From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, September 26, 27, 2025/4, 5, Tishrei 5786
This Sabbath is called Shabbat Shuvah/the Sabbath of Return and Repentance
On the Erev Rosh HaShanah/First night of Rosh HaShanah, which is Monday night,the candles are kindled with the words Yom Tov followed by the Shehe’yanu, and the candles are also kindled on Tuesday night with the words Yom Tov.
* Traditional Jews Minhag/custom is to light a Yahrzeit candle on Monday night since it burns 24 hours to help light the 2nd night of Rosh Hashanah, thus not creating a new light.
The Torah portion continues with Moses committing the law to the priests and the Levites, and Moses chooses Joshua as his successor.
Judaic concepts and values are the study of law and the passing of the mantle of leadership.
The notable Mitzvot is about the assembling of the entire people to hear the Torah read every seven years. On the first of the immediate days of Sukkot, trumpets are sounded to proclaim to everyone who had come to celebrate the festival in Jerusalem that they should assemble (Deuteronomy 31:12). The ceremony was known as the mitzvah of hakhel/gathering together. This is a unique setting, the ceremony was likely to increase the interest of the people in Torah and in all that the Torah stood for.
This week starts the High Holidays and Festivals which continue for a month.
The services may have slight variations to the ones from Shabbat.
Traditionally white is worn, no leather, and some people wear sneakers with no laces, clogs, and even the Torah mantle will be white. All have the symbolic meaning of purity, and caring for humanity, while asking G-d for His forgiveness.
Kadosh/Holy is recited 3 times during Yom Kippur, and while standing a person rises up on their toes. One stands or may rise with their spirit from their seat when the ark is opened, the Torah is lifted or during the Haktafot/being walked around.
The greeting for Rosh HaShanah is L’Shanah Tovah! To Have a Happy New Year! Some people add the word U’Maytukah (sweet).
Traditionally round challot are made to symbolize the Torah is never ending, some people add raisins, while others add honey into the batter. Apples, especially pomegranates (this fruit was the apple Eve ate, which contains 613 pips representing All the Commandments) and honey are eaten to have a sweet new year. On Shabbat traditional salt is used when eating the challah (salt in the desert is as important as water to survive).
Tashlich is a short ceremony to cast away our wrong behavior, which will be done on Sunday, September 28th/6 Tishrei 5786 at 11am at the Fire Lake Park in Ivins. One will bring bread to symbolize the casting off of sins. You will hear an amusing symbolism of some of the types of bread and the sin it may represent. The body of water should have life (fish), so no pools, hot tubs or bathtubs; Ocean, Lakes, or Streams are used.
As the New Year is arriving, we all continue to pray for the release and return of our Hostages from Gaza, and Peace for Israel. It will be 718, 719 Days from the October 7, 2023 heinous attack by Hamas.
Am Ysrael Chai! Long Live Israel!
Shabbat Shalom v’Yom Tov,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
