Archive for 2018
Renewal Tashlich Ceremony
This alternative Tashlich ceremony includes biblical passages and excerpts from traditional prayers, together with an original poem-prayer written by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat. During Tashlich, Jews symbolically cast away their sins into a body of water. Ideally performed
Psalm 27: A Psalm for the High Holiday Season
This post offers the Hebrew and English text of Psalm 27, recited twice daily from the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul through Shemini Atzeret, which concludes the High Holiday season of
Hatarat Nedarim: Annulment of Vows Before Rosh Hashanah
This post from JewishContent.org provides the English text of the Hatarat Nedarim ceremony, in which a person formally annuls his/her vows before the High Holidays in the presence of three (or, ideally ten) people
A Guide to the High Holiday Prayers
This thorough article provides an overview of the contents, structure and themes of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayer services. Highlighting some of the most significant parts of the service, such as
How to Prepare for Rosh Hashanah
This article outlines some of the customs designed to help prepare one spiritually for the Jewish New Year and the High Holiday season, from blowing shofar and reciting selichot throughout the month of Elul
Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Simanim Seder
This 3 page long PDF document offers a sample Rosh Hashanah Simanim Seder, originally a Sephardic tradition in which blessings are recited over a variety of foods that symbolize our wishes for the new year.
How to Find a Machzor (High Holiday Prayer Book)
This comprehensive article serves as a guide to finding the right High Holiday Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for you, including links to purchase a prayer book online or download free
Conservative Tashlich Texts (English & Hebrew)
This excerpt from the Conservative Machzor Lev Shalom for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur presents the special prayers and passages recited during the Tashlich ritual, in which Jews symbolically cast away their sins into a
How to Make High Holiday Synagogue Services Meaningful
This honest article presents six simple tips to transform lengthy, frustrating services into a meaningful prayer experience. With an emphasis on finding a personal connection to the words and their significance, rather than
How to Make a Shofar
This 4 minute long video shows how a ram’s horn is transformed into a shofar, the musical instrument and ritual object used throughout the month of Elul and during Rosh Hashanah and Yom