Rosh Hashana
WHAT IS YOU WORTH?
The Rabbi stood before the congregation, leading it in prayer. As Israel's messenger to the Heavenly Throne, his voice was like a pathway, broad and unbroken, bearing the hopes of his people.
Suddenly there was a dreadful pause. Upon reading the words in the service, “To Him that buys His slaves in the day of Judgment," his voice broke down. read more »
EVERYONE’S GOT RELIGION
It seems only appropriate that we establish our credentials for participating in the services this Rosh Hashana. I say that because I can guess what you’re thinking, “It’s not that I’m so religious or pious, but after all it is the HIGH Holidays!” read more »
ARE YOU LISTENING?
Every Jewish festival has its symbols. One cannot think of Chanukah without conjuring up a mental image of a Menorah and one cannot talk about Rosh Hashanah without mentioning the Shofar. Interestingly enough, while the holiday’s nom de guerre is the Day of the Blowing of the Shofar, there is no mitzvah to actually blow a shofar. Instead, the commandment is to hear the shofar. read more »
After the End & Before the Beginning
There is a certain magic moment that comes but once a year. If you have never experienced it personally, you have missed out on one of life's mystical junctures in time. It occurs between the last Mincha (afternoon) prayer of the old year and the first Ma’ariv (evening) prayer of the new. More specifically, just after the final Kaddish of the afternoon is intoned, a hush descends upon the congregation. It seems as if everyone realizes the importance of where they are in time. And then, the moment passes. The Chazzan approaches the cantor's lectern and his melodious voice brings forth the first word of the first Ma’ariv and ushers in the new year. read more »
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS
Rosh Hashana does not find the Jew unprepared. Besides the customary blowing of the Shofar in the final month of the Jewish year, reminders come in the form of New Year Cards, and the High Holiday tickets one must acquire. If all this makes you feel Rosh Hashana has become just a bit commercialized as so many other non-Jewish holidays have - we've got the antidote. read more »
BE JEWISH. BE HAPPY.
When Rosh Hashana arrives, we wish each other a Happy New Year. The phrase is repeated again and again, but rarely does anyone pause to think about its contents. For example, what exactly is happiness? All of us pursue it, but a survey asking for its definition would produce as many different answers as the number of people questioned. read more »
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