Different ways to get in tune with this time of year

The listings on Panim’s web site in Hebrew give you an idea of just how many ways there are to get ready for the High Holidays, and the coming year, from the learning and the spiritual and even material points of view. In Israel, things begin “after the hagim” (the High Holidays), but this year they also begin before the hagim, with lectures, workshops, discussions and music, that help people get themselves in tune for these holy days.

Kolot is offering workshops, creative learning sessions, in preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Just invite their group facilitators to your work place, community, or group of friends, anywhere in the country and they will arrange a session for you.

Zayit, in Emek Hefer, published an Elul newsletter announcing all of its activities for the coming year plus the special events during the last week in August meant to help participants “Re-set in advance of the New Year.”

Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem is holding a culinary workshop to answer what everyone always wanted to know: What do the pomegranate seeds symbolize? Why do we eat fish heads on Rosh Hashanah? What’s the connection between gezer (carrots) and gzerot (edicts)? The three-hour workshop will explain the origins of traditions practiced by various communities to commemorate the New Year and new beginnings.

In Haifa, Ruach Hadasha, an Israeli beit midrash for men and women, has set aside a week in Elul to study texts and discuss the idea of “heshbon nefesh” (self-examination) using various sources, the sages, Maimonides, the Talmud, and discuss hesbon nefesh on the community level as well.

The Forum of Batei Kehilot (communities) in the north is holding its third annual Tishri conference on the theme of slichot and new prayers. This forum brings together communities that celebrate Shabbat, holidays and life cycle events together.

This is only a small sampling of activities that can help put us in the proper mood for celebrating and ushering in the New Year. Many of these events are meant to entice participants into being actively involved in communities during the year or signing up for courses or batei midrash whose schedules are also published on Panim’s web site.

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