High holidays

Israelis return to booking vacations early: These are the destinations gaining popularity

Crete, Rhodes, Batumi, and Budapest lead bookings for the High Holy Days as average airfares remain 6% below last year, for now.

Margaret Island in Budapest.
The largest kosher slaughterhouse in the United States is located in Postville, Iowa and has been renamed AgriStar.

Fire at kosher meat processing plant in Iowa shuts down production ahead of High Holidays

RUTH JOINS her mother-in-law, Naomi, in traveling to the Land of Israel, while Orpah turns back to Moab after accompanying them for a stretch. King David will descend from Ruth, and Goliath from her sister-in-law.

'From Alienation to Monarchy': Ruth and the architecture of loving-kindness - book review

The new “Gold Gift Card” app.

Voice dedications and videos: Shufersal launches app for redeeming the Gold Gift Card


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

Faith and feelings of transcendence, after all, are older than institutions, a deep part of our evolution that existed before priests built temples.

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

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

Elul demands that we not shy away from the difficult questions that cannot be avoided in any war, no matter how justified it may be.

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.

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

A delightful array of new children's books to highlight the depth and the joy of the upcoming High Holidays.

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

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."