Jewish Living
Jewish Holidays Fall 2022 ( 5783 )
Rosh Hashanah
September 25 – 27 , 2022
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 . There also are several holiday rituals observed at home .
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei , which — because of differences in the solar and lunar calendar — corresponds to September or October on the secular calendar . Customs associated with the holiday include sounding the shofar , eating a round challah , and tasting apples and honey to represent a sweet New Year .
Yom Kippur
October 5 , 2022
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 . In three separate passages in the Torah , the Jewish people are told , “ the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement . It shall be a sacred occasion for you : You shall practice self-denial .” ( Leviticus 23:27 ). Fasting is seen as fulfilling this biblical commandment . 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 . We are commanded to turn to those whom we have wronged first , acknowledging our sins and the pain we might have caused . At the same time , we must be willing to forgive and to let go of certain offenses and the feelings of resentment they provoked in us . On this journey we are both seekers and givers of pardon . Only then can we turn to God and ask for forgiveness : “ And for all these , God of forgiveness , forgive us , pardon us , and grant us atonement .”
Sukkot
October 10 – 16 , 2022
Sukkot , a Hebrew word meaning “ booths ” or “ huts ,” refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest . It also commemorates the 40 years of Jewish wandering in the desert after the giving of the Torah atop Mt . Sinai . Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of the month of Tishrei and is marked by several distinct traditions . One , which takes the commandment to dwell in booths literally , is to erect a sukkah , a small , temporary booth or hut . Sukkot ( in this case , the plural of sukkah ) are commonly used during the seven-day festival for eating , entertaining and even for sleeping .
Sukkot also called Z ’ man Simchateinu ( Season of Our Rejoicing ), is the only festival associated with an explicit commandment to rejoice . A final name for Sukkot is Chag HaAsif , ( Festival of the Ingathering ), representing a time to give thanks for the bounty of the earth during the fall harvest .
Shemini Atzeret – Simchat Torah
October 17 – 18 , 2022
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 .
Hanukkah
December 19 – December 26 , 2022
Hanukkah ( alternately spelled Chanukah ), meaning “ dedication ” in Hebrew , refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B . C . E . 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 .
BBYO
Grades : 8 – 12 BBYO is the world ’ s leading pluralistic Jewish youth movement . BBYO is teen-led and modeled as a high school fraternity and sorority , including two movements : Aleph Zadik Aleph ( AZA ) for boys and B ’ nai Brith Girls ( BBG ), for girls . Richmond BBYO has two chapters , an AZA chapter ( Monarchs AZA ) and a BBG chapter ( Dr . Abraham Cohen BBG ). Richmond BBYO is a part of Eastern Region which includes the communities of the Peninsula and Tidewater in Virginia and all of North Carolina . BBYO members participate in varied programs including social , education , recreational activities , community service and Israel programs . For more information on how to join , please contact Lauren Revenson , Regional Director for Eastern Region BBYO , at lrevenson @ bbyo . org .
Weinstein JCC | 2022 Fall Activity Guide 9