High holidays

Labels make you curious. But how is the wine?

Among the many wines that flooded her ahead of the approaching High Holidays, Talia Levin chose to first taste those that looked the best.

Jezreel Valley Winery
DR. BENJAMIN FENICHEL sounds the shofar on Guadacanal Island, Rosh Hashanah 1943.

Rosh Hashanah proves humanity's need for faith amid religious uncertainty - opinion

THE UN General Assembly votes on a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in June. The world must hold Israel’s enemies accountable for incitement, glorification of violence, and the blood on their hands, says the writer.

Reflecting on 700 days of war in Gaza during Elul means asking ourselves tough questions - opinion

New books out for the High Holidays in 2025 include TK and TK. (Collage by Ilana Zahavy)

New crop of High Holidays children’s books take place in Uganda, Hong Kong and a Sephardic home


Don’t break walls, refresh your routine: How to revitalize your home for the high holidays

Tola Studio designers share tips to refresh your home for Rosh Hashanah with colors, lighting, mirrors, and textiles for a new look without major investment.

Design – Tola Studio

'Sacred Time': Jewish sovereignty, an essential part of our identity

In contrast to religions that emphasize moral degradation, Judaism encourages admitting guilt and regret as a way of self-improvement.

 Author Meir Y. Soloveichik

It's time for the self-interest to be subjugated for the common good - opinion

History and Sukkot teach us that we are a resilient people and that by remaining united and by focusing our energies against our enemies, we will come out of this stronger.

 The writer and his wife, along with some of their children and grandchildren, mark the holiday in the sukkah.

This Yom Kippur, I prayed with all my might - opinion

Encountering a transformative Yom Kippur, and finding meaning in prayer amid war and grief.

 ON A STREET in Jerusalem, Hersh Goldberg-Polin is depicted in a mural created by friends. When we learned of Yahya Sinwar’s demise mere days after Yom Kippur, I couldn’t help but think that our prayers had something to do with it; maybe it was even thanks to Hersh, says the writer.

The intangibles of the war can’t be measured - opinion

A week of festivity was quickly turned into a week of funerals, and joy was turned into sadness.

 AVIAD NEIMAN, a father of four little children and husband to a young wife, fell a few hours before Simchat Torah this year in Lebanon.

No plans for Sukkot? A variety of free activities throughout the holiday offer family quality time

There are plenty of free activities to enjoy with your family this Chol Hamoed Sukkot all over Israel.

A sukkah

In this Jewish season of forgiveness, I’m asking for permission - opinion

In a year of hardship, can ancient rituals still resonate?

 "I want permission to pray for peace between nations, between peoples, between countries."

The sounds of the High Holidays in Ofakim

Shuki, a participant in JDC's "Meshiv HaRuach" programs in Ofakim, blows the shofar.

Year after the horror: Rekindling Jewish identity in the wake of tragedy

In the face of unspeakable violence and global hatred, the Jewish people confront their identity, mission, and resilience, guided by faith, history, and the promise of a brighter future in 5785.

 Rabbi Sholom Lipskar.

Rosh Hashanah: A time to recognize Israel's achievements amid challenges - opinion

A rabbi urges Jews to recognize Israel's military and diplomatic achievements this New Year, balancing acknowledgment of challenges with pride in recent successes.

 An illustrative photo of a man blowing a shofar, a ceremonial ram's horn, which is done repeatedly on Rosh Hashanah.

Shofar shortage? War impacts Jerusalem seller as shipping delays, costs spike

This year has been challenging for Refoua, who sells Judaica gifts and souvenirs in a shop in downtown Jerusalem. The war has decimated tourism and spiked shipping costs.

 Jan-Elazar Refoua in his shop in Jerusalem, in front of pictures of three of his sons who are serving in reserves (Marc Israel Sellem)