JEWISH LIVING JEWISH HOLIDAYS FALL 2026( 5787)
September – December 2026
Rosh Hashanah
September 11 – 13, 2026 1 – 2 Tishrei, 5787
Rosh Hashanah( literally,“ Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year, which marks the beginning of a 10-day period of prayer, selfexamination and repentance. This period, known as the Yamim Noraim( Days of Awe or High Holy Days), is widely observed by Jews throughout the world, many with prayer and reflection in a synagogue.
Customs associated with the holiday include sounding the shofar, eating a round challah, and tasting apples and honey to represent a sweet New Year.
Center closed September 12
Yom Kippur
September 20 – 21, 2026 10 Tishrei, 5787
Yom Kippur means“ Day of Atonement” and refers to the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer and repentance. Part of the High Holidays, which also includes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The Yom Kippur fast also enables us to put aside our physical desires to concentrate on our spiritual needs through prayer, repentance and self-improvement. Yom Kippur is the moment in Jewish time when we dedicate our mind, body, and soul to reconciliation with God, our fellow human beings, and ourselves.
Center closed September 21
Sukkot
September 25 – October 2, 2026 15 – 21 Tishrei 5787
Sukkot, meaning“ booths” or“ huts” in Hebrew, is the Jewish harvest festival celebrated five days after Yom Kippur. It commemorates the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert after receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. During the festival, Jews gather in a sukkah, a temporary outdoor shelter that symbolizes both the fragility of human existence and the enduring protection God provides. Known as Z’ man Simchateinu( Season of Our Rejoicing) and Chag HaAsif( Festival of Ingathering), Sukkot is a joyful time to give thanks for the harvest, celebrate community, and reflect on faith, gratitude, and resilience.
Shemini Atzeret – Simchat Torah
October 2 – 4, 2026 22 – 23 Tishrei 5787
Immediately following Sukkot, we celebrate Sh’ mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, a fun filled day during which we celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah and affirm the Torah as one of the pillars on which we build our lives. As part of the celebration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times. During the Torah service, the concluding section of the fifth book of the Torah, D’ varim( Deuteronomy), is read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B’ reishit as it is called in Hebrew, is read. This practice represents the cyclical nature of the relationship between the Jewish people and the reading of the Torah.
Sigd
November 9, 2026 29 Cheshvan, 5787
Sigd is a holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Jewish community 50 days after Yom Kippur. Rooted in centuries-old tradition, it is a day of prayer, reflection, and renewal that commemorates the giving of the Torah and the enduring covenant between the Jewish people and God. Historically observed by gathering on a mountaintop to pray and yearn for a return to Jerusalem, today Sigd celebrates Jewish unity, heritage, and the rich cultural traditions of Ethiopian Jews. Recognized as an official holiday in Israel, Sigd invites all Jews to reflect on community, gratitude, and the strength found in shared identity.
Hanukkah( Festival of Lights)
December 4 – 12, 2026 25 Kislev – 2 Tevet 5787
Hanukkah, meaning“ dedication” in Hebrew, refers to the joyous eightday celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 BCE and the subsequent liberation and“ rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern home celebration of Hanukkah centers around the lighting of the hanukkiyah, a special menorah for Hanukkah; foods prepared in oil including latkes( potato pancakes) and sufganiyot( jelly doughnuts); and special songs and games.
8 Weinstein JCC • 2026 Fall Activity Guide