The shofar is arguably the most powerful musical instrument in the world. Its mighty blast brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down. The long blast of the shofar accompanied Moses as he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. Mentioned often in the Torah and Talmud, the sound of the ram’s horn or shofar was…
Honey is a symbolic food eaten at Rosh Hashanah in hopes for a sweet new year. In Arizona, there are hives producing this sweet, liquid gold across the state, from Coconino to Cochise counties. Honey bees in Arizona retrieve their nectar from a wide range of blossoms including citrus and mesquite trees, desert wildflowers and…
On Thursday morning Sept. 20, I will open my newspaper and see the traditional day-after Yom Kippur picture: one of Israel’s busiest highways completely deserted during the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Indeed, among the secular Israeli public, Yom Kippur is often thought of as “Bicycle Day,” since the absence of cars makes every…
(Note: Jewish holidays start at sunset the evening before the first day of the holiday) Rosh Hashanah Sept. 10-11, 2018 On Rosh Hashanah the sound of the shofar announces the arrival of the High Holy Days, or 10 Days of Awe that stretch from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creation of…
A series of rituals guide Jewish families and individuals through each stage of life. With the exception of the rituals surrounding death, each of the following stages is often accompanied by festive celebrations. Even the rituals surrounding death bring the community together to remember and honor the deceased and to support their family. The following…
I make bread every Friday. More specifically, I make challah for Shabbat. I made my first batch of challah dough more than 10 years ago, almost on a dare. It turned out so well, I did again. Before I realized it, I had found my meaningful ritual. I have made challah on the east and…
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” – John Wooden Although reflection is often the norm as one year ends and the new year begins, this year, we at Arizona Jewish Life are genuinely focused forward, on the future. Why this year…
