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Tishrei
What is Tishrei?
Tishrei is the first month of the Jewish year. No other month contains as many festival days and rituals. It is the month of the year in which we reflect on the past twelve months, closing down certain parts of our lives and renewing others. Chagim - Festivals
The major chagim that are celebrated in the month of Tishrei are: Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashana falls over two days, the first and second of Tishrei, in the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashana is known by a variety of names. Literally Rosh Hashana means 'Head of the Year'. Other names that are identified with Rosh Hashana are Yom Hadin' which means 'Day of Judgment' and Yom Hazikaron which means 'Day of Remembrance'. One of the central elements of Rosh Hashana is the blowing of the shofar. The Rabbis teach that the blowing of the shofar is meant to be a wake-up call for the Jewish people. The sounds of the shofar remind Jews to repent and caution that we are about to be judged for our actions. Rosh Hashana ushers in the Asseret Yamei Teshuva, the 'Ten Days of Repentance'. This is the period of time between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur when Jews pray to be inscribed in the 'Book of Life' and be forgiven for the sins that they have committed. Fast of Gedaliah
The Fast of Gedaliah is a minor fast observed on the third day of Tishrei. It is a fast day that commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah Ben-Achikam, the Governor of Israel during the time of the Nebuchadnetzer King of Babylon, in 586 BCE. His death led to the end of Jewish autonomy in the area. In addition, many Jews were murdered and others were driven into exile. The assassination of Gedaliah is considered to be the first political murder where a Jew killed another Jew. In recent years, some people have made a connection between this fast day and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin in November 1995 by another Jew. Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the holiest day within Judaism. Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) falls on the tenth day of Tishrei and brings to an end the 'Ten Days of Repentance' that began on Rosh Hashana. Yom Kippur is a fast day lasting from sunset until the stars come out on the following night. On Yom Kippur, one not only abstains from eating and drinking but also from other forms of bodily pleasures such as washing, wearing leather shoes and sexual relations. The idea of abstaining from physical pleasures is to elevate oneself from satisfying one's bodily needs and to focus on one's spiritual soul. Yom Kippur should not to be considered a sad or depressing day, but rather an opportunity for reflection and for making the commitment to fulfill one's potential. The service begins with the special prayer of 'Kol Nidre', asking God to absolve us of all vows we have made and not fulfilled during the year. This prayer infuses us with dual feelings of fear and hope. The beautiful melody of the prayer conveys the mood and atmosphere of the sanctity of Yom Kippur. The final prayer of the Yom Kippur service is called 'Ne'ilah', (the Closing Service) and this concludes this special day of self-searching and resolutions to improve our relationships with others and with God. As the day draws to a close, the prayer of 'Ne'ilah' expresses our hope that a merciful God has accepted our prayers of forgiveness. We finally ask to be sealed in the 'Book of Life' and the fast is ended by a blast of the shofar. Succot
During Chag HaSuccot, The Festival of Tabernacles, Jews leave their comfortable homes to eat, drink and often even sleep in a Sukkah (booth) for seven days. The festival of Succot takes place between the fifteenth and twenty second of Tishrei and has both historical and Biblical significance. Historically, Succot commemorates the period when the Jews wandered in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. For shelter, they constructed huts, also known as tabernacles. During the festival, as much time as possible should be spent in the Sukkah. Succot is also known by the name of Chag Ha'asif, the Festival of Ingathering, as this is the time of year when the final fruits and produce of the season are harvested. In the time of the First and Second Temples, once the Jews had harvested their crops, they would bring baskets full of the best of their produce to offer God, in thanks. Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah meaning rejoicing of the Torah, falls on the twenty third of Tishrei and marks the conclusion and beginning of the weekly readings of the Torah. Simchat Torah is one of the most joyous occasions in the Jewish calendar. The Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark, and members of the congregation take them in their arms and carry them around the synagogue in a series 'hakafot' (circuits). This is accompanied by joyous singing and dancing and the generous drinking of alcohol in many congregations! Seven circuits of the synagogue are made and great festivity takes place with children and adults waving flags and singing songs. Some Customs
There are many customs associated with the festivals of Tishrei. Below are just some examples of rituals that you can incorporate into the celebrations of the festivals. But also try to create your own to make the festival memorable and suited to your students needs. Tashlich
This ritual can be done next to a stream. Women in some countries have created their own artificial body of water through art materials (blue tissue paper etc) in order to simulate the running waters. Ask each student to introduce him/herself and then to tell the group what it is that s/he wants to cast off this Rosh Hashanah. Some other approaches are:
Purchase water-soluble markers. Give everyone tiny slips of paper. Have them write, on little slips of paper, a character trait that they would like to eliminate from their personalities in the coming year. Then have them drop the slips into the water. Another approach is to have everyone put their "things to leave behind or transform" slips into a big bowl. Then the bowl is passed around and everyone takes a random slip. Everyone then takes a turn reading the slip they drew out loud. Then you cast away the one you happened to pick up. It is amazing how clearly human everyone is and how it doesn't feel alien to read someone else's slip and how important it is to hear everyone's out loud. Text from:www.rebgoldie.com Ushpizin
Ushpizin is a tradition stemming from the Zohar (Zohar 5:103b) - a Kabbalisitic text, where we invite a different honorable guest to join us in the Sukkah each night. Traditionally these guests have been Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David. Included in this resource is an alternative Ushpizin inviting some of our matriarchs and other women. The Four Spices - Arbah Ha Minim
A well-known custom of Succot is the making of blessings over the Arbah Minim, the four species. The origins of this custom are found in Vayikra (Leviticus) where it says: "And you shall take for yourselves on the First Day the fruit of a beautiful tree, the branches of date palms, branches of the myrtle tree, and branches of the willow tree, and you shall rejoice before Hashem, your G-d, for Seven Days." (Vayikra 23:40) The four species are represented by the etrog - the citron fruit, the lulav - the palm branch, the hadasim - the myrtle branches and the aravot - the willow branches. These four species symbolize four types of Jews. The etrog has a delicious taste and a sweet perfume, and represents the Jew who is learned and does good deeds. The lulav has fruit that is edible but has no scent, representing someone who is learned but does not keep all the commandments. The hadasim have a refreshing fragrance but are tasteless, representing someone who does good deeds but has no knowledge. The aravot have neither taste nor scent, and represent those who are neither learned nor do good deeds. The tradition is to take the four species and to shake them together in all directions at various times throughout the festival of Succot. Simchat Torah WUJS has created a guide of "How to organize a Women's Torah Reading for Simchat Torah." It can be found on our web-site at: Women's Torah Reading Back to Index of Jewish Months Also on the WUJS site:
Rosh Chodesh Ceremony - Tishrei
Suggested Activities for Tishrei: Eve and Ushpizin Rosh Hashanah Activities.
Yom Kippur Activities.
Succot Activities.
Simchat Torah Activities.
More Jewish Activities on various topics.
Jewish Festivals: Historical, traditional, and contemporary sources.
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