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

The machzor prayer book helps focus our hopes for personal health and prosperity as well as universal peace and security for ourselves, Israel and all mankind, especially with the current threats and crises around the world.

We resolve to improve our relationship 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, from the age of 3, usher in Rosh Hashanah with the kindling and blessings of 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 into honey.

Unlike the regular braided challah, the round High Holiday challah resembles a crown, symbolizing the Divine coronation and our wishes for a smooth and easy New Year all around. Traditionally, the challah is also dipped into honey.

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.

The Shofar
Rosh Hashanah’s highlight is to hear the Shofar on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and Wednesday, Oct. 5. If you can’t join the full synagogue service, arrange to at least hear the Shofar, a most important Mitzvah.

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 the historic Binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah, the Shofar Blasts at Sinai, and heralds Moshiach’s final Redemption, speedily in our days.

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

The Tashlich Ceremony
Tuesday afternoon following services, we recite Tashlich at a lake or pond, symbolizing the ‘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 a heavenly window, a time for personal reflection and improvement. During this week we increase our Mitzvah observance. Repentance is welcome all year, but these special days are most opportune for coming closer to G-d.

The Fast of Gedalia
Thursday, Oct. 6, we commemorate the tragic assassination of Gedalia, the last Jewish governor after the First Temple's destruction.

Shabbat Shuvah: Oct. 8
Shabbat Shuvah echoes the Haftorah: “Return O Israel to G-d,” when the rabbi traditionally addresses the congregation, urging us to repent.

Yom Kippur
Wednesday evening, Oct. 12, through nightfall Thursday, Oct. 13
Eve of Yom Kippur: Oct. 12

The Kapparot custom is performed early morning by circling a white chicken, or an envelope of money, overhead, reciting a prayer and donating to charity.

We eat two festive meals on Wednesday, Oct. 12. 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. The giver wishes the recipient 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 the lighting and blessing of the candles.

Prohibitions
On Yom Kippur, we are forbidden to eat or drink, wash or shampoo our body, wear leather shoes or have marital relations. Some people wear white clothes to symbolize purity.

After candle lighting, we hurry to the synagogue for the Kol Nidrei prayer, as the Holy Ark and Heavenly gates are opened. Kol Nidrei is chanted to an historic tune attributed to the hiding Jewish Marranos who used this opportunity to defy the Spanish Inquisition and declare their faith.

We reflect on past misdeeds and resolve to improve in the future. Reciting the Viduy confessing our sins, we tap our heart, enumerating sins we may have committed. Viduy is said in the plural ("We have sinned...) for we are One - all responsible for each other.

The ‘Avodah’ service recalls the High Priest’s supreme service in the Holy Temple on Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur atones only for sins against G-d, but not for wrongs against people, to whom we must personally apologize and seek forgiveness.

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

Sukkot
October 17 through October 26

The solemnity of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur culminates with the joyous Sukkot holiday. The first two days and the final 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 tasty, while others are 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
Monday, October 24

The extended morning services include special Hoshanot prayers “Help us, O G-d,” recited while 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 with challa dipped into honey, and delicious Kreplach symbolizing severity covered by loving-kindness.

Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Monday evening, October 24, through Wednesday, October 26

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

On Tuesday night, we begin Simchat Torah (some also do so Shemini Atzeret night) by marching seven encircling hakafot dances 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.

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 wouldn’t have suffered it as a burden, but enjoyed it with delight!”

Mitzvah Joy
“The joy of the Sukkot celebrations 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)

Footnotes
Each part of our body has its special mitzvah; we pray with our lips, read Torah with our eyes, light Shabbos candles and give charity with our hands. We study with our brain, love G-d with our heart, and hear the Shofar with our ears. We celebrate Simchat Torah by marching and dancing with our feet, thus elevating and uplifting our whole body, head to toe.