Akhlah: Rosh Hodesh
Rosh Hodesh is the celebration of a new month.

Would Israel Give Up Some Of Jerusalem?

“Because our security services are on high alert, we can be pretty certain that we’ll be safe”

Israel should turn over Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem to the Palestinians as part of a peace deal with the moderate government of President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel’s deputy prime minister said Friday in some of … via CBS News

Ten Step Guide to Celebrating Rosh Hashanah
A print-out of this Guide to Observing the Jewish New Year will come in handy during Rosh Hashanah. It describes how to set the Rosh Hashanah table. It includes text…

Jews to begin Yom Kippur atonement

“Everything is OK; everything is repaired”

Jews across the Southern Tier will observe Yom Kippur — a solemn Day of Atonement — starting at sunset today. via PressConnects.com

Selichot Prayers
Selichot (also written slichot) are penitential prayers that are recited in the days leading up to Judaism’s High Holidays - Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. What are Selichot Prayers? When…

A shrinking community: Shreveport Jews face hard questions

“People are proud to be Jewish. They give liberally of their time and money. We’ve felt very welcome. And in a small community, everyone makes a difference.”

The vast majority of Shreveport Jews attending High Holy Day services in the next 10 days are more than 60 years old. via The Shreveport Times

Casting off the year past

“The fish, they wait for this every year”

As the sun settled at dusk Thursday on the backs of turtles bobbing in a koi pond at Brand Park, a heartfelt, sustained whimper echoed throughout the area. via The Mikveh

Rosh Hashanah Glossary
Celebrating the New Year is more enjoyable once you understand the lingo. This Rosh Hashanah Glossary includes holiday greetings and religious practices. …

How to Light a Yahrzeit (Memorial) Candle
On Yom Kippur, Jews who have lost a family member light a special memorial candle called a Yahrzeit Candle. How should one light a Yahrzeit Candle?What is a Yahrzeit?What is…

Jewish Calendars for the New Year
The Jewish New Year is approaching. This year Rosh Hashanah begins on Wednesday evening, September 12, 2007. I hope you’ll find these Jewish calendars for the upcoming year helpful. Jewish Holiday…

Does Netflix have the answer for synagogues and other Jewish communal institutions?
According to a recent article in the New York Times, Netflix, the popular on-line dvd rental company, has changed its strategy concerning customer service. It no longer uses e-mail. Instead, it employs customer service representatives 24-hours-a-day to handle customer issues. It considers this renewed approach a strategy to challenge its competition. Rather than looking for […]

The Manischewitz Challenge
As a fan of the Food Network, I particularly enjoy their Food Network Challenge program where amateur and professional chefs go head-to-head in a competition to create the best new burger, Disney Princess cake, mac and cheese…you get the point. In the tradition of the Food Network Challenge and great cook-offs everywhere, Manischewitz has launched […]

Call Synagogue Home in Atlanta
I just returned from Atlanta, Georgia for our second in a series of training sessions for synagogues involved in Call Synagogue Home, a partnership project between JOI and STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal). This project is designed to help synagogues reach out to interfaith families and nurturing their relationship with them all through life cycle events. […]

Greenburgh supervisor blasts Town Board for meeting during Rosh Hashana

“To take advantage of that, we have to have a public hearing”

GREENBURGH - Town Supervisor Paul Feiner is blasting the rest of the Town Board for calling a special meeting for today, during the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana. via Journal News

Opening Lines: The year that wasn’t

“Hands that throw mud get dirty.”

It is not the Jewish custom to make New Year resolutions. Perhaps because we should strive to do our best all year round; perhaps because it is forbidden to make promises we cannot keep; or maybe it is the … via Jerusalem Post

Cantors in spotlight for High Holy Days

“Cantors are like the Ed McMahons of the old Tonight Show with Johnny Carson — someone to banter with”

Alexandra Shuval-Weiner said she was feeling some butterflies as she prepared for the High Holy Days, the Jewish holiday season. via Lexington Herald-Leader

Hate Crimes Heighten Security

“I think you’d be crazy not to be concerned on the one hand. But on the other hand if we let those concerns get in the way of our behavior, then I think we’re allowing ourselves to be controlled by the people we’re afraid of”

