Rosh Hashanah

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Rosh Hashanah resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Rosh Hashanah: A Redemptive Moment

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the strengths of the Jewish people is our ability to focus on the future. What we do tomorrow is more important than we did yesterday. The entire notion of teshuva is dependent on our ability to move beyond the past, to say that I can do…
Article

Understanding Selichot

Rabbi Jay Kelman, Rabbi Elan Mazer

9:15 Explanation of selichot 9:30 Maariv 9:40 Selichot Join Rabbi Kelman and Rabbi Mazer (on alternate nights) for a 15 minute introduction to the selichot to be recited that evening - the origin, meaning and literary techniques of…
Program

Judaism and Forgiveness

Dr. Elliott Malamet

Class

Yom Kippur: It's Not My Fault

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The two central and most important tefillot of Yom Kippur are the yud gimmel middot harachamim, the 13 Attributes of mercy, and the al chets, the listing of the sins we (may have) committed during the previous year. The former focus on G-d…
Article

Rosh Hashanah: A Great Gift!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Teshuva tefillah, utzedkaha ma’aveerim et roah hagezeirah - repentance, prayer and tzedakah remove the evil of the decree.   Prayer is a great gift from G-d[1]. That the Divine allows human beings, full of sin to approach Him and…
Article

Yom Kippur: A Most Beautiful Day

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Rav Yochanan said: Were it not written in the text, it would be impossible for us to say such a thing; this verse teaches us that the Holy One drew His talit round Him like a shaliach tzibbur, communal messenger, and showed…
Article

Chagigah 14: Acher, Please Return

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the hallmarks of the Western world is its inclusiveness. Great attempts are made to make all feel included, no matter their ability or their lifestyle. This is a most beautiful sentiment. Society has become more sensitive to the needs of…
Article

Rosh Hashanah: Do I Need to Pray?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"On Rosh Hashanah, we read 'on the seventh month on the first day', and the maftir reads, 'is not Ephraim my precious son'; and some say we read 'and G-d remembered Sarah', and the maftir with…
Article

Acharei Mot: Celebrating Pesach on Yom Kippur

Rabbi Jay Kelman

It is quite rare to read parshat Acharei Mot on Shabbat Hagadol. In non-leap years, it is generally parshat Tzav that is read on Shabbat Hagadol. And when we do have a leap year, it is usually parshat Metzora that is read as we get set to usher in…
Article

Yom Kippur: 20/20 Vision

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In trying to develop the potential of man, the Mussar movement[1] developed two different approaches to the sinning of man. One school of thought, exemplified by the approach developed in Novordak, stressed the lowliness of man--our propensity…
Article