Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Conversations: Season of Awe Reflections with Cantor Alexander

This month, our neighbors at Temple Israel have been celebrating the Jewish High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah.

Why are there so many holidays in one month? How are they celebrated? As a community, how can we support our Jewish neighbors during this holy season each year?

Join Executive Director Wendy Goldberg for this Open Conversation with Temple Israel’s Cantor Joanna Alexander about this Season of Awe, and how she, as a spiritual leader, prepares her congregation — and herself — each year.

A brief overview of the Jewish High Holidays (with 2021 dates):

• Rosh Hashanah (September 6-8) is the Jewish New Year.
• Yom Kippur (September 15-16) is the Day of Atonement during which Jewish people fast, pray, and atone for their sins, asking God for forgiveness. This happens ten days after Rosh Hashanah.
• The week-long harvest festival of Sukkot (September 20-27), or “Feast of Tabernacles,” commemorates the dwelling of the Israelites in temporary booths (“sukkot” in Hebrew) during their 40-year sojourn in the Sinai desert.
• Simchat Torah (September 27-29)— or “Rejoicing of the Law” — is traditionally celebrated by dancing with Torah scrolls and singing hakafot, songs of praise and gratitude.

Tri-Faith Initiative events are recorded and archived on our YouTube Channel.