WASHINGTON Eyes open: that’s how police are handling the number of Jews in our area celebrating Rosh Hashana. via WJZ-TV Baltimore

Does Netflix have the answer for synagogues and other Jewish communal institutions?
According to a recent article in the New York Times, Netflix, the popular on-line dvd rental company, has changed its strategy concerning customer service. It no longer uses e-mail. Instead, it employs customer service representatives 24-hours-a-day to handle customer issues. It considers this renewed approach a strategy to challenge its competition. Rather than looking for […]

For a sweet New Year: Food is central to the Jewish Holidays, especially honey cake

Food will play an important symbolic role during the upcoming Jewish holiday, as it often does in Jewish community life. via Chico Enterprise-Record

Grassroots synagogue offers important lesson
I remember when the idea emerged for what has become the Woodstock, (VT) Area Jewish Congregation (now also known as Shir Shalom). I was on the faculty of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and we had been among the first to pioneer weekend retreats for study and prayer for […]

For a sweet New Year: Food is central to the Jewish Holidays, especially honey cake

Food will play an important symbolic role during the upcoming Jewish holiday, as it often does in Jewish community life. via Chico Enterprise-Record

A High Holy Day Story: Reward for No Temptation?

“Okay, here’s a tough one tailored for Yom Kippur.”

My rabbi loves challenges, so he loves my halachic questions. “So, Ted,” he says, “any arcane questions today?” We go to his office, where he keeps, in a secret drawer, his wife’s delicious plum cake. via Forward

Rosh Hashana: Foods show hopes for fruitful new year

“We’re looking for forgiveness from God and from other people. So more during this holiday, we’re trying to make amends for failures and reflect on the year to come.”

Rosh Hashana: Foods show hopes for fruitful new year September 11, 2007 Rosh Hashana, which runs from sunset Wednesday to nightfall Friday, celebrates the birthday of the world. via Star-Gazette.COM

Happy New Year

At our Rosh Hashana dinner we always have chopped liver, matzo ball soup, doctored-up canned gefilte fish, roast capon, a big round challah and several side dishes. via South Philly Review

Time to celebrate a serious new year

If you are celebrating Rosh Hashana this week, the gift shop at Chicago’s Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies has suggestions. via Daily Herald

Top Ten: Rosh Hashanah E-cards
The Jewish New Year is the perfect time to send your best wishes to loved ones. These sites offer a variety of ways to say “Shana Tova” (Happy New Year)…

High Holy Day services reach the Northwest

“Some of their clergy and congregants are planning on attending to find out what Jewish services are all about”

For Jewish residents of the Northwest, the arrival of the High Holy Days often means a long commute. via Northwest Explorer

These High Holy Days, you’ll find me … somewhere different

“Well, I’ve always done it, might as well do it again this year.”

Guess what, Mom and Dad? I’m not going to High Holy Day services this year. I know what you guys are thinking - oh, God. via The Jewish News Weekly

What I Saw

Synagogues and their prayer rooms are too often and too easily taken for granted. via Chicago Jewish Community

Faith and Civic Pride Clash Over Parade on Yom Kippur

“The sad thing is that if people had been more careful, this could have been avoided from the get-go.”

When volunteers first got together 18 months ago to plan festivities marking the 200th anniversary of this down-on-its-luck village in central New York, they quickly agreed on one thing: The occasion deserved a … via New York Times

High Holy Days to begin

“Our reflection is not a selfish thing”

The shofar - ‘ a long, hollow animal horn that produces a powerful, almost haunting wail - ‘ is blown during these, the most important of Jewish holidays, as it has been blown for major events throughout the … via The Journal Times

Weekend Magazine - Parshat Nitzavim Vayelech

All roads lead to Uman - A record-breaking gathering of over 30,000 people is expected in Uman for Rosh Hashana. via Lazer Beams

Elephants Delicatessen Carries Traditional Jewish Foods for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

PDX Food News Elephants Delicatessen Carries Traditional Jewish Foods for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Posted by extramsg on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 @ 21:44:07 PDT Contributed by extramsg Just in time for … via Extramsg.com