Want to Join Us for High Holidays 5782?
Within the Jewish world, it is most commonplace to hear people say either “Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (the Jewish High Holidays) are really early this year,” or “Gee, the Holidays are really late this year.” Truth to tell, this is impossible: Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) always begins on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishri; Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of Atonement) always falls on the 10th day of Tishri . . . come rain or shine. What does come either early or late are the corresponding dates on the Gregorian Calendar. This year - 5782 on the Jewish calendar - falls, as ever, on the 1st day of Tishri, which corresponds to Monday, September 6, 2021 on the Gregorian; Yom Kippur begins as the sun goes down on the 10th of Tishri, which corresponds to Wednesday evening, September 15. Precisely why or how the Jewish calendar is about to enter year 5782 is a horse of a different color. But don’t worry: I’m not going to go into it at this point, and besides, it won’t be showing up on your final exam . . . whether your are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jain. Suffice it to say that official setting of the Jewish calendar vis-à-vis years (which goes according to the sun) is attributed to a an early rabbinic work entitled Seder ha-Olam Rabbah (“The Great Order of the World”) by the 2nd century (C.E.) rabbi Jose (pronounced Yossi in Hebrew) ben Halafta, the fifth most frequently mentioned tannah (sage) in the Mishnah, occasionally referred to as “The best Jewish you’ve never read.”
Once again, we, the men, women and children of the North Broward Chavurah are holding High Holiday services via Zoom. We held them (along with a bit of trepidation) last year, and things worked out beyond our wildest expectations. We had people joining us in our sanctuary (actually, the Stone family dining room) from as far away as Germany, France and Israel, as well as California, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. And believe it or not there were any number of non-Jewish folks joining us for prayers, fellowship, stories, singing and a whole lot of contemplative moments. For while at root, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are deeply Jewish observances, they are also eminently international in scope. In other words, even if you are not Jewish you are more than welcome . . .
Below, are the dates and times (all Eastern Daylight Time) for services:
Erev (Eve of )Rosh Hashanah, Monday, Sept. 6, 7:30 PM
1st Day Rosh Hashanah, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 10:00 AM
2nd Day Rosh Hashanah, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 10:00 AM
Kol Nidre (Eve of the Day of Atonement), Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6:30 PM
Yom Kippur, Thursday, Sept. 16, 9:30 AM
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For those interested in finding out more about services, please email me/us at: highholidays@kurtfstone.com
Ask any and all questions you wish . . . and don’t be put off by the cyber technicality of attending services via Zoom. We will be happy to send you simple instructions on how to sign up and fully participate, as well as a link for you to download a beautiful (free) high holiday prayer book (machzor).
Although services are held in a combination of Hebrew, English and just a touch of Aramaic, don’t worry . . . as with everything I do, I’m teaching and explaining every step of the way.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Kurt F. Stone, D.D.