Rosh Hashanah
The High Holiday season begins with the Hebrew month of Elul, a time of deep, personal introspection, leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The liturgy and rituals of this transformational time of year emphasize themes of repentance, forgiveness, renewal, creation and the coronation of God as king of the world. KKL-JNF marks the Jewish New Year with programs that celebrate renewal for the Jewish people and their environment.Â
E-Learning
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What is Rosh Hashanah? The Jewish New Year
This 4-minute long animated video presents an excellent overview of the rituals, customs and significance of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Useful for people of all ages and backgrounds, with amusing animations
Rosh Hashanah Infographic
This infographic from Aish.com lays out the various traditions and rituals of the Jewish New Year in a concise and visually appealing way. This well-designed image outlines shofar blowing, Rosh
Rabbi Saadia Gaon’s 10 Reasons for Sounding the Shofar
This post summarizes ten different symbolic explanations as to why we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana, according to Rabbi Saadia Gaon, including to proclaim God as King, to serve as
Feeling the Love in Judgement: Special for the High Holidays
In this short and sweet animated video, Rabbi David Aaron shares the profound message that judgement is actually an act of love. Comparing the relationship between a child and parent
Preparing for the New Year with Rabbi Sacks: A Thought Provoking Video Series
This post contains a series of ten short, thought-provoking videos to help prepare for the new year. Recorded by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the previous Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, each
Rosh Hashanah Customs
In this clear video, aimed at both Jews and non-Jews, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein introduces the customs and spiritual significance of the Jewish New Year. Emphasizing Rosh Hashanah as a time
Maimonides’ 4 Steps to Teshuvah
This short video outlines the four steps to teshuvah (repentance), according to Maimonides: regret our actions, stop doing them, confess or apologize, and commit to changing our behavior in the
Rosh Hashanah 101
This introductory article briefly explains the history, customs and significance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a time of both rejoicing and introspection. An excellent resource for anyone interested in the basic
Selichot: Prayers of Repentance
This article by Rabbi Dr. Reuven Hammer explains the origins, significance and structure of selichot – the special prayers recited during the High Holiday season and on Jewish fast days. Noting
Tzom Gedaliah Fast Day
This article from Chabad.org explains the origins, historical background, and ritual observances of the minor fast day of Tzom Gedaliah, observed on the day after Rosh Hashanah. This fast commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor
A Technical Explanation of the Shofar Blasts
In this highly technical video (6:38), Orthodox rabbi, author and educator, Hadar Margolin, explains why we hear 100 blasts of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and what we should be
Rabbi Sacks: 3 Fundamental Questions for the High Holidays
In this short yet inspiring video, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the previous Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, prompts viewers to ask themselves three fundamental questions leading up to the High Holiday
Rosh Hashanah for Kids
In this sweet, interactive video, Rabbi David and Kerry Bar-Cohn introduce young children to the rituals and significance behind the Biblical festival of Rosh Hashanah, including dipping apples in honey, praying
Mayim Bialik: 4 Things Jews Do on Rosh Hashanah
In this short, informal video, actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik introduces four Rosh Hashanah customs: eating ritual foods, hearing the blowing of the shofar, participating in synagogue prayer services, and taking a
Elul & Rosh Hashanah: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
In this short yet profound video, Charlie Harary suggests that the month of Elul and the holiday of Rosh Hashanah provide us with an opportunity to build an intimate relationship with God based
Tashlich: A Rosh Hashanah Tradition
This minute-long video from MyJewishLearning provides a basic introduction to tashlich, a Rosh Hashanah ritual during which Jews symbolically cast off their sins into a body of running water. MyJewishLearning empowers
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Fountainheads: Dip Your Apple
A Rosh Hashanah- themed parody of Waka Waka by Shakira, this high-energy music video features The Fountainheads singing about the hope and opportunity of the Jewish New Year. The Fountainheads is an all-volunteer,
A Calming Melody for the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
This post offers the Hebrew and English text of The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, as well as a calming melody composed by The Nava Tehila Ensemble. Enumerated in Exodus 34:6–7 these Divine Attributes are frequently recited
Barbra Streisand’s Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King)
This video presents Jewish American singer, actress, and filmmaker, Barbra Streisand, performing Avinu Malkeinu for former Israeli President Simon Peres at his 90th birthday celebration. Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King) is a
Achot Ketana: A Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Piyut
This post presents the lyrics and a musical rendition of Achot Ketanah (Little Sister), a liturgical poem sung in many Sephardic communities at the beginning of the Rosh Hashanah services. A
Leonard Cohen: Who By Fire
