An unusually early Rosh Hashanah is causing cities across the United States to rethink the timing of the first day of school this fall, sometimes under intense pressure from families. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins in 2021 on the evening of Sept. 6 — it’s also Labor Day, in many places the traditional…
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High Holidays
Bay Area
In North Bay, fire and smoke disrupt an already unusual Yom Kippur
Rabbi Stephanie Kramer and her family were at home when they got the call to evacuate, just as Kol Nidre was ending on Sunday evening. “A very loud alert…
Torah
This Shabbat, ‘give ear’ to the calls of the prophets
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Ha’azinu/Shabbat Shuvah Deuteronomy 32:1-52 The…
Yom Kippur
You can't visit the Western Wall — but you can still have your prayer placed there
A visit to Israel and the Western Wall before Yom Kippur is pretty much out of the question due to coronavirus restrictions, but Jews can still have their…
Religion
This comedian is helping rabbis nail their High Holidays services
When the pandemic began, Alex Edelman was in the middle of a standup comedy tour of the United Kingdom, where he was performing a show based on his…
Religion
How Ginsburg’s death changed Rosh Hashanah services this year
Rabbi Matt Soffer was leaving his synagogue on Friday evening after leading Rosh Hashanah services alone for a congregation following along online when…
Small Bites
Anonymous honey cake exchange adds a sweet note to new year
Getting into the High Holiday spirit this year has been difficult for many. For Eitan Kensky, it was the lunch with friends and family after Rosh Hashanah…
Tech
One Zoom employee saved the High Holidays for 300 synagogues
When Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday night, some 300 synagogues across North America streaming their High Holidays services via Zoom will be able to set it…
Israel
Israel enters second lockdown to stop record spread of coronavirus
Thousands of police officers and soldiers in Israel on Friday began imposing the country’s second lockdown due to the coronavirus. The number of Covid-19…