The next two months are a whirlwind on the Jewish calendar. With the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah rolling out one after another in September and October, it is enough to get your head in a twist and your tongue tied.
Why are they called the High Holidays? When do I build the hut thingy? Do I get to party and where?
We know your questions. That’s why TC Jewfolk is kicking off a High Holiday blog series that will blow your mind. Stay tuned for these upcoming posts and more:
- How to build a Sukkah on your apartment balcony or porch
- 10 ways to stay awake during Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur services
- Don’t let ticket costs stop you: Twin Cities synagogues welcome young professionals and students for the High Holidays
- 10 famous apologies: a little inspiration for Yom Kippur
- Roll out my Torah baby: the Twin Cities’ best Simchat Torah parties
- Rosh Hashanah rustic apple tarts recipe
- Leviticus 18, Sexual Ethics and Yom Kippur
- Commentary on the High Holidays by Jewish Community Action Executive Director Vic Rosenthal
- Where to shake your lulav: Twin Cities parties in the Sukkah
- Introductions to Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah by guest columnists including local playwright Jenna Zark and Jewish educator Sean Herstein
- Sukkot smorgasbord: chicken with spiced date sauce, lemon couscous, and baked acorn squash recipes
Don’t get left behind in the year 5769!
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(Photo: vbussatti)
You didn’t think Simchat Torah was a romantic holiday? My daughter and her husband connected for the first time at Beth Jacob’s Simchat Torah services. She was leading Israeli dancing; he looked dashing in his knit kippah. The rest is history (and we’ve got a baby naming this weekend). Only one concern: limited options for “day we met” anniversaries.
I am looking for a good place to take my 16 month old son for Simchat Torah. Will this blog give a listing of ideas?
Sheryl – Thanks for your comment. Each synagogue in town has a different Simchat Torah celebration, and many of them are kid-friendly. We’ve posted a few of the upcoming events for Simchat Torah on the Upcoming Events page on this blog, so I’d recommend checking that out.
Some of the synagogues don’t have a lot of information about their holiday celebrations on their websites, which makes it a bit tricky to see where you want to go. I’ll be at Beth Jacob’s Simchat Torah celebration (dancing with Torahs, food, very kid-friendly) on Saturday night. But you’ll see looking at the upcoming events page that some synagogues have their big kid-friendly party on Friday night (Temple Israel, Mount Zion), others on Saturday (Beth Jacob), and others on Sunday (Bnai Emet). So part of it depends on what your scheduling looks like this weekend. Let me know if I can be of any more help, and I’ll try to keep updating the events page as I get more information from the synagogues.
Chag Sameach! Happy holidays!
Very outstanding web.
The info here is super important.
I will tell my friends.
Cheers