High Holy Days

October 1, 2008

VIDEO: Alistair Cohen—Shofar Blowing 101

Alistair Cohen, aspiring British TV presenter, demonstrates how to blow a shofar.

Featured

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Transcendence: Jacob Artson’s eloquence and spirit defy his severe autism diagnosis

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax

"You hear so much from autism organizations about what a horrible disease this is and how the parents have been robbed of their children, yada, yada, yada, and I suppose on a certain level that is true," Jacob told me, typing the words on a special keyboard that allows him to fully express his ideas. "But I refuse to live the rest of my life believing I am a defective human being. I have gifts and talents and challenges just like everyone else, and I have the same desire for connection and a need to be treated with dignity and respect."

Jacob ArtsonWednesday, October 1, 2008

Opening the Gates

By Jacob Artson

Next time you see someone like me at your synagogue or at your event, remember that they probably feel really lonely and you could be the person to make their day by smiling at them and letting them know that they exist.

Latest

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Holiday Heartburn

By David Suissa

"Not eating is not suffering," he said, "it's elevating ourselves to a state of transcendence. The fast, on Yom Kippur, reminds us how little material we really need; that we can do with less meat, with less bread, with less of everything."

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Yom Kippur Dilemma

By Gina Nahai

We have more synagogues and more freedom to use them here in Los Angeles than we did in Iran, but that doesn't mean we're any closer to fulfilling the true purpose of gathering in a house of worship.

Beit T'Shuvah's Rabbi Mark Borovitz, spiritual leader, and Harriet Rossetto, founder and executive director, led a one-day workshop on forgiveness. Photo: Jane UlmanWednesday, October 1, 2008

Yom Kippur 5769: The Art of Forgiveness

By Jane Ulman

In Jewish tradition, the act of seeking forgiveness from someone we have harmed is clear and specific.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

MUSIC VIDEO: Ori Murray—‘Rosh Hashanah Rap’

By The Web Guy

The Matrix, the Kotel, the Days of Awe are all linked in this music video from Ori Murray shot in Jerusalem.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

MUSIC VIDEO: Rabbi Mark Bloom— ‘Rosh Hashanah Macarena’

By The Web Guy

Rabbi Mark Bloom of Oakland's Temple Beth Abraham rocks out to the Rosh Hashanah Macarena

Sunday, September 28, 2008

VIDEO: Who shall live . . .

By The Web Guy

A montage of news photos from 5768 plus cantorial and modern music take this version of the 'Who shall live' prayer into YouTube land.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

MUSIC VIDEO: Leonard Cohen—‘Who by fire?’

By The Web Guy

Leonard Cohen in a live performance of his song 'Who by fire?' based on the High Holy Days U'Netaneh Tokef prayer

Friday, September 26, 2008

Who shall live and who shall die: God’s iPhone, Rosh Hashanah 5769

Photo illustration by Dan Kacvinski

The U'netaneh Tokef prayer says: On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed: Who shall live and who shall die, who shall perish by water and who by fire, who by famine and who by thirst . God's got it on His iPhone, of course.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Torah Slam: Post-denominational, multi-rabbi Bible salon draws overflow crowd [VIDEO]

By Danielle Berrin

The U'netaneh Tokef prayer-poem (who shall live and who shall die) can be seen as ominous or beautiful, depending upon the prism of the interpreter. Rabbi Naomi Levy pointed out that the prayer was written by "one dude" and should not be seen as a divine writ.

A full size version of this photoillustration by Dan Kacvinski is on page four of this story.Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Is our fate really sealed? Is change possible?

By Marty Kaplan

Within the calendar that constitutes the Jewish cathedral in time, no days are more saturated with the experience of human nature, and with experiments in human change, than the Days of Awe. This is when we are asked, paradoxically, both to steep in our powerlessness to escape our species' fate, and yet also to try out behaviors that can rescue us from our destinies.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Friendship and freedom at Adat Chaverim

By Tom Tugend

Adat Chaverim is a small congregation of secular, Humanistic Jews, whose brochure proposes that "reason rather than faith is the source of truth, and human intelligence and experience are capable of guiding our lives."

