High Holidays

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Reflect and renew. The High Holidays of Elul, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time of reflection and introspection as one year comes to an end and another begins.

  • Holidays
  • Jewish Life
Boy blowing shofar

The last month of the Hebrew calendar, Elul offers us a chance to look back and review the passing year while making new commitments and resolutions for the year to come.

Elul begins at sunset, August 18, 2023

After this month of introspection, Rosh Hashanah – “the head of the year” or “the beginning of change” – is the first day to try out being the person we truly with to be. With greater effort, awareness, and recommitting ourselves to repairing the world, we are told, we can celebrate the hope and possibility of a new year with clean slate. This process is known as “doing teshuvah,” turning toward the best possible version of ourselves.

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset, September 15 // Observed September 15 – 17, 2023

Yom Kippur, “the day of atonement” signals the finale of this reflection process with one final push toward reconciliation and release from feeling as though we have missed the mark. The goal is to make thoughtful resolutions that lead us to be better people.

Yom Kippur begins at sunset, September 24 // Observed September 25, 2023

JCCSF pamphlet sits beside bowl of vegetables
Young children play wooden flutes at JCCSF gathering

High Holidays Playlist

No holidays, especially High Holidays, are complete without music! Celebrate the sounds of a new year with our curated Spotify playlist.

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