Insights into Rosh Hashanah: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
“Let us now relate the power of the day’s holiness, for it is awesome and frightening. On it Your Kingship will be exalted; Your throne will be firmed with kindness and...
The Torah Reading for the First Day of Rosh...
The Torah reading and Haftarah of the first day of Rosh HaShanah raise a big question. That is, how are the overall themes of these texts essential to Rosh Hashanah? While it...
Rosh Hashanah and the Akeida
Some are bothered as to why the akeidah plays such a central theme in Rosh Hashanah. That is to say – there are so many other examples in which our ancestors...
Two Teams
Here’s one way to think about the essence of the sacred holiday, Rosh Hashanah. (Inspired, perhaps, by everybody’s excitement at the approach of baseball’s post-season.) Rosh Hashanah is the time when...
The Shofar: A Cry From The Depths
Rav Abbahu said, “Why do we blow a ram’s horn? The Holy One, Blessed Be He, said: ‘Sound before Me a ram’s horn so that I may remember on your behalf...
The Custom of Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah
The word “Tashlich” means “You will cast away.” In this context, it refers to a custom dating from at least as early as the fourteenth century, but probably much earlier, based...
Annulment of Vows Dialogue
The following text is lengthy, quite technical and detailed. It is based on Talmudic concepts, and is constructed, in Jewish “legalese,” to cover all relevant topics. The petitioner begins by addressing...
Various Customs of Rosh HaShanah
It is customary on Rosh Hashanah, during the evening meals, to eat foods symbolizing sweetness, blessings, and abundance. We dip the challah in honey; and afterwards, on the first night, we...
Full Text of U’Netaneh Tokef
The Full Text (Scanned from the ArtScroll Rosh HaShanah Machzor) The following is the full translated text of the great prayer, “U’Netaneh Tokef,” attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz, as related...
The Annulment of Vows
The Torah permits people to accept upon themselves personal obligations and prohibitions. Once made, these vows (or oaths) must be kept. There are two commandments in the Torah making it obligatory...
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