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A non-traditional blessing for Hanukkah.

In a traditional translation of the Al Chet prayer we would read: "For the sin we committed…." But the word "chet" in Hebrew is an archery term that means "to miss the mark." As we face the effects of global warming, let's step away from the concept of "sin" and come back to the mark, to the ways that we've all missed it.

Jewish tradition recognizes that fasting is not a safe practice for all Jews. For this reason, children under the age of 13 and individuals who are pregnant or ill are not required to fast in Yom Kippur. For those who fall into this category, the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services provides a special meditation to recite instead, written by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub.

These blessings are recited for candle lighting on Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah.

A Hanukkah prayer for freedom

This prayer is about having compassion for ourselves while repairing the damage we’ve done to self and others. I wrote it after my first Yom Kippur in Jerusalem, my first in Israel as an oleh chadash (a new immigrant). 

Rabbi Joseph Meszler offers a new take on an old prayer for these Days of Awe.

The High Holidays are a time of introspection and self-assessment in anticipation of repentance, forgiveness, thanksgiving and rejoicing. It is a season of healing.

“Rejoicing in the Torah” doesn’t require us to find joy in every verse. It doesn’t mean that we concur with every choice made by the people in it.