In Judaism, time is sacred. In other words, marking the passage of time, acknowledging sacred moments, happy and sad and noticing the change of seasons represent the rhythm of the Jewish year.
On Sept. 8, the High Holiday season, during which we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins with the holiday of Slichot. This first day, Slichot, provides Jewish communities the framework for sharing the penitential prayers that help us reflect on the past year. Slichot means forgiveness and this season of the High Holidays is the season, as summer becomes fall, to contemplate how we can become the people we aim to be. Rosh Hashanah is a holiday of celebration as we welcome the new year in the Hebrew calendar, the year 5773, and will begin on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 16. Yom Kippur, Sept. 27, is a day set aside for deep personal reflection, fasting and abstaining from all other activities except for prayer and time with community. It is during these days, we set our spiritual agendas as individual Jews and as a community for the coming year. What accomplishments do we want to recall from the past year? What challenges were left unmet? How can we aim higher and live better in this new year?
Temple Bat Yam: The South Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley Jewish Community is looking forward to a great year ahead. We know that this year's High Holiday season will be one of spiritual uplift and extraordinary feelings of community belonging. We welcome everyone and anyone to attend our holiday services and be part of the TBY family. If you are in town visiting, have been in the area a long time or simply would like to learn more, join us.