On Central Avenue, in the kosher supermarkets, in shul, or on the LIRR, you hear the same conversation. “What?! Rosh Hashanah is next week!?” And then the dreaded “three day yom tov — oy!” I wonder why, every year, everyone is so surprised that’s it’s already yom tov time. Truth is, it has been three months since the start of June. Kids were packed off to camp, parents went on vacation and we partook in lots of family and friends BBQs, lounged in our backyards, and enjoyed the lazy days of summer (some of us more than others, but it’s ok, I’m not jealous … well, yes I am, but this isn’t about me). more

Sometime before we light the first candles of Rosh Hashanah, President Obama will send his holiday message to the Jewish community. The President usually misses a big part of what the High Holidays are about — understandable since he isn’t Jewish and he was a student of the law rather than of theology. This year, I decided to send the President a Rosh Hashanah message of my own, a message that explains to him why progressive politics is antithetical to the meaning of the Jewish Holidays. more

The Talmud in Niddah (31a) records that there are three partners in the creation of every human being: the Holy One, a father, and a mother. Scientific advancement has allowed the process to include what some might call an “assist” by medical professionals, but everyone’s genetic makeup comes from one male and one female, while G-d’s contribution makes it all come together. more

Jews normally do things late. Yet, while 99 percent of the world celebrates the New Year on Jan. 1st, we celebrate months earlier — and dropping balls, and tumultuous crowds amassed in Times Square, are generally not involved. more

Every year, on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we read the story of the expulsion of Yishmael (Avraham’s first son with his handmaiden Hagar), and the binding of Yitzchak (Isaac). Both are stories of the sons of Avraham, and both involved Abraham’s ability to be willing to sacrifice or let go, of a son. more

What in the world did we do before cell phones? Wait, I think I actually recall. We would make plans and have to stick to them! If we made up to meet our friends, we had to be there on time. Of course there were instances when we would be standing there for over half an hour without a friend in sight. Did I have the wrong location? Should I walk a block or two to a pay phone and call her house to see if she left? What if I walked to the pay phone and then I missed her? more

It is my pleasure and honor to bring to your attention the recent publication of the fifth volume of “The Encyclopedia of the Taryag Mitzvoth” series focusing on those mitzvoth concerning all the major holiday observances. This review will center on observances germane to the Days of Awe, and Succos. more

High Holiday services have much ritual and tradition, with almost every shul having its own traditions (adjustments in nusach, prayers, and even how aliyot to the Torah are handed out). One tradition in every shul with which I have had the joy of spending the holidays is the rabbi’s sermon. The sermons are the prime time events of the holiday season. more

In our efforts to get closer to G-d in the days leading up to Rosh Hashana, every person employs a different strategy. more

As a rabbi, I’m starting to get a little nervous as my Jewdar is clanging off the hook, but my phone isn’t. Is it just me, or why is nobody talking about the High Holidays yet? more