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You DO Have a Prayer
By Andrew J. Neff
As we get ready for Yom Kippur, I have a question: What is Kol Nidre all about? Why do we say Kol Nidre on Yom Kippur? Or, more importantly, why is Kol Nidre – which means “All vows” – the last thing we say before the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest of holy days... What is the big deal about vows?

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She’s Marbelous!
By Renee Chernin
One could never say my friend Mira has lost her marbles. In fact, she has every one of them, 444 and counting...

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Rosh Hashana is Not Groundhog’s Day
By Rabbi Yaakov Luban
I have two unique talents. I can close my eyes and fall asleep within 10 seconds, and once asleep, I can sleep through a tornado. These abilities are heaven-sent. Because of my busy schedule, I sleep very little at night. I am able to keep going by sleeping on the train to and from work. Not a minute is wasted, and the moment I settle down in my comfortable seat, I am out like a light...

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Melonie and Rick
By Elise Nerenberg
Melonie came to work with me as a Social Worker, and it was like a ray of light lit up our hospital. She was beautiful--5'10' with strawberry blond hair and large blue eyes. But it was her inner beauty that drew you even more. Although not a religious Jew, Melonie had a strong Jewish identity and a fierce love for the State of Israel. Melonie and I...

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Rosh Hashanah Reflections: Benefiting Our Great Nation By Drawing On Our Faith
By Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
We are approaching the start of a new year, during which America will elect a new leader. As we use this time to reflect on our lives and how we lead them, I feel it would also be most appropriate to reflect on religion in general -- and Judaism in particular -- and how we lead our lives as Jews in this great American nation.

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What’s the Truth about … Pomegranate Seeds?
By Ari Zivotofsky
Misconception: According to rabbinic tradition, a pomegranate (rimon) has 613 seeds...Fact: The pomegranate is used in rabbinic tradition as an example of a fruit that contains many seeds, but not necessarily 613...

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Parsha Columns

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Netzavim: Understanding the Gift
By Rabbi Asher Brander
Teshuva...is far more than a mitzvah; Whereas a mitzvah operates in the contours of the present, teshuva famously and mysteriously transcends time barriers to transform our past. It would almost seem that the greatness of Teshuva flows specifically from its irrationality.

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Parshat Nitzavim: High Standings
By Mendel Jacobson
Under Stand But never Stand Under A falling dream (Or bridge). A bit standoffish is a Mexican standoff - Almost like a snob who cannot stand Anyone or anything without a nose job - So we only stand on, on what is right On what is true, and on what is pure.

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Parshat Vayelech: The Way it Went
By Mendel Jacobson
We speak of unity And unity may even speak of us… Of all the people standing before G-d All of them in the warmth and radiance That is the mystery philosophers aim to Decipher and poets aim to pen: United, complete, ready to enter together, Holding hands, holding breath, holding holding strong

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Slideshows

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Shofarot
By Yehoshua Halevi
Rosh Hashana - Yom Teruah - We call out with the horn of a ram or ibex or gazelle or antelope... "May the utterance of our lips be pleasant before You...and may You accept with mercy and favor..."

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Selichot - Preparing for Rosh Hashana
By Yitz Woolf
As the month of Elul draws to a close, and Rosh Hashana is fast approaching, the drive for repentance becomes more urgent. We pray for forgiveness and for God to have mercy on us in the Selichot service.

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Food Columns

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Tzimmes Meets Tajine - Sumptuous Stews to Sweeten the New Year
By Faye Levy
Tzimmes is a specialty of Ashkenazi Jews, while tajines come from Morocco. Although they have such different origins...

