The horrible events of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred just seven days before the start of the new Jewish year of 5762 and only three days after the penitential season began for Ashkenazim with the first recitation of the penitential prayer service known as S’lichot. more

Years ago, my husband Jerry received a beautiful card right before Yom Kippur. I didn’t recognize the name on the return address. I handed it to Jerry who read the card and I noticed that his eyes were damp, although he had a huge smile on his face. When I asked who had sent it, he said it was a long story. I replied, “Aren’t all your stories long? I’d love to hear it.” more

If you would have collected a group of world-renowned military strategists, 40 years ago on Yom Kippur, Oct. 6, 1973, and asked them, at 4 p.m. Israel time, for a prognosis on the status of the events unfolding on the Golan Heights that afternoon, they would have probably told you Israel should be preparing the airport and shipping ports for a massive evacuation. And in all honesty, they would have been right. more

With the observance of Rosh Hashanah now upon us, this week’s essay will be devoted to several observations of this most beloved and respected holidays of our faith. Whereas in other faiths and cultures the welcoming of a new year is marked with revelry and unbridled joy, in Judaism the mood is solemn, and the observance is sober in diet as well as liturgical tone. more

On Central Avenue, in the kosher supermarkets, in shul, or on the LIRR, you hear the same conversation. “What?! Rosh Hashanah is next week!?” And then the dreaded “three day yom tov — oy!” I wonder why, every year, everyone is so surprised that’s it’s already yom tov time. Truth is, it has been three months since the start of June. Kids were packed off to camp, parents went on vacation and we partook in lots of family and friends BBQs, lounged in our backyards, and enjoyed the lazy days of summer (some of us more than others, but it’s ok, I’m not jealous … well, yes I am, but this isn’t about me). more

Sometime before we light the first candles of Rosh Hashanah, President Obama will send his holiday message to the Jewish community. The President usually misses a big part of what the High Holidays are about — understandable since he isn’t Jewish and he was a student of the law rather than of theology. This year, I decided to send the President a Rosh Hashanah message of my own, a message that explains to him why progressive politics is antithetical to the meaning of the Jewish Holidays. more

The Talmud in Niddah (31a) records that there are three partners in the creation of every human being: the Holy One, a father, and a mother. Scientific advancement has allowed the process to include what some might call an “assist” by medical professionals, but everyone’s genetic makeup comes from one male and one female, while G-d’s contribution makes it all come together. more

Jews normally do things late. Yet, while 99 percent of the world celebrates the New Year on Jan. 1st, we celebrate months earlier — and dropping balls, and tumultuous crowds amassed in Times Square, are generally not involved. more

Every year, on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we read the story of the expulsion of Yishmael (Avraham’s first son with his handmaiden Hagar), and the binding of Yitzchak (Isaac). Both are stories of the sons of Avraham, and both involved Abraham’s ability to be willing to sacrifice or let go, of a son. more

What in the world did we do before cell phones? Wait, I think I actually recall. We would make plans and have to stick to them! If we made up to meet our friends, we had to be there on time. Of course there were instances when we would be standing there for over half an hour without a friend in sight. Did I have the wrong location? Should I walk a block or two to a pay phone and call her house to see if she left? What if I walked to the pay phone and then I missed her? more