This video presents Who By Fire, a haunting song by the late Jewish Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist Leonard Cohen based on the liturgical prayer, Unetaneh Tokef, recited during prayer services on both Rosh
Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem
A Rosh Hashanah-themed parody of Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO, this video features Orthodox Yeshiva students break-dancing in the Old City of Jerusalem as they sing and rap about the holiday’s meaning,
The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
This video presents a popular Ashkenazi melody for the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Enumerated in Exodus 34:6–7 these Divine Attributes are frequently recited in the selichot penitential prayers before and after Rosh Hashanah,
Phish’s Avinu Malkeinu (My Father, My King)
This video presents the American jam band, Phish, performing their version of Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King), a desperate plea for mercy, blessing and forgiveness recited as part of the services
Mogwai’s Heavy Metal Avinu Malkeinu (My Father, My King)
This video presents the Scottish post-rock band, Mogwai, performing a 10 minute long heavy metal version of Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King), a desperate plea for mercy, blessing and forgiveness
The Maccabeats: This is the New Year – Rosh Hashanah
This video presents an a capella cover of This is the New Year by A Great Big World by the Maccabeats, an all-male Jewish a cappella group that originally formed as Yeshiva University’s student
Dip the Apple in the Honey: A Rosh Hashanah Song for Kids
This sweet animated video presents a popular American Rosh Hashanah song for kids with onscreen karaoke-style lyrics. The video is produced by Shaboom, a child-friendly YouTube channel brought to you by BimBam, an organization which
Audio Recordings of Sephardic High Holiday Liturgy
This link will take you to the High Holiday section of the Sephardic Hazzanut Project website, where you can listen to audio recordings of many of the piyutim, prayers and
Rosh Hashanah: Can’t Stop The Feeling
A Rosh Hashanah-themed parody of Can’t Stop This Feeling by Justin Timberlake, this video features people dancing in the streets of Jerusalem as they sing about the challenges and opportunities of personal
Get Clarity: Rosh Hashanah Music Video
A Rosh Hashanah-themed parody of Get Lucky by Daft Punk, this video features Chasidic Rock guitar player Menachem Herman and Orthodox Yeshiva students singing about the Jewish New Year as a time
Shofar Callin’: A Rosh Hashanah Rap
This animated music video about the Jewish New Year as an opportunity for change connects the Torah reading of Rosh Hashanah – the biblical story of the Binding of Isaac – with
Medley of Chasidic Rosh Hashanah Niggunim
This 12 minute long video presents an emotive medley of Chasidic melodies for Rosh Hashanah liturgy, performed by Motty Steinmetz & Yedididm Choir and the Aaron Teitelbaum Orchestra. The performance
Beth Hamon: Lev Tahor (A Clean Heart)
This live performance features Jewish singer-songwriter, Beth Hamon, performing “Lev Tahor (A Clean Heart),” a contemporary folk song in which she asks God for the courage, faith and strength she
What Makes Rosh Hashanah Beautiful
A Rosh Hashanah-themed parody of What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction, this video features Orthodox Yeshiva students singing about the inspiring potential of new beginnings in the Old City of Jerusalem.
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An Israel-Focused High Holiday Lesson Plan
This thorough lesson plan aims to help students “taste” the ethnic diversity of the Jewish communities in Israel, experience the immense weight and meaning of the Yom Kippur War in Israeli
Traditional Rosh Hashanah Recipes
This article presents recipes for traditional Rosh Hashanah dishes eaten in different communities. The Rosh Hashanah-themed foods are divided into sections for each part of the meal, with a special
Shofar Meditations for the Days of Awe
This post offers two guided meditations based on the imagery and spiritual power of the shofar. Designed for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by Ariel Neshama Lee, these healing meditations encourage
The Power of Celebrating Rosh Hashanah in Uman
This video gives an insight into the annual pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world to Uman, Ukraine, to spend Rosh Hashanah praying by the
Kesher V’Gesher: A Prayer for Rosh Hashanah
This poem by Trisha Arlin describes the intensity of the process of repentance and growth of the High Holiday season, focusing on the power of Jewish liturgy and community in transforming these days into
An Alternative Avinu Malkeinu: Our Parent, Our Sovereign
Written by Rabbi Burt Jacobson of the Jewish Renewal movement, this alternative version of the liturgical prayer, Avinu Malkeinu, refers to God not only as our Father and King, but also our
Deconstructed Al Het Activity
This link will lead you to a detailed outline of a ritual activity based on the traditional “Al Het” confessional prayer, wherein the community collectively confess their sins together during
Where to Stream High Holiday Services Online
This article provides a list of non-denominational, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Renewal synagogues around the world that live-stream their High Holiday prayer services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Because the use of
Egalitarian Versions of Hu Ya’anenu (Selichot & Yom Kippur)
This post provides links to several different versions of “Hu Ya’anenu,” a prayer that recalls how God mercifully answered our forefathers in ancient times, assuring us that our prayers will
Who By Fire: A Poem of Doubt and Return
This poem by non-traditional rabbi and spiritual seeker, Rabbi Patrick A. Beaulier, explores many of the intense themes of Rosh Hashanah through a piece based on the liturgical prayer, Unetaneh Tokef. This poem was shared
For Kids: Really, Really Sorry!