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All Good Fasts Must Come To An End
By Judy Bart Kancigor
Jewish cooks the world over are shopping and chopping, searing and sauteing – so many dishes, so little time...No sooner is Rosh Hashanah over - dishes put away, leftovers stored - than we're already thinking about the next big feast occurring the following week

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High Holiday Baking
By Debby Segura
Cakes, cookies and breads that I bake for the Holidays, I bake only for the Holidays. Except for testing out recipes, that is. In this way, my High Holiday baked goods are cherished by my family and me... such as my Pumpkin Challah, Classic Jewish Apple Cake and Date Bars... Moroccan-inspired New Year bread... Algerian breads...

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Break-the-Fast Meal Ideas
By Ronnie Fein
After fasting for over 24 hours and spending a day in prayer and contemplation, asking for forgiveness, it’s time to gather with family and friends to celebrate our hopes for a good new year...Everyone is hungry. The smell of fresh coffee coming from the kitchen is like liberation, luring people to a quick sip and maybe just a nibble of a little “something”...But really, we are all eager for dinner, an actual meal...

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Simanim - Special Food As Signs For a Sweet and Healthy New Year
By Norene Gilletz
From the time I was a young child, I’ve known that Rosh Hashanah was associated with apples and honey, symbolizing sweetness for the coming New Year...In addition to the traditional wine and challah, other special dishes are used as 'signs' for a good omen...Leek Croquettes, Carrot Salad, Pomegranate Chicken...

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Parshat Nitzavim
27 Elul 5768
September 26-27, 2008

Haftarah:

Yeshayahu 61:10-63:9

Special Days this Week:

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated Monday night, September 29, through Wednesday, October 1.
The Fast of Gedaliah is commemorated on Thursday, October 2.

The next issue of Shabbat Shalom will come out Erev Yom Kippur.

Wishing all our readers a sweet and happy New Year.

Candlelighting Times and Zmanim
Important Changes to Zmanim Calculations
Holiday Calendar Holiday Calendar

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Hungarian Pastry - Kipfel
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Nitzavim - Blessing the New Month
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Unchartered Waters
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Mishnas Chayim - Rosh Hashanah: The U.N. in the Sky
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A Partial Teshuva
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The Book is Open
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Parsha Summary                       Recipes
Parshat Nitzavim - Rabbi Weinreb
A Mutual Responsibility for A Happy New Year

This Week's Haftarah*
Rabbi Jeremy Wieder

Torah Tidbits Audio

Phil Chernofsky is the educational director of the OU Israel Center and the editor of Torah Tidbits, the Center's weekly Torah publication distributed throughout Israel.

The Coming Week's Daf Yomi by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
This essay is based upon the insights and chidushim (original ideas) of Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, as published in the Hebrew version of the Steinsaltz Edition of the Talmud.

Masechet Gittin - 77a - 83b

Dvar Torah by Britain's Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks
Covenant and Conversation - The Fourteenth Principle



OU Kosher:

 OU Events:

Yachad High School Needs a Home
The IVDU School for students with special needs (a division of the OU's Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities) offers a high school pre-vocational training program for young adults ages 15 to 21 in Brooklyn, NY. The school is looking for a new home...

OU Israel Center:

Monday OCT 6th 7 Tishrei

OUR WOMAN OF FAITH - After five years of challenges, ORA COHEN, who has been showered with Chessed and Ahavat Chinam since the terrible Bus no. 2 terrorist tragedy that affected her entire family, her faith is stronger than ever! Come and be inspired by this amazing woman, on Monday, Oct. 6th at 11:30 right after Rabbi Leff's Shiur. She will also show a short video to further impress upon us all her deep unquestioning belief in Hashem's love for the Jewish people

12:30pm VIDEO - Rabbi Stewart Weiss- "Yom Kippur - The Happiest Day of the Year?"

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The Children of Sderot Need Our Help
Sderot has been turned into a war zone. There is a daily bombardment of Kassam Rockets from the area that was once Gush Katif.
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Call to Action from Yad Vashem - Register Names of Holocaust Victims Who Perished. And now online - New community resource guide with ideas for commemorating Yom Hashoah.
 
Their Grief is Our Grief
Fund to help former residents of Gaza...