This past October, rather than celebrating the two most holy holidays in my religion, I attended my high school classes to avoid falling behind. This is a decision I should not have to make. Every year, I want to miss school for the two most holy days in Judaism: the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah,…
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Rosh Hashanah
Jew in the Pew
Tashlich in spaaaaaaaacce!
They call it Tashlich in Space. The website puts it succinctly: “Reflect. Renew. Blastoff.” That’s right, this year you can (belatedly) send your sins up…
U.S.
Brooklyn synagogue’s windows broken during Rosh Hashanah prayers
The windows of a synagogue in Brooklyn were broken during Rosh Hashanah services. A video showing people throwing milk crates at the the Rivnitz synagogue…
Religion
Wildly celebrating the new year in the wilderness (of Sebastopol)
Drive about an hour north of San Francisco to Sebastopol, turn onto a country lane, and you are greeted by a white farmhouse with a 30-foot orange tree…
U.S.
‘An hour at a time’: How Pittsburgh survivors are struggling a year later
As this city’s Jewish community here in Pittsburgh celebrated Rosh Hashanah this week, the Tree of Life synagogue stood closed, its doors blocked by a…
Religion
May the Days of Awe help us embrace what’s important
There has been an ugly, insidious and demonstrable rise in white nationalism, here and around the world, with its associated, and inevitable, rise in…
Jew in the Pew
Connection and renewal at fire-damaged Chabad’s celebration of ‘unity’
After four years in the Bay Area, I finally know what lies at the end of the Dublin/Pleasanton line. As with most of the Earth’s extremities today,…
U.S.
Trump’s Rosh Hashanah message to U.S. Jewish leaders: ‘I don’t want military conflict’ with Iran
President Donald Trump, speaking to nearly a thousand Jewish leaders to wish them a Happy New Year on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, said he would be tough…
Torah
‘From woodchopper to water carrier’ — all are welcome before God
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek. Nitzavim Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 On the second floor of a bank building near…