This is research I should have done much earlier since I’ve kinda missed some of the preparations for the High Holidays. No problem, we shall catch up! Most of what follows all comes from Chabad.org. I arrive in Israel right in the middle of the High Holidays and will be celebrating Yom Kippur in Jerusalem and Sukkot in North Israel.
List of upcoming Jewish Holidays
High Holiday Season
- Starts in the month of Elul
- Elul is the final month in the Jewish calendar
- In 2023, Elul started sunset Aug 17 to nightfall Sept 15.
- Connects the past year with the next year
- It’s a time to reflect on where we stand and where we should be going
- On every day of Elul, in anticipation of the “Days of Awe,” Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur:
- Blow the shofar
- Give extra charity
- Recite special Psalms, (Chapter 27)
Listen to Psalms 27
Rosh Hashanah
- From Sunset Friday, Sept 15 to Nightfall Sunday, Sept 17
- No working
- First of the high holidays
- Jewish New Year
- Anniversary of creation of Adam and Eve
- Day of Judgement
- Coronation of God as King
Yom Kippur
- From sunset Sunday, Sept 24 to nightfall Monday, Sept 25
- No working
- Day of atonement
- Holiest day on the Jewish calendar
- Fast, pray, seek forgiveness from God and others
- Come closer to God
- Peak of High Holidays
Sukkot
- From sunset Friday, Sept 29 to nightfall Oct 6
- No working Sept 30 – Oct 1
- Restricted work Oct 2 – 6
- Build a sukkah (covered hut)
- Celebrate by dwelling in sukkah, take the Four Kinds, rejoice
- Exposure to the elements in the sukkah to commemorate God sheltering ancestors travelling from Egypt to the Promised Land
- A time for joy and happiness
Psalms 104 by Yamma Ensemble
“Yamma means in Hebrew toward the sea. in Arabic it means mother. Yamma members got together in 2010. Over the years they have become the most successful and leading Israeli group for Hebrew & Jewish music among international audiences.”