The Chassidic masters describe the events of the month of Tishrei not as solitary holidays, but as one continuous journey. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning. The trumpets are sounded, the king has arrived. The new year is upon us, for better or for worse. We hope for better. Ten days of introspection later, and the
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With Simchat Torah right around the corner, we are approaching the end of the fifth book of the Torah, and simultaneously the end of Moshe’s days on earth. The Parshah of Vayelech (“and he went”) recounts the events of Moshe’s last day of earthly life. “I am one hundred and twenty years old today,” he says to the
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The news that Rosh Hashanah would be spent in strict lockdown was daunting at best, and crushing at worst. The familiarity of spending Rosh Hashanah dinner with family, the anticipation of hearing the shofar on this momentous day, of spending time in prayer and meditation at shul. What would it look like this year? Would
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With a heavy heart we closed our doors last week and suspended all in person services upon the announcement of a level 4 lockdown in Auckland. It looks likely that the High Holidays will be spent in solitude, and large inspiring gatherings at Shul or at Rosh Hashanah dinners will be impossible. However, the new
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This week Rosh Chodesh Society was held to mark the beginning of the month of Elul. Our monthly women’s shiur met for a new series of classes: Women in Tanach & Beyond. These classes will delve deep into the text and midrash of historic jewish heroines, unravelling the Torah perspective on women and the kabbalah
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The month of Elul always feels like a special time. It is a month of so many things, so many memories; anticipation for Rosh Hashanah, the house busy like a bee hive. The smell of honey cake, all the preparation and planning that goes into Yom Tov. Sending Shana Tova cards to loved ones, calling
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