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Liturgy reminds us what we can do to avert evil

By Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer

So here we are seven years later, about to enter the Jewish year 5769. The deaths of Sept. 11 have been compounded by more deaths in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. In many ways our world is more violent and certainly more fearful than it had been. Evidence of evil abounds.

Rabbi Greg M. Epstein and students Photo courtesy Rabbi Greg M. EpsteinWednesday, September 24, 2008

No healing the world here—Humanistic Jews are ‘building’ the world

By Tom Tugend

"Religion is not primarily about faith in God; it is about community, identity, heritage and being of service to others," he said. "We Humanists must also do more to meet these needs, rather than complain about what others believe.

Congregants of Temple Israel of Hollywood take part in Tashlich at the beach. Photo: Temple Israel of HollywoodWednesday, September 24, 2008

The very best Tashlich custom is a toss-up

By Rachel Heller

On paper, the Rosh Hashanah ritual of Tashlich is about doffing one's sins to start the new year with a clean slate. For Jason Mauro, 16, it's also about beach football

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Create a new model to enhance work, self, family and community

By Stewart D. Friedman

There's much pain. Too many people feel overwhelmed, disconnected, pessimistic and with no other purpose than to merely survive. Demand for change is the order of the day, as it has always been in our Jewish tradition.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Communities can use High Holy Days to help ease economic angst

By Rabbi Richard Address

Too many will sit in synagogues through this season and be equally concerned with their own economic situation as they will the state of their soul.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Got forgiveness?

By David Suissa

Most of us neglect what is arguably the most difficult and meaningful ritual at this time of year: Going to the people we've hurt, recognizing our hurtful actions and asking for their forgiveness

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Mayor: Building inspectors need better training, increased sensitivity -- and no more Yom Kippur showdowns

By Tom Tugend

Korobkin, the Yavneh spiritual leader, said he was very pleased with the mayor's recommendations and that the fault for last year's incident lay mainly in the way DBS was structured, as well as a certain lack of sensitivity.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A Rosh Hashanah message from Ehud Olmert

By Steve Greenberg

Monday, September 22, 2008

VIDEO: Kids make shofars with Chabad in South Carolina

By The Web Guy

65 Jewish children from Columbia, S.C. learn how to make a shofar with Rabbi Levi Marrus. The Gipsy Kings, we think, only sing in the video's soundtrack,

Saturday, September 20, 2008

VIDEO: Chazzan Chaim Adler—‘Kaddish’ @ Selichot services in Tel Aviv

By The Web Guy

Chazzan Chiam Adler, Chief cantor at Tel-Aviv's Great Synagogue, sings the Kaddish. Recorded at first Selichot service. September 21 2008 midnight. Great chazzanut and wonderful singing by the congregation. Towards the end, you can hear a little Kol Isha. Is that our videographer, Y227, up in the womens' balcony?

Saturday, September 20, 2008

VIDEO: Rosh Hashanah (funny) (political) e-card from Taglit-Birthright

By The Web Guy

The candidates reach out and apologize in the Rosh Hashanah tradition, blow a shofar, interrupt, smile, joke and yell, just like your family!

Khalal Fresh Dates. Photos by Dan Kacvinski.Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Buying local produce adds spice to holiday dishes

By Amelia Saltsman

As an avid farmers' market shopper, I welcome the holiday season by noting what's at the market, rather than by turning the page of my calendar. The High Holy Days are a time of endings and beginnings, and nowhere in my everyday life is this more apparent than when I visit my local market this time of year.

