Rosh Hashana

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Rosh Hashana resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Rosh Hashanah 25: When is Yom Kippur?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In the year 922CE a debate broke out that threatened to irrevocably cause the Jewish people to split apart. Pesach that year was scheduled to begin on Monday night. However, Aaron ben Meir, the leading Gaon in the land of Israel, declared that…
Article
Nov 11, 2021

Rosh Hashanah 14: Walking in the Dark

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“There are four New Years…on the first of Shevat is the New Year for trees, according to the words of Beit Shammai. Beit Hillel says [it is on] the fifteenth [of Shevat]” (Rosh Hashana 2a).  As to why Shevat is the New Year for trees, the Gemara (…
Article
Oct 27, 2021

Rosh Hashanah 2: Out of Order

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the fundamental debates in Biblical interpretation is whether the Torah is written in chronological order. Rashi often employs the notion of ein mukdam umeuchar baTorah, that literally there is no before and after in the Torah, with the Torah…
Article
Oct 15, 2021

Some Concluding Thoughts on Masechet Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The last Mishnah in Masechet Rosh Hashanah quotes a debate between the Sages and Rabban Gamliel on a fundamental aspect of prayer. "The same way the shaliach tzibbur, congregational messenger, is obligated [in prayer], so, too, is each and…
Article
Jun 14, 2014

Rosh Hashanah 29: Crying on Yom Tov

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The fourth and last chapter of Masechet Rosh Hashanah focuses on the mitzvah of shofar and the special davening—malchiut, zichronot and shofarot—for this special day. These two mitzvoth were joined together with the blowing of…
Article
Jun 12, 2014

Rosh Hashanah 29: A Split Personality

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh, all Jews are co-signers [responsible] for one another" (Shevuot 39a). This is not just a nice idea reflecting the bond we must feel for all Jews everywhere; it is a legal principle, allowing one to perform…
Article
Jun 10, 2014

Rosh Hashanah 25: A Saving Kiss

Rabbi Jay Kelman

G-d is known as kel mistater, a hidden G-d (Yishayahu 46:15). Being created in His image, man, too, should yearn for anonymity. As Rav Soloveitchik notes, we know almost nothing about the members of the Anshei Knesset Hagedolah, those most…
Article
Jun 8, 2014

Rosh Hashanah 23: A Sweet Smell

Rabbi Jay Kelman

There is a widespread custom to decorate our shuls with flowers in honour of Shavuot. This beautiful custom commemorates the flourishing of the desert in the vicinity of Mount Sinai as the Jews received the Torah. The gloom and desolateness of the…
Article
Jun 7, 2014

Rosh Hashanah 18: Changing G-d's Mind

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In the last couple of posts, we discussed the fact that many of our prayers are likely to have little impact. We noted how many of the Talmudic views teach that once our fate is sealed on Rosh Hashanah (or Yom Kippur), we are basically praying for…
Article
Jun 2, 2014

Rosh Hashanah 16b: Better Not Pray Too Much

Rabbi Jay Kelman

We are familiar with the term iyun tefillah from our daily davening, where iyun tefillah is included amongst "the things whose fruits we eat in this world [but] whose principle [reward] awaits in the world to come".…
Article
Jun 1, 2014