Rosh Hashana is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. In Israel it is considered a national holiday - meaning that most workplaces, schools, and stores are closed.

Although it is part of the High Holy days, many Israelis view Rosh Hashana as an opportunity for self-reflection, family time, or just enjoying nature.

According to the Halacha, Rosh Hashana is observed like Shabbat (Saturday) - meaning that electronic devices are prohibited.

No doubt, we live in challenging times. Luckily, Rosh Hashana is the perfect time to think about the upcoming year. What can we learn from the challenges that we endured? Did we learn something about ourselves? Maybe we can learn from Israelis and use this time to redefine our goals, strengthen our current ones, or visit a local park.

Shana Tova! Happy new Jewish year!

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Traditionally, Jews observe the holiday with a 25-hours fast and a day-long prayer. It is customary to ask for forgiveness as Yom Kippur atones for the sins between man and G-D, for sins between man-and-man, one must take responsibility individually. People greet each other with a “Gmar chatima Tova” meaning a good end of sealing in the book of life. In Israel, most shopping centers, workplaces, and non-emergency industries are closed on Yom Kippur. It is customary to wear all white clothes as a symbol of purity.

On Yom Kippur most of the roads are traffic-free, as many people go for walks along city roads and streets. Even in cities with a predominant secular population, businesses and car owners respect the holiday and avoid driving their vehicles.
Children, adolescents, and adults take advantage of the empty streets and are out on their bicycles and rollerblades.

Sukkot is a week-long Jewish holiday that is celebrated shortly after Yom Kippur. The Hebrew word Sukka, plural Sukkot, is a tabernacle, which is a wall structure covered with plant material such as palm leaves. Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the Sukka and some sleep there as well.

An additional tradition linked to Sukkot is “Ushpizin”, similarly to hospitality, it is customary to invite different guests to the Sukka.

The holiday has 4 holy species that are waved in a special ceremony symbolizing the “Mitzvot”, commandments, of Judaism. Some of the Mitzvot are between man to G-D, while others are between a man to man (among humans).

During Sukkot many Israelis take time off work as the first and last days are national holidays. Since most businesses are closed, people utilize the time of Sukkot to travel both nationally and abroad, visit museums, national parks, or spend time with loved ones.