a mitzvah, and the love of G-d Who commanded it, is a great service. It is unfortunate for a person to deprive himself of this joy, as it is written, 'Because you did not serve G-d with joy and good heart'... One who remains aloof, considering such joy beneath his dignity...is foolish...all who participate in this joy are dignified and honored, serving G-d with love, as David, King of Israel, says, "It is truly great to humble oneself by dancing and singing before G-d.” (Maimonides)