Download these simple guides for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and more to celebrate the Jewish High Holidays at home, or mix and match from a variety of rituals and blessings to create your own meaningful holiday.
What Are The Jewish High Holidays?
The High Holidays, or High Holy Days, refers to an important period of Jewish holidays that arrive each fall to honor renewal, freedom, and forgiveness. The most popular holidays that occur during this period are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but there are other holidays within this time period as well.
This year, Rosh Hashanah begins the evening of Friday, September 11, 2026 and ends the evening of Sunday, September 13, 2026. Rosh Hashanah literally means the “head of the year,” and is often referred to as the Jewish New Year. It’s customary to celebrate by having a special dinner and eating sweet foods, like apples dipped in honey. The traditional greeting on Rosh Hashanah is “shana tovah,” which means “have a good year.
This year, Yom Kippur begins the evening of Sunday, September 20, 2026 and ends the evening of Monday, September 21, 2026. Yom Kippur is arguably the holiest and most solemn day of the year for Jewish people. It is when Jews around the world ask for forgiveness for all of the things they have done wrong in the past year. It is customary to fast and refrain from food and water. There are a few appropriate greetings on Yom Kippur. You can say “have a meaningful holiday,” or “good yom tov,” which means “have a good holy day.” If someone is fasting, you can say “have a good fast” or “have an easy fast.”
Sukkot (known to some as the Feast of the Tabernacles) is a time to remember our wandering in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt and reconnect with our agricultural roots. To celebrate, Jews construct a temporary outdoor dwelling called a Sukkah. The holiday is celebrated for seven days, and many Jews observe it by eating, drinking, relaxing, and even sleeping in their Sukkah. We also shake the branches of the lulav and an etrog fruit around our bodies to gather in the Divine. Sukkot begins the evening of Friday, September 25, 2026 and ends the evening of Friday, October 2, 2026.
Simchat Torah marks the day when we finish reading the Torah, and celebrate before we start all over again. It's a fun, happy holiday where we dance and parade around with the Torah. Celebrations typically take place at a synagogue, but there are also many ways to celebrate the joy of receiving the Torah at home as well!
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The shofar is our ancient, animalistic alarm clock. Hearing it tells us to wake up and it's a mitzvah, a commandment to hear its call. We say the first blessing before the shofar is sounded, then we say shehecheyanu, the blessing for milestones, to mark the occasion.
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu lishmoa kol shofar.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has made us holy with commandments, and who has commanded us to hear the voice of the shofar.
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam shehecheyanu v’kiyimanu v’higiyanu lazman ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.
Rosh Hashanah Seder Plate Foods (Simanim)
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As we enter a New Year without our loved one, our memories of them and the experiences we shared with them may begin to feel further away. This activity invites us into presence with our memories and creates a physical keepsake we can revisit. You may want to begin collecting memories during Rosh Hashanah, and continue adding to the jar throughout the year.
To start, place a large jar, decorated box or vessel in a convenient location. Next, whenever you have a memory of your loved one, write it down on a slip of paper and place it in the jar. If a memory crosses your mind and you don’t have access to paper, record a voice memo or type it into your phone so you can transfer it to paper later. Your memories can be simple, such as a holiday tradition, your loved one’s favorite food, or of an adventure or experience you shared.
Any time you wish to recall their lives, take a note from the jar. You can also revisit memories at the start of another New Year, when you say Yizkor or Kaddish, each time you visit their grave, or mark their birthday or yahrzeit. You can create a scrapbook with photos that correspond to the memories. You can read the notes together with other family members or friends and then share the story of the memory together. Or, invite several people to share stories at your Rosh Hashanah seder, Yom Kippur break fast or Sukkot gathering.
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This ritual was adapted by Chloe Nassau, based on a creation from the Center for Loss & Renewal, Rabbi Benyamin Cirlin, LCSW
We Remember Them
by Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Riemer
At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter; We remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring; We remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer; We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn; We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends; We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as We remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength; We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart; We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make; We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share; We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs; We remember them.
For as long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as, We remember them.
We Remember Them
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Featured ritual books
Illuminating Our Journey: High Holidays Guidebook
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Shana Tova Coloring Book
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High Holidays-Inspired Workbook
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