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Ask A Jew: What are the High Holy Days?

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By Hyphen Parent

What exactly are the High Holy Days?

SPO_Ask-a-Jew-ad_042114The High Holy Days are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the days in-between.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year. Outside of Israel*, it’s celebrated by two days of prayer and services as well as meals with sweet and circular food (like apples and honey for a sweet new year and round challah to indicate the continuing cycle of the year).

Rosh Hashanah begins a time of introspection called The Ten Days of Repentance or The Ten Days of Awe. During that time, we recite certain prayers, read specific Torah portions, focus on ourselves and our misdeeds, ask others for forgiveness, and make specific changes in our behavior and attitudes to be better people. We focus on Teshuva (Repentance), Tefilla (Prayer), and Tzedakah (Commonly translated as ‘Charity,” but “Justice” is a more accurate translation).

The Ten Days of Repentance ends on Yom Kippur—often considered the holiest day of the year. It’s a somber 25 hour fast day. We spend much of the day in services making confessions and asking for forgiveness.

*Jews in Israel and Reform Jews all around the world celebrate only one day.

Hyphen Parent
Hyphen Parent
Dorothy-Ann Parent (better known as Hyphen) is a writer, a traditional Jew, a seeker of justice, a lover of stories and someone who’s best not left unattended in a bookshop or animal shelter.

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Lu
Lu
7 years ago

When are they this year?

Neal Schindler
Neal Schindler
7 years ago
Reply to  Lu

Rosh Hashanah is Oct. 3-4. Yom Kippur I think is Oct. 12.

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