Custom & Traditions

("Head of the Year") is the beginning of the Jewish New Year and marks the anniversary of the creation of the world. This Holy Day begins on the evening of the first day of the Jewish Month of Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah marks a period called "The 10 Days of Repentance," which begins the Jewish High Holy Day season. During these days, the Jews take time to make a personal accounting of their souls ("Cheshbon haNefesh") wherein we evaluate our deeds, seek forgiveness from God and those we have wronged and forgive those who have wronged us and set a more meaningful and intentional course for ourselves in the year to come. Traditional practices include the addition of special prayers for repentance, sounding the Shofar (a ram's horn) and sharing in festive meals.

("Day of Atonement")...The 10 Days of Repentance end on Yom Kippur, which begins on the evening of the 10th Day of Tishrei. It is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur is a solemn day of fasting, prayer and repentance, where we seek forgiveness for the times we "missed the mark," in our acts and deeds against God and other people.  

Many people think our High Holy Days are completed by the end of Yom Kippur, however...Sukkot & Simchat Torah (The "Festival of Booths" & "Festival of Torah") are both celebratory and begin a period known as Zman Simchateinu ("Our Time of Rejoicing"). Starting on the evening of the 15th of Tishrei and running through the 22nd of Tishrei, these are among the most festive days of the Jewish calendar. First we celebrate the beauty of the fall season by sitting in Sukkot, which symbolize the temporary dwellings of our ancestors during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel. The High Holy Day season concludes with a celebration of Torah (The Five Books of Moses) when we conclude the end of the Book of Deuteronomy and begin, again, with the Book of Genesis. Jewish tradition juxtaposes the serious and introspective work of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with the celebration of the grandeur of the natural world and the gift of Torah, bringing our souls closer to God and setting the course for a joyous new year.

Sukkot is a joyful, week-long festival that celebrates the harvest and reminds us of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. We build and decorate a sukkah—a temporary outdoor structure—and gather there for meals, prayer, and community. In Reform Judaism, Sukkot is a time to express gratitude, connect with nature, and celebrate the blessings in our lives.

A festive celebration marking the completion and new beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle. It’s a joyful time filled with singing, dancing, and communal celebration as we honor the Torah—the heart of Jewish life and learning. Simchat Torah brings our community together to rejoice in the gift of Torah and our shared journey of study and growth.