This entertaining animated video (9:08) teaches young children about the challenges and importance of saying sorry – and meaning it – as a step in making things right. Perfect for the High
A Rosh Hashanah Website for Children
This link will take you to an entire website dedicated to teaching children about the Jewish New Year in a fun and interactive way. With holiday guides, videos, recipes, stories, games, and
A Mikveh Immersion Ceremony for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
This post provides the outline and texts for a mikveh immersion ceremony to spiritually prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. With guiding questions, kavanot (intentions), and Hebrew and English
A Rosh Hashanah Glossary of Hebrew Terms
This glossary from ReformJudaism.org translates and explains many Hebrew words and phrases that one may come across over Rosh Hashanah, including traditional holiday greetings, biblical terminology, and words that appear
Prayers Ascend to Heaven at the Western Wall
Through beautiful imagery and animation, this video conveys the power of prayer, depicting the traditional Jewish belief that prayers of all types from all around the world ascend to heaven
Rituals & Ceremonies
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Conservative Tashlich Texts (English & Hebrew)
This excerpt from the Conservative Machzor Lev Shalom for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur presents the special prayers and passages recited during the Tashlich ritual, in which Jews symbolically cast away their
Hatarat Nedarim: Annulment of Vows Before Rosh Hashanah
This post from JewishContent.org provides the English text of the Hatarat Nedarim ceremony, in which a person formally annuls his/her vows before the High Holidays in the presence of three (or,
Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Simanim Seder
This 3 page long PDF document offers a sample Rosh Hashanah Simanim Seder, originally a Sephardic tradition in which blessings are recited over a variety of foods that symbolize our wishes for
Tkhine of the Matriarchs for the Blowing of the Shofar
This “tkhine” (supplication) is a para-liturgical prayer in Yiddish with an English translation that is meant to be recited by a woman during the shofar blowing service on Rosh Hashanah, an
Selichot at the Western Wall
This short video shows thousands of Jews gathering together for the final night of Selichot prayers before Yom Kippur at the Western Wall. The penitential prayers are traditionally recited between
Psalm 27: A Psalm for the High Holiday Season
This post offers the Hebrew and English text of Psalm 27, recited twice daily from the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul through Shemini Atzeret, which concludes the High
The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
This video presents a popular Ashkenazi melody for the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Enumerated in Exodus 34:6–7 these Divine Attributes are frequently recited in the selichot penitential prayers before and after Rosh Hashanah,
Egalitarian Versions of Hu Ya’anenu (Selichot & Yom Kippur)
This post provides links to several different versions of “Hu Ya’anenu,” a prayer that recalls how God mercifully answered our forefathers in ancient times, assuring us that our prayers will
Reb Zalman’s Alternative Hatarat Nedarim (Annullment of Vows)
This post presents an alternative English version to the Hatarat Nedarim ceremony, in which a person formally annuls his/her vows before Rosh Hashanah. Written by Reb Zalman Schacther Shalomi, one of the founders
We Need Justice and Kindness: A Humanistic Prayer for Selichot
This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated words for a prayer for justice, kindness, and social responsibility written by Humanistic Rabbis Sherwin Wine and Binyamin Biber. Based on words attributed
Kiddush Hashanah: Prayers for Dedicating the New Year
Whereas many piyutim (liturgical poems) were composed specifically for the evening of Rosh Hashanah, they did not become a standard part of the liturgy. This excerpt from the Conservative Machzor Lev Shalom for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Traditional Rosh Hashanah Evening & Daytime Kiddush
This post offers links to the traditional evening and daytime Kiddush ceremonies performed on Rosh Hashanah. The page for the evening Kiddush includes the full text in English, as well
Abbreviated Renewal Selichot Services
This alternative selichot ceremony, intended for the Saturday night preceding Rosh Hashanah, includes Havdalah, original poetry, traditional liturgy, writing exercises, and readings for contemplation. Selichot are prayers of repentance recited before the
Selichot Service with Kabbalistic Intentions
This link opens up a 38 page long Kabbalistic Selichot Service, containing the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of traditional prayers, along with short spiritual and mystical intentions for each prayer.
Renewal Tashlich Ceremony
This alternative Tashlich ceremony includes biblical passages and excerpts from traditional prayers, together with an original poem-prayer written by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat. During Tashlich, Jews symbolically cast away their sins into a body
How to Find a Machzor (High Holiday Prayer Book)
This comprehensive article serves as a guide to finding the right High Holiday Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for you, including links to purchase a prayer book online
How to Light Candles on Rosh Hashanah
In this thorough instructional video (9:31), Dr. Rachael Turkienicz describes how to light the holiday candles for Rosh Hashanah, including technical and spiritual explanations for this mitzvah, as well as on-screen English
Achot Ketana: A Sephardic Rosh Hashanah Piyut
This post presents the lyrics and a musical rendition of Achot Ketanah (Little Sister), a liturgical poem sung in many Sephardic communities at the beginning of the Rosh Hashanah services. A
Audio Recordings of Sephardic High Holiday Liturgy
This link will take you to the High Holiday section of the Sephardic Hazzanut Project website, where you can listen to audio recordings of many of the piyutim, prayers and
Audio Recordings of Ashkenazi Shabbat & High Holiday Liturgy
This link will take you to the musical prayer navigator of Mechon Hadar, where you can find audio recordings for each part of the synagogue service for Shabbat, weekday, Rosh Hashanah,
Traditional Practices - Learn How
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How to Celebrate Rosh Hashanah
This short instructional video briefly presents different aspects of the Rosh Hashanah celebrations, including ritual foods, lighting candles, making blessings over the wine and challah, hearing the shofar, and the
How to Braid a Round Challah for Rosh Hashanah
This short instructional video demonstrates three different methods for making a circular challah, as is customary for Rosh Hashanah. There are many explanations offered for this custom, such as the
A Guide to the High Holiday Prayers
This thorough article provides an overview of the contents, structure and themes of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayer services. Highlighting some of the most significant parts of the
How to Make a Shofar
This 4 minute long video shows how a ram’s horn is transformed into a shofar, the musical instrument and ritual object used throughout the month of Elul and during Rosh
How to Prepare for Rosh Hashanah
This article outlines some of the customs designed to help prepare one spiritually for the Jewish New Year and the High Holiday season, from blowing shofar and reciting selichot throughout the
Maimonides’ 4 Steps to Teshuvah
This short video outlines the four steps to teshuvah (repentance), according to Maimonides: regret our actions, stop doing them, confess or apologize, and commit to changing our behavior in the
Where to Stream High Holiday Services Online
This article provides a list of non-denominational, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Renewal synagogues around the world that live-stream their High Holiday prayer services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Because the use of
Traditional Rosh Hashanah Evening & Daytime Kiddush
This post offers links to the traditional evening and daytime Kiddush ceremonies performed on Rosh Hashanah. The page for the evening Kiddush includes the full text in English, as well
How to Find a Machzor (High Holiday Prayer Book)
This comprehensive article serves as a guide to finding the right High Holiday Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for you, including links to purchase a prayer book online
How to Blow the Shofar
This short instructional video demonstrates how to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, including an explanation of the three different types of ritual blasts: tekiyah, shevarim, and teruah. Featuring Paul
How to Light Candles on Rosh Hashanah
In this thorough instructional video (9:31), Dr. Rachael Turkienicz describes how to light the holiday candles for Rosh Hashanah, including technical and spiritual explanations for this mitzvah, as well as on-screen English
How to Make High Holiday Synagogue Services Meaningful
This honest article presents six simple tips to transform lengthy, frustrating services into a meaningful prayer experience. With an emphasis on finding a personal connection to the words and their
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