High Holy Days

Shmini Atzeret haftarah: The Temple Mount is no longer silent

Shmini Atzeret’s Temple haftarah takes on new meaning as Jews increasingly pray and perform mitzvot on the Temple Mount.

Praying at the entrance to the Temple Mount on Sukkot, Sept. 29.
Vienna Jews celebrating the renovation of the Stadttempel synagogue walk a new Torah scroll through the streets, Vienna, Sept. 9, 2026.

In a time of uncertainty, European Jews renovate synagogues, dedicate Torah scrolls

Jewish worshippers pray at the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, during the traditional Birkat Kohanim ceremony on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, in Jerusalem’s Old City, September 28, 2026.

WATCH: Tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers gather for Birkat Kohanim at Western Wall

Simchat Torah celebrations in Sderot.

5 great Sukkot stops in the Gaza border area: From greenhouses to Hakafot


Yom Kippur: The true meaning of 'all is forgiven' - opinion

“All is forgiven” means no holding back; no grudges, no enmity, and most importantly, no self-inflicted poison. And not for some – but for all!

GERMAN PRESIDENT Frank-Walter Steinmeier hugs German Holocaust survivor and public speaker Margot Friedlander during an event in Berlin in 2023.

Olim share stories of acts of unexpected kindness (Part II)

These acts of kindness may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but for new olim navigating the challenges of starting over, they can have a lasting impact.

An illustrative image of a man blowing a shofar outside an El Al plane in Israel.

Yom Kippur in white garments: A show of unity and hope - opinion

We wear white on Yom Kippur to build a human family standing together before the creator of the world.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews perform "Slihot" prior to the upcoming Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, on September 25, 2025.

Kibbutz Be’eri unveils Yom Kippur prayer book blending Sephardi, Ashkenazi rites

Koren Publishing confirmed that the project was initiated by the kibbutz in partnership with the publishing house, and that the prayer book would be for community use only, and not for purchase.

Kibbutz Be'eri's new Yom Kippur prayer book combining Sephardi and Ashkenazi liturgy. September 2025.

Bring it on, Yom Kippur! Why we are worthy of God this year - opinion

If Yom Kippur is about showing God that His people are worthy, then surely this year we can stand tall.

AN IDF soldier gestures as he heads into Gaza earlier this year. The writer states: ‘We have given. We have sacrificed. Now, on this Day of Atonement, we say: Bring it on!’

Embrace Yom Kippur with joy, not sorrow as prayer is today’s greatest offering

A sacrifice for a deliberate sin is never atoned, but heartfelt prayer does.

ON YOM KIPPUR, feel the joy that bursts forth from a cleansed heart and purified soul.

Soldiers on the battlefield find ways to celebrate the holidays

Can it still feel like Yom Kippur if you are driving a tank or operating a drone in the heart of Gaza City while others are deep in prayers in synagogues across Israel?

VOLUNTEERS PACK boxes of hagim treats for soldiers.

Yom Kippur: The end or the beginning?

The Talmud identifies Yom Kippur as one of the two happiest days in the year (along with the 15th of Av).

MIKVEH IN Auckland, New Zealand.

High Holy Days: Heeding the Rosh Hashanah call for Shiloh and Jerusalem

We are with God and with ourselves, in belief and in actions, as the Jewish people, the Jewish nation, rooted on our soil, despite words spoken at the Emmy Awards stage. 

RABBI MOSHE SILVER blows a Yemenite shofar at the Jerusalem Promenade

Opening the gates of tears: Finding hope and strength in Jewish tradition - opinion

Prayer becomes more than words to God. It becomes the opening of our hearts so that we may feel the suffering of others.

Tears. Illustration.