rosh hashana - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T02:32:42Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/rosh+hashanaFinding Faith: High Holidays message: Change for better starts with everyonehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/finding-faith-high-holidays-message-change-for-better-starts-with2022-08-30T14:10:44.000Z2022-08-30T14:10:44.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Janis Fontaine</strong></p>
<p>The Judaic holiday Rosh Hashana celebrates the biblical birthday of the world, and it’s a holiday from which everyone could really benefit. The 10 days between Rosh Hashana, which begins Sept. 25, and Yom Kippur, which begins Oct. 4, carve out a period of candid self-reflection called the Days of Awe.<br /> The High Holidays’ themes — forgiveness and repentance — are twofold: We are supposed to both ask for and give others forgiveness. It’s a time of honest evaluation of ourselves as spiritual people. It’s not about how successful we were at work in the last year, but how successful we were at life.<br /><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10796582067,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10796582067,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="93" alt="10796582067?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a>Rabbi David Steinhardt of B’nai Torah in Boca Raton says Yom Kippur builds an awareness of who we are in this world. <br />He wants everyone to leave despair and helplessness behind, and know that we have more strength and agency in the world than we realize. <br />Steinhardt has been the senior rabbi at B’nai Torah Congregation serving the Boca Raton community for more than 20 years. <br /> B’nai Torah is the largest Conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida with over 1,300 membership families. He expects 75-80% attendance at services this year.<br /> This is what the High Holidays mean to him in 2022:<br />“I am often asked: Is there a bigger purpose whereby the meaning of traditions and holidays can speak to our lives and our world?<br /> “While traditions help create connections to the past and deepen religious feeling, I propose that our inherited traditions also require a language that speaks to the needs and challenges of today. As we stand before the Jewish High Holy Days, I’d like to present a possibility.<br /> “The most profound message of the High Holidays reminds us that the world was created with one person. Rosh Hashana is called the birthday of the world. As it began with one, it is renewed with each one of us. We all matter. So, in a world that is so deeply divided, and where there is so much violence, anger and hostility, and intolerance for the ‘other,’ our tradition tells us to look at ourselves and see what we can do to create change for the better.”<br /> Rosh Hashana is followed by 10 days of repentance and concludes with the holiest day, Yom Kippur. <br /> “The central idea of <em>teshuvah</em>, which means repentance or return, is defined by a call to examine ourselves, recognize what we have done over the year, perhaps see the things we could have done differently, perhaps look at the hurts we caused and see where we can improve,” Steinhardt said. “During this process, we might ask ourselves, how can I be kinder, more patient, more forgiving, or more giving in this world? <br /> “I acknowledge it is not always easy in a world that constantly presents to us tragedy, sadness, conflict, issues and events that make us feel overwhelmed and often helpless. But it is in these exact moments of personal reflection that we can have personal agency to fix some of the problems around us.<br /> “At the end of the day, we can hardly change another, but we can bring about change when we look at ourselves and see what we can do better. <br /> “I wish all a good, healthy and meaningful New Year! Shana Tova.”<br /> <br /><span style="font-size:14pt;">Ideas for self-reflection</span><br />In a post for the 10 questions project at MyJewishLearning.com, Joey Soloway, a TV writer, producer and director whose credits include <em>Six Feet Under</em> and <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em>, included these ideas for self-reflection: <br /> • What’s a significant experience that has affected you over the past year? <br /> • Is there something that you wish you had done differently this past year? Or that you’re especially proud of?<br /> • Describe an event in the world that has impacted you this year.<br /> • Describe one thing you’d like to achieve by this time next year. Why is this important to you?<br />• Have you had any spiritual experiences this past year? This can include secular, artistic, cultural, and so on. • How would you like to improve yourself, your life, next year?<br /> • Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully next year?<br /> • What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you? How do you plan on overcoming it this year?<br /> <br /><em>Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com.</em></p></div>Finding Faith: 5 things you may not know about Rosh Hashanahttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/finding-faith-5-things-you-may-not-know-about-rosh-hashana2019-09-01T16:05:44.000Z2019-09-01T16:05:44.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p class="p1"><strong>By Janis Fontaine</strong></p>
