Yom Kippur 5768

Hebrew Date: Tenth of Tishri Secular Dates: (5768) Sept 22, 2007 | (5769) Oct 9, 2008 | (5770) Sept 28, 2009 | (5771) Sept 18, 2010 Duration: One day Work: Not permitted Name: Yom Kippur Summary: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a Biblical holiday that occurs on 10 Tishrei (in September or October). It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the sins of the past year. Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:27 No work can be performed on that day. On Erev Yom Kippur (the night of 9 Tishri) the service is commonly known as Kol Nidre (all vows), named for the prayer that begins the service. In Kol Nidre we ask G-d to annul all personal vows we may make in the next year. It refers only to vows between the person making them and G-d. Much of the day is spent in synagogue where the regular daily prayers are expanded. There is a special prayer book called the Machzor used for Yom Kippur. Services begin around 8am and continue until about 3pm. People then usually go home for an afternoon nap and return around 5pm for the afternoon and evening services, which continue until nightfall. The services end at nightfall, with the blowing of the tekiah gedolah, a long blast on the shofar. Yom Kippur is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that include: washing and bathing, anointing one's body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes, and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur. It is customary to wear white on the holiday, which symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be made as white as snow. Some people wear a kittel, the white robe in which the man is married and the dead are buried.

Shabbat - 09/15/07 (3 Tishrei 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is the Yom Kippur reading -- Leviticus 16:1-34; 18:1-30 Topics in this week's Parsha: Death of Aaron's sons, Yom Kippur Service, The Lots, The Incense Service, The He-goat to Azazel, Removal of the Shovel and Ladle, Conclusion of the Service, The Eternal Commandment of Yom Kippur, Forbidden Practices and Traditions, Forbidden Relationships, Molech, Sodomy and Beastiality, The Holiness of the Land

Happy New Year!

Learn more about Rosh Hashanah here. L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem - May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year. Some of my favorite Rosh Hashanah links: Rosh Hashanah Orthodox Union: Rosh Hashanah Being Jewish: Rosh Hashanah Chabad: Rosh Hashanah Union for Reform Judaism: Rosh Hashanah Aish: High Holidays

Shabbat - 09/15/07 (3 Tishrei 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double-portion -- Ha'azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52). Topics in Ha'azinu: The Song of Moses, G-d’s last commandment to Moses For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Rosh Hashanah

Hebrew Date: First and Second days of Tishri Secular Dates: (5768) Sept 13-14, 2007 | (5769) Sept 30-Oct 1, 2008 | (5770) Sept 19-20, 2009 | (5771) Sept 9-10, 2010 Duration: Two days Work: Not permitted Name: Jewish New Year, Yom Ha-Zikkaron, Yom Teruah Summary: Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (literally "head of the year"), is a Biblical holiday that occurs on the first and second of Tishri (September or October). Rosh Hashanah is the day that G-d created man. Rosh Hashanah is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue. where the regular daily prayers are expanded. There is a special prayer book called the Machzor used for Rosh Hashanah. Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d's sovereignty. Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river (generally this means casting bread into the water), symbolically casting off our sins. The common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." Candles are lit and blessings are said on the first night and the second night in order to help usher in the Holy Day. Kiddush (blessing over wine/grape juice) is said as well as the blessing over the challah (braided bread). Slices of the challah and apple slices are dipped in honey, representing sweetness and hope for the new year.

Shabbat - 09/08/07 (25 Elul 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double-portion -- Nitzavim-Vayeilech (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8). Topics in Nitazvim: Renewal of the covenant, Warning against idolatry, The eventual repentance and redemption, The Torah is accessible, Choose life Topics in Vayeilech: Moses takes leave, Joshua, Hakhel/The king reads Deuteronomy, Moses’ end draws near, The Torah as testimony For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation