Pardes Levavot

High HolyDays, 5768

Join Pardes Levavot for the High HolyDays
Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur
September 12 - September 22, 2007
1 Tishri - 10 Tishri, 5768

These are the traditions that Pardes Levavot embraces, extends and re-visions. Expect a uniquely Pardes Levavot experience when you join us!

Elul and Selichot

The month of Elul, which precedes Rosh HaShanah, provides the means to prepare for the work of the New Year, the work of repentance. Genuine repentance usually takes a good deal of time. Few of us are comfortable considering our shortcomings and failings. It takes some time for us to own up to them. In addition, to truly repent from the hurt we have caused other people, we need to approach them and ask their forgiveness. Our Mishnah teaches that Yom Kippur brings atonement for transgressions we have committed against another person only after the offender has repented and been reconciled with the wronged party. In other words: If we have hurt someone, we must first apologize and make peace with that person; only then will God forgive us.

Each morning the shofar is blown to "wake us up" to the importance of repentance and the spiritual work to be done. We also read Psalm 27, which opens "The Lord is my light and my salvation," a fitting theme for those engaged in the difficult and often painful work of confronting their true selves. It is important to remember that we always can find support and comfort in God. The spiritual preparation of Elul culminates in Selichot services the Saturday night prior to Rosh HaShanah. Selichot prayers, consisting primarily of prayers for forgiveness, traditionally begin at midnight. (Many congregations plan earlier programs and gear them more toward families these days.) From Selichot until Rosh HaShanah, the special Selichot prayers are incorporated in the morning service. Just before Rosh HaShanah, the Torah covers are changed to white and often the curtain covering the ark and the cover of the reading table, as well. White is a sign of purity. During Elul, people begin planning and preparing the holiday meals and often send New Years cards to one another with the greeting "L'shanah tovah tikateivu" (May you be inscribed for a good new year).

Psalm 27 is recited each morning during Elul. It is a wonderful way to prepare for the difficult work of repentance.

High HolyDays

In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, there shall be a solemn rest for you, a sacred convocation proclaimed with a blast of ram's horns, you shall not do any work.
Leviticus 23:24-25

The Jewish High HolyDays or Yamim Nora'im are observed during the ten day period between the first day (Rosh HaShanah) and the tenth day (Yom Kippur) of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are the most important of all Jewish Holidays and the only holidays that are purely religious, as they are not related to any historical or natural event. Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated the first and second days of Tishri. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet tasting foods. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers.

Rosh HaShanah

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh HaShanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh HaShanah has a fourfold meaning - it is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgement, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

It is the Day of Judgement. As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins.

It is the Day of Shofar Blowing. As the Shofar (the ram's horn) is blown in temple to herald the beginning of the ten day period known as the High HolyDays.

It is the Day of Remembrance. As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel.

And of course it is New Year's Day. Celebrated with it's holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and sweet foods (to ensure sweetness in the New Year).

Rosh HaShanah is observed the first and second day of the seventh month of the Jewish calender, Tishri. Coming in the Fall season of the western calendar, usually in September. In Israel Rosh HaShanah is the only holiday kept for 2 days as it is considered too important to be observed for only 24 hours. Both days are considered one long day of 48 hours. The traditions of Rosh HaShanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar. In temple the shofar is blown on Rosh HaShanah to herald the beginning of the period known as the High HolyDays. It is believed that on Rosh HaShanah the destiny of all mankind is recorded by God in the Book of Life. After Rosh HaShanah services, as the congregants leave the synagogue they say to each other...

"May you be inscribed in the Book of Life"

On the first day of Rosh HaShanah, after the afternoon services, Jews visit a body of water or pond, containing live fish, to symbolically "cast away" their sins into the river.

On Rosh HaShanah it is customary for families to gather together for the holiday meal. Traditional foods sweetened with honey, apples and carrots are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead. The first night's meal begins with apple dipped in honey. Challah, the bread usually eaten on the Sabbath (not braided as at regular meals but instead baked in a circle - a wish that the coming year will roll around smoothly without unhappiness or sorrow) is also dipped in honey before eating.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays, the "Sabbath of Sabbaths." By Yom Kippur the 40 days of repentance, that begin with the first of Elul, have passed. On Rosh HaShanah God has judged most of mankind and has recorded his judgement in the Book of Life. But he has given a ten day reprieve. On Yom Kippur the Book of Life is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year. Since Yom Kippur is the day to ask forgiveness for promises broken to God, the day before is reserved for asking forgiveness for broken promises between people, as God cannot forgive broken promises between people. Yom Kippur is a day of "NOT" doing. The is no blowing of the Shofar and Jews may not eat or drink, as fasting is the rule. It is believed that to fast on Yom Kippur is to emulate the angels in heaven, who do not eat, drink, or wash.

The Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur

1. Eating and drinking
2. Anointing with perfumes or lotions
3. Marital relations
4. Washing
5. Wearing leather: shoes, belts, jackets, etc.

While Yom Kippur is devoted to fasting, the day before is devoted to eating. According to the The Talmud the person "who eats on the ninth of Tishri (and fasts on the tenth), it is as if he had fasted both the ninth and tenth." Prayer is also down played so that Jews can concentrate on eating and preparing for the fast.

On the eve of Yom Kippur the community joins at the synagogue. Adults put on prayer shawls (not usually worn in the evenings). Then as the night falls the cantor begins the "Kol Nidre", it is repeated 3 times, each time in a louder voice. The Kol Nidre emphasizes the importance in keeping vows, as violating an oath is one of the worst sins.

An important part of the Yom Kippur service is the Vidui or confession. The confessions serve to help reflect on ones misdeeds and to confess them verbally is part of the formal repentance in asking God's forgiveness. Because community and unity are an important part of Jewish Life, the confessions are said in the plural - "We are guilty".

As Yom Kippur ends, at the last hour a service called Ne'ila offers a final opportunity for repentance. It is the only service of the year during which the doors to the Ark remain open from the beginning to end of the service, signifying that the gates of Heaven are open at this time.

The service closes with the verse, said 7 times, "The Lord is our God." The Shofar is sounded once and the congregation proclaim - "Next year in Jerusalem."

Yom Kippur is over.