When God Appeases Man: Yom Kippur in a Time of Exile
Yom Kippur marks the end of an 11 week period when thematic haftarot about the destruction of the Temple, consolation following its loss, and repentance replace haftarot connected to the weekly Torah reading. What can this grouping teach us about the nature of forgiveness and reconciliation? Hannah Abrams explains.
What is Ne’ilah?
The Ne’ilah prayer, which we recite only once a year, clearly represents a moment of great religious drama, but its precise nature and purpose are somewhat mysterious. Alan Jotkowitz presents four different models for understanding Ne’ilah, drawing upon the teachings of Rav Yehuda Amital, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, and Rav Ya’akov Medan.
Outside Help in the Teshuvah Process
With Hoshanah Rabbah today and the theme of repentance in mind, Jack Cohen explores the role that outsiders play in one's teshuva process through an enigmatic midrash instructing one to return a person to themselves.
Rabbi Yehudah ha-Nasi’s Yom Kippur
Shlomo Zuckier explores the nature of Yom Kippur and its relationship to atonement.
Can We Learn from Jonah’s Happiness?
Beth Kissileff on the book of Jonah and its relevance on Sukkot.
Coming Undone: Vows and the High Holy Days
Why is the annulment of vows so central to the High Holy Days? Wendy Amsellem discusses this, with a timely message.
This is not a poem
This is Not a Poem and other soon-to-be-published high holiday poems by Yehiel Poupko.
A Tone Meant
Dov Lerner weaves together Scripture, midrash and rabbinic commentary in urging closer attention to tone in public discourse.
On Yom Kippur, determinism and national unity
Aton Holzer explores the role of free will and its limits in the Yom Kippur liturgy.
Two Paradigms of Teshuvah?
Yehoshua Pfeffer on self-abnegating vs. life-affirming teshuva.
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