<p class="p1">As the Jewish High Holy Days approach, we offer four places to commemorate the somber day and five things you may not know about Rosh Hashana.</p>
<p class="p3">• The name Rosh Hashana isn’t in the Torah. The Torah calls it “a day of shofar blowing.” The name Rosh Hashana appeared in the second century. Rosh Hashana literally means “the head of the year,” but the notable day is also called The Day of Sounding, The Day of Remembrance, The Day of Judgement and The Day That Lasts Longer Than a Day.</p>
<p class="p3">• Jewish holidays are almost all one day, but Rosh Hashana is two days. Blame it on the moon. A person had to report that he had witnessed the moon rising before the holiday could start. It’s tough to know (or it used to be) when exactly that would happen. So people guessed with a little buffer on the front end and set the holiday over two days.</p>
<p class="p3">• The concept of atoning for sins is central to Rosh Hashana. Think back to the first time man had to atone for breaking one of God’s commandments. It is as old as we are. Scholars say the first Rosh Hashana happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve begged God’s forgiveness for eating the forbidden fruit.</p>
<p class="p3">Some scholars say the fruit in their story wasn’t an apple but a pomegranate. So much for Pom Wonderful and health nuts.</p>
<p class="p3">• Rosh Hashana isn’t celebrated so much as observed. Rosh Hashana is really a very personal time, a time of deep thought, contemplation and self-review of our lives. People also look forward and make plans to do better in the coming year.</p>
<p class="p3">• Ducks should love it. There’s a tradition of casting bits of old bread into bodies of water. The bread symbolizes bad deeds we want to absolve. We all have sins we’d like to see drowned in a pond, river, lake, puddle.</p>
<p class="p3">Rosh Hashana is a very cerebral event. It’s about quietly contemplating our place in the universe, creating our personal “mission statement,” and wiping the slate clean for the new year.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Where to go</b></p>
<p class="p2">Most of the Days of Awe during Rosh Hashana are spent in the synagogue, with fasting and prayer a focus at home as well. Here are four places you can attend services. Many require a ticket or reservation, so call first or go online. </p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><b>Congregation B’nai Israel</b></span></p>
<p class="p2">2200 Yamato Road, Boca Raton; 241-8118; <a href="http://www.cbiboca.org">www.cbiboca.org</a></p>
<p class="p2">• Erev <b>Rosh Hashana</b> — 7: 30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29</p>
<p class="p2">• Rosh Hashana first day, Monday, Sept. 30 — services 8:30 a.m., noon; 3:15 p.m.; Tashlich service, 4 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Rosh Hashana second day,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> Tuesday, Oct. 1 —10 a.m., Shabbat Shuvah</p>
<p class="p2">• Friday, Oct. 4 — 6:15 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Saturday, Oct. 5 — 9 a.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Erev <b>Yom Kippur</b>/Kol Nidre, Tuesday, Oct. 8 — 7:30 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Yom Kippur, Wednesday, Oct. 9 — morning service, 8:30 a.m.; noon; 2:45 p.m.; children’s service, 3:15 p.m.; afternoon Minchah service, 4:30 p.m., followed by Yizkor, Neilah and the sounding of the shofar.</p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1"><b>Temple Beth El</b></span></p>
<p class="p2">333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton; 391-8900; <a href="http://www.tbeboca.org">www.tbeboca.org</a>.</p>
<p class="p2">• <b>Rosh Hashana</b> services — 8 p.m., Sept. 29.</p>
<p class="p2">• Congregational worship service at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, led by Rabbi Greg Weisman, Rabbi Jessica Mates and cantorial soloist Michelle Cohen.</p>
<p class="p2">• Tot and youth program — 10 a.m. for children age 18 months to second grade while parents attend services. Registration required.</p>
<p class="p2">• Congregational worship service — 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 30, at FAU, led by Rabbi Dan Levin and cantor Lori Brock.</p>
