Rosh Hashanah

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The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah actually means “Head of the Year.” Just like the head controls the body, our actions on Rosh Hashanah have a tremendous impact on the rest of the year.

Rosh Hashanah 2017 will begin in the evening of
Wednesday, September 20
and ends in the evening of
Friday, September 22

 

Download Days of Awe 5778 schedule

Member Ticket Order Form
Affiliate and Honorary Ticket Order Form
Non-Member Ticket Order Form (including students and Under 30)
The deadline to submit the order form online is Wednesday, September 13

Wednesday, September 20, 7:15pm: EREV ROSH HASHANAH at Temple Isaiah, 10345 W Pico Blvd LA 90064.

Thursday, September 21, 9:30am: ROSH HASHANAH, FIRST DAY at Temple Isaiah, 10345 W Pico Blvd LA 90064.  9:30am –1:30:  Morning Services. Please bring your shofar!  For the first 45 minutes of our service, we will be joined by the youngest members of our congregation, intergenerational style. Everyone encouraged to attend!. Rosh Hashanah Catered Luncheon following services- please note that a separate ticket is required for the luncheon. Childcare is provided on-site at Temple Isaiah during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Day. You must pre-register for childcare, use the link above.  Special children’s activities with Ms. Purple will be provided BEGINNING at 10:15 for both morning services. NOTE: Tow away on Pico Blvd starts at 4pm!

Friday, September 22, 10am: ROSH HASHANAH, SECOND DAY SERVICES at BCC.  No ticket required.

Friday, September 22, 4:30pm: TASHLICH SERVICES at Santa Monica Beach. Please park in Lot 5S, at 2600 Barnard Way Santa Monica, 90405. Parking in the lot is $8. We will be meeting at the south end of the public parking lot. Temperatures can dip,  remember to bring warm clothing!  Bring your shofar!

After Tashlich Services you are invited to a vegetarian/gluten-free/vegan hosted dinner at the home of  BCC Member Allison Diamant in Santa Monica.  Please sign up in the Temple Isaiah lobby during the Days of Awe for directions to Allison’s home –Or you may sign up on-line by using the appropriate order form link above.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayerbook called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

Rosh Hashanah Custom

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. This was the second Jewish religious practice I was ever exposed to (the first one: lighting Chanukkah candles), and I highly recommend it. It’s yummy. We also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason.

Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh (“casting off”). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. Small pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. Tashlikh is normally observed on the afternoon of the first day, before afternoon services. When the first day occurs on Shabbat, many synagogues observe Tashlikh on Sunday afternoon, to avoid carrying (the bread) on Shabbat.

Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d’s sovereignty.

The common greeting at this time is L’shanah tovah (“for a good year”). This is a shortening of “L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem” (or to women, “L’shanah tovah tikatevi v’taihatemi”), which means “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

One Comment on “Rosh Hashanah”

  • Brian Grossman September 20, 2017 am30 4:51 am . Reply

    Ho w can I stream/ attend High holiday services with you?

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