A powerful collection of writings about
Rosh Hashanah that will add depth and holiness to your
experience of the spiritual New Year.
This compelling companion to Yom Kippur
Readings helps create a bridge between the words of our
ancestors and the meanings, themes and ideas that are the
central spiritual agenda of the life of the modern Jew.
Drawn from a variety of
sources—ancient, medieval, modern, Jewish and
non-Jewish—this selection of readings, prayers and
insights explores the opportunities for inspiration and
reflection inherent in the subjects addressed on the Jewish New
Year: sin, repentance, personal and social change, societal
justice, forgiveness, spiritual growth, living with joy and
hope, commitment to high ideals, becoming our truest and most
authentic selves, deepening our capacity to love and savoring
the divine gift of life. These readings enable you to enter
into the spirit of Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe in a
personal and powerful way while they uplift and inform. They
will add to the benefits of your High Holy Day experience year
after year.
Praise for Rosh Hashanah Readings and Yom
Kippur Readings
“Provides a treasure-trove of
reflections, narratives, and meditations relating to the themes
of the High Holy Days. A resource for clergy and laypersons
alike as they prepare for public services and an invaluable
work for personal reflection. Highly recommended.”
—Dr.
David Ellenson, president,
Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion
“Full of wonderful material that
will deepen the Yom Kippur experience for rabbis and their
communities. An ever-flowing spring of thoughts and prayers to
help us approach Yom Kippur with meaning, creativity,
soulfulness and blessing.”
—Rabbi
Naomi Levy, spiritual leader of
Nashuva and author of
To Begin
Again and Talking to God
“Filled with inspirational readings
that are profound, and that will challenge and ignite the mind
and heart alike…. Will deepen the High Holy Day
experience for every reader.”
—Rabbi
Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy and The Book of Jewish Values
“A truly marvelous collection....
Despite close to sixty years of experience with Rosh Hashanah,
I learned and felt things in reading this book that I have
never known or felt before—and you will too!”
—Rabbi
Elliot N. Dorff, PhD, Distinguished
Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism, and author of The Way Into Tikkun
Olam (Repairing the World)
“If you want to spend Yom Kippur (or
the months leading up to it) in the company of some of the best
Jewish spiritual writers of our time, this is the book for you.
Amidst the beautiful and wise passages collected here, you are
sure to find something to open your heart.”
—Rabbi
Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, coauthor of Judaism for Two: A Spiritual Guide for
Strengthening & Celebrating Your Loving Relationship
“Like a spring that courses through
the desert, there are life-giving waters here. Beneath the
surface gleam scattered gems from great teachers, to nourish
the spirit during the Days of Awe.”
—Rabbi
Rachel S. Mikva, editor of Broken Tablets: Restoring
the Ten
Commandments and Ourselves
“Those seeking meaning for living
from Judaism will find this High Holy Day anthology offers
spiritual nourishment for every Jewish home.”
—Rabbi
Goldie Milgram, author of Reclaiming Judaism as a Spiritual Practice: Holy
Days and Shabbat
“Provocative…. Stressing in
straightforward language the themes of Yom Kippur, this will be
valuable to laypeople who want to prepare for that day. The
wide variety of impressive sources confront us with what should
be our serious concerns on that day (and on other days) in the
framework of our lives.”
—Rabbi
Jules Harlow, editor and translator
of Mahzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and author of Pray
Tell: A Hadassah Guide to Jewish Prayer
