New Beginnings by Rabbi Sandra Kviat

How do you celebrate Erev Rosh Hashanah? It has always been a Chavurah tradition to do this in households and families. There are many different traditions, foods and ways of doing it. From eating apples and honey, to a whole symbolic meal, complete with festival candles, kiddush and questions, Erev Rosh Hashanah is a beautiful way to begin the High Holy Day season.

To inspire you we have found this Rosh Hashanah Seder booklet which is based on the use of eating simanim (symbolic foods), saying blessings and making wishes for the new year ahead. It has been more commonly done in Sephardi and Mizrachi homes, but the practice is spreading into many Jewish homes. It also comes with delicious recipes incorporating the symbolic foods, to help elevate the experience. In addition, we have turned the questions at the back into handy cards that you can use to encourage thoughtful conversations at the table. 

Click here for the booklet: The Rosh Hashana seder (in English and Spanish) 

You can download the prompt cards here. 

September is also a month of new learning. School tops and shirts have had their first outing, PE bags are packed again, and the traffic around schools is back to normal. Whether it's the littlest ones getting used to reception, the new Year 7s learning to navigate a whole new big school, the Sixth Formers embarking on a much more independent learning journey, or indeed the new uni students setting off for dorm rooms far from their homes, September is a month for new beginnings whether you are in formal education or  embarking on learning whether at work or just for fun.  

We wanted to share a beautiful blessing for the new school year from the Israeli Reform siddur (prayer book), Tefilat Ha-Adam. Though it is aimed at new students I think it has wisdom for us all;

May the one who bestows knowledge on people and teaches humankind understanding,
grant you wisdom, discernment, and insight.
May God open your eyes to a new discovery every day,
to the beauty of the world,
to the magnitude of creation,
to the beat of the heart,
to the power of compassion.