I. Have a Good Year Many people greet each other on Rosh Hashanah with blessings for a good year, “Shanah tovah.” Rav Ya’akov Ben Asher, the 14th century German- Spanish author of the Tur, quotes an Ashkenazic custom...
For many of us, the period of Yamim Noraim is like a door that constantly opens and closes, but always remains in the same place. We constantly “move” – we go to the synagogue, we recite all...
The second Mishna of tractate Rosh Hashana teaches “On Rosh Hashana all who enter the world pass before Him (for judgment) like Bnei Maron” (sheep being counted). However, the Gemara there quotes an opinion that “Man is judged daily” [Rosh...
Every morning during Elul, we hear the shofar in shul. One of the reasons for this custom is that it is similar to the court giving a debtor thirty days to pay up his debts. So too,...
The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 7:6-7) describes the closeness to Hashem one can attain through teshuvah. He also describes the difference between before and after teshuvah. “Teshuvah is amazing because it brings a person close to the Shechinah, as it states (Hoshea 14:2) ‘Return...
What is preferable? To wake up early and recite Selichos before dawn (a.k.a. alos hashachar, which is 72 minutes before sunrise), or to stay up late and recite Selichos after chatzos (midnight)? What about saying selichos after alos...
CROCKPOT HONEY BALSAMIC BRISKET INGREDIENTS: 3 -4 lb second cut brisket or deckle 1 1/2 cups water 2 tsp seasoned salt 2 tsp garlic powder 1 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1 cup ketchup 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 2 tbsp...
The Midrash (Vayikra Rabba) teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, G-d sits on the “throne of judgment,” ready to carefully judge and scrutinize every individual. But when we sound the shofar, G-d rises from the “throne of judgment”...
This week, the final Shabbos of 5784, we read parshas Nitzavim and Vayeilech. Nitzavim opens, “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem...
On Rosh Hashanah we produce three sounds via the shofar. The first sound is called tekiah, a single whole note. The second is shevarim, three shorter “broken” notes, which sound like three sighs. The third is called teruah, nine...