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 helps us focus our prayers for personal health and prosperity, as well as universal peace and security for Israel and all mankind, especially in the current 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 usher in Rosh Hashanah with the kindling and blessings of the Shabbat and 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 braided Challah, the round High Holiday Challah resembles a crown, symbolizing the Divine coronation and our wishes for a smooth and easy 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 equal multiple Mitzvah merits.

The Shofar
We listen to the blowing of the Shofar on Sunday, Sept, 24. (If you can’t attend the full synagogue service, arrange to 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.

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, a new fruit (not yet eaten that season) such as fresh figs, dates, kiwi, mango or papaya, is eaten after reciting Kiddush, before the Challa’s Hamotzi blessing.

The Tashlich Ceremony
Sunday afternoon following the 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.

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 when 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
Monday, Sept. 25, we commemorate the tragic assassination of Gedalia, the last Jewish governor after the First Temple's destruction.

Shabbat Shuvah, Sept. 30
Shabbat Shuvah echoes the Haftorah: "Return O Israel to G-d," when the Rabbi traditionally addresses the congregation on Repentance.

Yom Kippur, Sunday evening, Oct.1 through Monday, Oct. 2
Eve of Yom Kippur October 1
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 Sunday, October 1. 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 a sweet new 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); "May G-d make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah” (for a daughter).

Yom Kippur begins before sunset with candle lighting and blessing.

Prohibitions
On Yom Kippur, we are forbidden 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 Kol Nidrei, as the Holy Ark and Heavenly gates are opened. Kol Nidrei’s historic tune is attributed to the hiding Jewish Marranos who used this opportunity to declare their faith despite the Spanish Inquisition.

We reflect on past misdeeds and resolve to improve. Reciting the Viduy confession, we tap our heart, enumerating the sins. 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 Yom Kippur service in the Holy Temple.

Yom Kippur atones only for sins against G-d, but not for wronging a person, to whom we must personally apologize and seek forgiveness.

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

Sukkot, Oct. 6 through Oct. 15
The solemnity of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur culminates with the joyous Sukkot holiday. The first two days and last two days (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, 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) - in all directions, signifying that G-d is everywhere.

The “Four Kinds’ are not homogeneous. Some of these species are highly fragrant and tasty, while others are plain and simple, representing a cross section of the community. Holding them together symbolizes our unity and interdependence: we all need one another.

Hoshanah Rabbah, Friday Oct. 13
The 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 with Challa dipped in honey, and delicious Kreplach, symbolizing severity covered by loving-kindness.

Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Friday evening, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15
The Yizkor prayer is recited on Shabbat, Oct. 14 (Shmini Atzeret), for departed family and friends.

Saturday night, we begin Simchat Torah by marching seven encircling hakafot dances with the Torah scrolls. Some follow the custom of doing this on Shmini Atzeret night well.

The final Torah chapter on Simchat Torah morning completes the annual cycle. Young and old are called for an aliya to the Torah, as we start reading the Torah anew 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 young and old, rich and poor, observant or not, with Torah joy.

JOY, not 'OY'
We celebrate Torah with joy, not as a difficult obligatory burden. A Mitzvah done by rote, without joy and spirit, lacks 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 Sukkot celebration 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. Simchat Torah we dance with our feet, elevating and uplifting our whole body, head to toe.