(Clockwise from top) Cranberry Baked Apple, Lemon Chicken with Dijon Mustard, Sliced Red Potatoes and Onions, Maple Glazed Acorn SquashWednesday, September 17, 2008

Fast meals to beat the Kol Nidre rush

By Linda Morel, Jewish Telegraphic Agency

It's a scramble every year, but Jews somehow manage to beat the clock getting dinner to the table on Yom Kippur eve -- the most hurried meal on the holiday calendar

Blogs

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The God Blog: Rabbi Kanefsky named to Forward 50
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The God Blog: Al Qaeda No. 2 criticizes Obama for praying with Jews
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The God Blog: Punk like Muhammad
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The God Blog: Worsening economy takes further toll on Jewish nonprofits

Opinion Section

11/19
Opinion: A Moderate Proposal
11/19
Opinion: Where’s the struggle?

Community Calendar

11/20/08 6:30 pm
TORAH STUDIES

11/21/08 9:00 am
Writing with Light

11/21/08 9:00 am
Picturing the Process: Landscape Through Time and Space

11/21/08 9:00 am
A Literacy of Images: Nancy Newhall and the Art of Photography

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Candlelighting

11/14 4:33 p.m. PST


Featured Stories

Tommywood
Wild about Diamond

David Wild wants you to know that he is an unabashed Neil Diamond fan. So much so that he has written a book titled, "He Is ... I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond"

Bar & Bat Mitzvahs
Centenarian celebrates fourth bar mitzvah

"If my mother was here, she'd probably be saying, 'Dayenu, enough already,'" said Dr. Eugene Gettelman, who turned 100 in June. "She'd think I was meshugge for having a fourth bar mitzvah."

Israel
Discovery of King David-era fort stirs debate on size of kingdom

Some scholars argue that David's Jerusalem was merely a backwater village glorified into a mythical place by those they say penned the Bible centuries later. Others suggest that true to its biblical description, it was a genuine power overseeing a strong and united kingdom. The discovery of what is being called the Elah Fortress has quickly been used to reinforce the latter argument.

Cartoons
Yes, we can! No, you can't!

Television
Doing Jews right on TV—for better or worse

The Jewish character has become the American Jewish character, disassociated from an ethnic history and assimilated into American culture. And the assimilation hasn't only been for Jews.

U.S.
Shoah group halts talks with Mormons on posthumous baptism of Jews

At a news conference Monday, leaders of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, seated in front of panels listing names of Holocaust victims they say were baptized by the Mormons, said that 14 years of quiet negotiations have proven fruitless.

Religion
Agriprocessors closed—now where’s the beef?

The kosher meat market is in a tailspin as production at the Agriprocessors' meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, which had been operating at a fraction of its normal capacity since May, finally ground to a halt this week. The company, whose meat was sold under the labels

Los Angeles
Perfect storm for charities— contributions go down and requests go up

No one has gone unscathed by the convulsions of the global economy. Even the wealthy are losing money -- and if they cut their charitable giving, it is likely to ripple across the Jewish nonprofit sector

Torah Portion
Marriage is a Jewish issue

Parshat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18) God is present when two people commit their lives to each other and become one family.

Calendar
Annie Leibovitz, Ed Asner, Shelly Berman, Lainie Kazan and Elliot Gould

Singles
True confessions of an online dating addict #16: Marathon date with Jeremy

Opinion
A Moderate Proposal

The start of the event was running late -- did I mention it was a Jewish event? -- and midway through our green room conversation, Hitchens pulled out a small bottle of Johnnie Walker Black. He emptied it into a 16-ounce clear-plastic cup and drizzled in some Crystal Geyser

Films
Survey Says:  Fewer Americans think Jews control Hollywood

The majority of Americans no longer believe that Jews control Hollywood. This is the news from a new poll released by the Anti-Defamation League that also suggests there remains a widespread conviction that there is an organized campaign by Hollywood and the national media to undermine religious values.

Music
Up-and-comer Dudamel takes on the Israel Philharmonic

Dudamel, who will be 28 when he replaces Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director of the L.A. Philharmonic next year, considers Leonard Bernstein a role model.