A coalition of Jewish groups has endorsed the idea of restoring and transferring the ancient and largely forgotten Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana L’Ma’aser BeHeima (New Year’s Day for Tithing Animals) into a day devoted to considering how to improve our relationships with animals. The holiday occurs on the first day of the month of…
According to the Mishnah there are actually four New Years on the Jewish calendar: the New Year for the year, for trees, for kings and for animals. The first of Tishrei is the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, which is the New Year of the calendar. The 15th of Shevat is the New Year for trees….
The peace and beauty of Shabbat gives us the opportunity to step off the hectic train of the modern world and connect with friends, family and a sense of holiness. Candles mark both the beginning and end of this weekly holiday. Lighting the Shabbat candles 18 minutes before sunset signals the beginning of the day…
(Note: Jewish holidays start at sunset the evening before the first day of the holiday) Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 21-22, 2017) On Rosh Hashanah the sound of the shofar announces the arrival of the High Holy Days, or 10 Days of Awe that stretch from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of…
Pomegranates frequently appear on Rosh Hashanah tables. The reasons are nearly as numerous as the plentiful seeds of the fruit. On Rosh Hashanah, we wish that our good deeds in the ensuing year will be as plentiful as the seeds of the pomegranate. The fruit is said to contain 613 seeds, corresponding to the 613…
(To turn this visual feast into a culinary feast for your Rosh Hashanah table, see the recipes online at orjewishlife.com/rosh-hashanah-feast/) BRISKET Brisket has become standard Rosh Hashanah fare across North America. Recipes abound for this main dish staple, but we’ve selected a Savory Roast by Brynie Greisman that originally appeared in Mishpacha Magazine Family Table….
Before I moved to Israel I was always puzzled by the ending to the Book of Jonah, read on Yom Kippur as part of the mincha service. As you might recall, Jonah is upset at God for pardoning the city of Nineveh, and he says: “Please, Lord, take my life, for I would rather die than…
Rosh Hashanah is a time of repentance, reflection and returning, or Teshuva in Hebrew. Returning to our roots, returning to our values and returning to the Earth that sustains us. In the Torah, G-d grants humanity dominion over the Earth and all that dwells within it. However, as it is said, with great power comes…
For the secular New Year, people make resolutions to improve themselves for the coming year. But the Jewish New Year is preceded by a month of preparation to enter the New Year as a better person with past sins forgiven. During the month of Elul, it is customary to ask those you have wronged for…