<p class="p2">• Family participation service — 2 p.m., for families with children ages 8 to teenage, led by Rabbi Jessica Mates.</p>
<p class="p2">• Tashlich — 4 p.m.; meet in front of Temple Beth El to walk to a nearby stream as a community to cast off sins.</p>
<p class="p2">• Second day congregational worship service — 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1. • <b>Yom Kippur</b>/Kol Nidre — 8 p.m. Oct. 8, led by Rabbi Jessica Mates, Rabbi Greg Weisman & cantorial soloist Michelle Cohen</p>
<p class="p2">• Kol Nidre — 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at FAU. Led by Rabbi Dan Levin and Cantor Lori Brock.</p>
<p class="p2">• Congregational Morning Worship Service at 10 a.m. Oct. 9 at FAU. Led by Rabbi Jessica Mates, Rabbi Greg Weisman and cantor Lori Brock</p>
<p class="p2">• Congregational worship service —<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> 10 a.m., Oct. 9, led by Rabbi Dan Levin and cantorial soloist Michelle Cohen. Tot and youth program at 10 a.m. for age 18 months to second grade.</p>
<p class="p2">• Young children’s service — 2 p.m. for families with kids age 8 and younger.</p>
<p class="p2">• Community Yizkor service —3:30 p.m., open to the community, led by Rabbi Jessica Mates and cantorial soloist Michelle Cohen.</p>
<p class="p2">• Family participation service — 2 p.m., Oct. 9. Recommended for families with children ages 8 to early teens as an alternative to the congregational morning service. Led by Rabbi Greg Weisman.</p>
<p class="p2">• Afternoon service, Yizkor and Ne’ilah — 3:45 p.m., Oct. 9, led by Rabbi Dan Levin, Rabbi Greg Weisman and cantor Lori Brock.</p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1"><b>The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County</b></span></p>
<p class="p2">9901 Donna Klein Blvd., Boca Raton; <a href="">www.jewishboca.org </a>;</p>
<p class="p2">• <b>Rosh Hashana</b> services with Rabbi Josh and Simone Broide will take place at the Zinman Hall on the campus of the of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. All seats are $25.</p>
<p class="p2">• The Alalu Family Rosh Hashana services — 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29.</p>
<p class="p2">• Morning service — 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 30.</p>
<p class="p2">• Levine Family <b>Yom Kippur</b> services — Kol Nidre, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8.</p>
<p class="p2">• Yizkor — 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9.</p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p2"><b>Temple Beth Shalom of Boca</b></p>
<p class="p2">19140 Lyons Road, Boca Raton, 483-5557; <a href="http://www.templebethshalombocaraton.org">www.templebethshalombocaraton.org</a></p>
<p class="p2">• <b>Rosh Hashana</b> Erev — Sunday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• First day — Monday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m.; Tashlich, Mincha and Ma’ariv — 5 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Second day — Tuesday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• <b>Yom Kippur,</b> Oct. 8 — Mincha — 6:15 p.m.; Kol Nidre — 6:30 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Yiskor — 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Oct. 9; Mincha, Neila and Ma’ariv — 5 p.m.; shofar blowing — 7:10 p.m.</p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1"><b>Temple Sinai<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Palm Beach County</b></span></p>
<p class="p2">2475 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 276-6161; <a href="https://templesinaipbc.org/">https://templesinaipbc.org/</a></p>
<p class="p2">• Erev <b>Rosh Hashana</b> dinner — 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29</p>
<p class="p2">• Erev Rosh Hashana — 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29.</p>
<p class="p2">• First day services with Tashlich — 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 30.</p>
<p class="p2">• Family and children service with Tashlich — 2 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Second day service — 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1. Open seating.</p>
<p class="p2">• <b>Yom Kippur</b>/Kol Nidre service — 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8</p>
<p class="p2">• Yom Kippur service with Yizkor — 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9</p>
<p class="p2">• Family and children service — 1:30 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Community Yizkor service — 4 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">• Afternoon and Neilah service — 5:15 p.m.</p>
<p class="p2">Tickets are required for some services, available online or call 276-6161, Ext. 123.</p>
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<p class="p3"><i>Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at janisfontaine@outlook.com.</i></p></div>