How Prayer Can Change Us
From the Haftarah for Rosh Hashanah, taken from the Book of Samuel, we learn how prayer can change us, especially as we view Hannah’s role.
Gila Axelrod
From the Haftarah for Rosh Hashanah, taken from the Book of Samuel, we learn how prayer can change us, especially as we view Hannah’s role.
The Torah reading for Rosh Hashanah, in Genesis, tells the story of the binding of Isaac, telling us about the imperfectness of humans.
The answer to the question “Would you become a vampire?” can be a framework to transformation in the New Year, starting at Rosh Hashanah.
In preparation for Rosh HaShana, explore more about the binding of Isaac and understanding how that impacts the exploration of the body, soul, and trans experience.
Some follow the tradition to conduct a seder for Rosh HaShanah. Here is an explanation of the symbols involved in the practice.
Between Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, we cannot leave anything to chance but we must leave room for God.
Shanah Tovah USYers, As we step into the new year of 5786, I want to wish each and every one of you a sweet, meaningful,
Dear Friends: I’ve experienced earthquakes twice in my life, and though fortunately they were both mild, I found each experience remarkably terrifying. Supposedly, there is
Un’taneh Tokef: What makes this prayer so attractive? Could it be the poignant question, “Who will live and who will die?”
ובאמת, לצד האסונות שידענו לאורך אלפי שנות קיומנו, ידענו גם לקום, להתאחד ולהתחזק מתוך השבר. וכך יהיה גם הפעם.
Despite the disasters we have faced, we have known how to rise, unite, and grow stronger from the fractures.
A short prayer, inspired by and quoting the Prophet Isaiah, connecting us to nature, the environment, and all of creation.
May the shofar blasts become our catalysts inspiring us to civic participation and the preservation of our democracy.
Our tradition teaches: the sound of the shofar can literally break down the walls, both physical and spiritual. It can shatter complacency and indifference.
May these Days of Awe help us understand more deeply and act more forcefully on behalf of the enslaved and marginalized in our society.
Acknowledging God’s sovereignty marks our responsibility toward all of life, through which the one creative, life-sustaining spirit flows.
How might we make meaning of the Binding of Isaac, a troubling, watershed story that shakes us to our core? What can we learn?
By understanding the nuance of Divine justice, we are given a powerful model for healthier relationships in the human realm.
Our hearts are big enough to hold all the emotions we feel during this holiday season, as we pray, eat, and observe the holidays together.
The delicate balancing act of celebrating and observing the High Holidays can be mixed with a bit of overwhelm. Here’s what you can do.
A rockstar-poet-monk and a humble Jew, a roshi and just another rabbi. In some moments, we trade places, imagining what could have been.
Memory-making, the way we tell ourselves our story, the way we frame our history, offers the opportunity to give us power and, ultimately, hope.
Exploring Judaism’s 2024 (5785) High Holiday Reader, Not A Machzor, includes essays to inspire a meaningful Holiday season.
Want to know your rights as a Jew in the workplace? Need religious accommodations? Find out what your rights are and how to exercise them.
“Listener of Prayer” is an important phrase in many of our blessings and prayers. Learn more about why that is.
Rabbi Friedson explains the middot—soul traits—of netzach and hod and relates the required tenacity and glory to this time of year.
We learn from Rabbi Friedson to keep our hope in mind for this next year. Our hope is a rope, just as strong and tenacious.
On Rosh Hashanah, we recite a special kiddush blessing that marks the moment. On Shabbat and Saturday nights, there are special inclusions.
The intensity of Rosh Hashanah can be intimidating; read this guide to get to know what to expect at services on our New Year.
Everyone celebrates Rosh Hashanah differently, but sometimes, the holidays are hard. What can we do when this is true?
Celebrating the high holy days from home gives us ample opportunity to bring the sacred even further into our lives.
One of the beautiful customs associated with Rosh Hashanah is Tashlikh, a brief service that takes place by a body of water.
What is Tashlich? How do you do it, what is its history, what are the environmental concerns and, of course, why I love Tashlich.
Sara Beth Berman teaches us: Everything you need to know about clothing the body that holds your precious soul for the High Holidays.
Rabbi Mordechai Rackover recommends these reads to help you prepare for the themes, liturgy, and spirit of the High Holidays.
The Musaf Service for Rosh Hashanah contains familiar opening and closing blessings of the Amidah with the usual High Holiday interpolations.
Sounding of the shofar is a characteristic mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The holiday is alternatively called the Day of Sounding the Shofar.
Rosh Hashanah Torah reading includes Abraham, Sarah, and the Binding of Isaac. Haftarot tell the story of Samuel and other relevant themes.
For most people, Rosh Hashanah means a lot of time spent praying in the synagogue. These are the complex explanations behind those prayers.
Emily Jaeger explains to us: What is the Rosh Hashanah seder, how do we perform it, and why you might consider doing one too.
When we say hineni to ourselves and our lives have a spiritual center, our existence will be more meaningful, and we’ll live a more purposeful life.
Personal and at-home Rosh Hashanah rituals include candle lighting, eating apples with honey, and sharing meals.
When and how to do Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting. We usher in Rosh Hashanah by lighting candles, just as we do on Shabbat.
There are customs in order to prepare for Rosh Hashanah, including Selichot, physical changes in the synagogue, and immersing in the mikveh.
While introspection is healthy, too much regret can discourage us from embracing our unchangeable past and our openness to future choices.
On Rosh Hashanah, we do not recite the traditional blessings announcing a new month for a variety of different reasons.
There are four New Years, each with its own purpose. That said, the counting of the new year begins with Rosh Hashanah, in the seventh month.