AJWS’s global community includes people of diverse practices, backgrounds, and faiths, united by our belief that everyone deserves freedom, equity and human rights. As we approach the Jewish High Holiday season — which begins at sundown on Monday, September 22, with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year — we know that these days mean different things to different people.
For some of us, the High Holidays are a time to renew relationships, gather with friends, family and community, and eat delicious food. For others, they are also a time of deep, soulful reflection on our actions and how we impact the world around us — and for others, the holidays may have never resonated with personal meaning.
This year, we’re offering a new way to connect — the AJWS Guide to the High Holidays. An inclusive guide to understanding the traditions of each holiday and to viewing these celebrations through a modern lens of justice, freedom and human rights.
Download the AJWS Guide to the High Holidays right here!
Asking questions and sparking conversation has always been a feature of Judaism — a Jewish value that’s kept our community debating and discussing for countless generations.
How can we heal ourselves, our communities and, yes, even the world? Are we living in alignment with our values? How could we have done better? How can we protect the inherent dignity of those in our community and around the world?
The High Holidays — and our handy guide — are a catalyst to ask (and answer) these questions and so many more. Feel free to share this guide with friends, family, colleagues and neighbors who want to know more about the holidays and approach them from a human rights perspective.