JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

Rosh Hashanah (September 13-14, 2007; Tishrei 1-2, 5768)

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year that falls on the first of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Its observances include synagogue attendance where the shofar is blown, a festive meal with traditional foods such as fish, carrots, a round challah and apples and honey.

The liturgy of the season focuses on the themes of repentance, renewal and personal change. The day ushers in a season in the Jewish calendar known as the Ten Days of Awe. During this period it is customary to increase one's tzedakah (righteous or charitable giving), tfillah (prayer), and tshuvah (repentance, particularly if it involves apologizing to people you have wronged in the past year).

Rosh Hashanah is traditionally celebrated for two days in Israel and in Orthodox, Conservative, and some Reform congregations. However, some Reform congregations have shortened the celebration to one day. A ceremony called Tashlich, which involves throwing breadcrumbs into a flowing body of water, a symbolic reenactment of the casting away of the wrongdoings of the past year, is traditionally held on Rosh Hashanah afternoon.

Yom Kippur (September 22, 2007; Tishrei 10, 5768)

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is considered to be the holiest day of the Jewish year. Its observances include 25-hour fast, synagogue services, the wearing of white clothing, and the abstention of wearing leather. The solemn day is ushered in with a special service called "Kol Nidre" in which a representative of the congregation pleads with G-d to release the congregants from all vows that they failed to keep. The liturgy focuses on personal change, confession of wrongdoings, and asking G-d for forgiveness. Interestingly, although this day is focused on the individual and his/her actions and relationships, the liturgy is recited in the plural, "We have sinned", thus emphasizing the communal aspect of the holiday and the responsibility all Jews have towards one another.

The synagogue services conclude with a special services called neilah in which the ark is open and the entire congregation stands and asks for forgiveness before the "gates of heaven" close. The service is concluded with a shofar's blast and the wish "Next Year in Jerusalem!" Dairy foods are traditionally served at the Break-the-Fast.

Sukkot (September 27-28, 2007; Tishrei 15-16, 5768)

Sukkot, the Jewish harvest holiday, falls five days after the Yom Kippur. The holiday commemorates the days when the Hebrew people lived in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt and celebrates the end of the fall harvest. Its customs include dwelling in a temporary hut for one week, shaking the "four species", and rejoicing and being happy in the holiday. The "four species" are the palm, myrtle and willow branch and a citron, which is a lemon-like fruit. In Hebrew the names are lulav, hadas, aravah, and etrog. Together they are called "the lulav" and they are shaken in six directions to symbolize the belief that G-d is everywhere.

Another custom of Sukkot is inviting "ushpizin" mystical guests, to dwell in the Sukkah each night. The ushpizin are Biblical figures who wandered. The traditional invited guests are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David. In recent times, a custom has arisen of inviting women ushpizin into the Sukkah as well. Sukkot is also called Zman Simchatynu, a time of our rejoicing, at it is literally a mitzvah (commandment) to be happy and rejoice during the unique holiday.

Simchat Torah (October 5, 2007; Tishrei 23, 5768)

Simchat Torah, literally the "Joy of the Torah" falls the day after Shemini Atzeret. This cycle celebrates the end of the annual Torah-reading cycle, and the beginning of that cycle anew. During this holiday, the last parsha (section) of the Torah is read which relates the death of Moses, and then the beginning of the Torah is read, which tells the story of the creation of the world. During this holiday, all of the Torahs are taken out of the ark and paraded around the synagogue 7 different times. Much singing, dancing, and rejoicing accompany these parades.