Whether it’s cooking, cleaning or getting ready to welcome friends and family into our homes, we know life can get busy, which makes it hard to prepare for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.
That is why, from community recipes to book recommendations, we have collected resources to help you prepare for the New Year.
The weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer us a chance to prepare both practically and spiritually for these significant days. In Baltimore’s Jewish community, preparation takes many forms – from planning festive meals and gathering family recipes, to taking time for personal reflection and reconnection.
Whether you’re hosting family for the first time or continuing decades-old traditions, preparation helps add meaning to the High Holidays. Some families begin early, freezing challah and preparing dishes in advance. Others focus on spiritual preparation, using the month of Elul for introspection and making amends with those they may have hurt.
Some of us dive into cooking traditional recipes. Others find meaning in sending New Year cards to distant friends and family. And many use this time to think about how we want to show up differently in the year ahead.
Whatever your approach, The Associated is here with resources to help make your High Holiday preparation a little easier and a lot more meaningful.
Food brings our High Holiday celebrations to life, with each dish carrying meaning and memory. For Rosh Hashanah, we dip apples in honey to symbolize our hopes for a sweet new year. Round challah represents the cycle of life and the continuity of creation. Many families include pomegranates, whose abundant seeds traditionally number 613 – one for each mitzvah. Tzimmes and other sweet dishes, like honey cake, fill our tables with warmth and tradition.
Our Baltimore community has shared favorite recipes passed down through generations, including our beloved Jewish Apple Cake recipe. These dishes connect us to our heritage while creating new memories with those we love.
For Yom Kippur, the focus shifts to nourishing pre-fast meals and comforting breakfast spreads. Bagels, lox and kugel help us ease back into eating after the 25-hour fast, bringing families together as we transition from solemnity to celebration.
If you’re new to observing the High Holidays – or returning after time away – welcome. There’s no prerequisite knowledge needed, no test to pass and no “wrong” way to participate. The High Holidays are for every Jew, regardless of background, observance level or familiarity with traditions.
Start where you’re comfortable. Maybe that means attending just the evening Rosh Hashanah service, or joining family for a festive meal. Perhaps you’ll try fasting for part of Yom Kippur, or simply take the day for reflection. Some people begin by incorporating one meaningful tradition – like eating apples and honey or calling relatives to wish them a good year.
The High Holidays invite us to begin again, making them the perfect time for your own new beginning with Jewish tradition. Every expert was once a beginner, and every journey starts with a single step.
Rosh Hashanah observance can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. At its heart, this holiday is about celebrating a new beginning. Many people attend synagogue services to hear the shofar blown – a powerful sound meant to awaken our souls.
At home, traditional observances include lighting candles at sunset, saying blessings over wine and challah and sharing a festive meal featuring apples dipped in honey. When greeting others, say “Shanah Tovah” (good year) or “L’shanah tovah u’metukah” (for a good and sweet year).
There’s no requirement to do everything. Choose the traditions that speak to you. Some people focus on the food traditions, others on prayer,and many simply use the time to connect with family and reflect on the year ahead.
Yom Kippur is Judaism’s most solemn day, traditionally observed with a 25-hour fast from sunset to nightfall. But fasting isn’t required for everyone – children, pregnant or nursing women and anyone with health concerns should not fast. The fast is meant to help us focus on spiritual matters, not to cause harm.
Many people wear white as a symbol of purity and renewal. The evening begins with Kol Nidre, a hauntingly beautiful service. Throughout the day, prayers focus on forgiveness and starting fresh. Yizkor, the memorial service, honors loved ones who have passed.
The day ends with a final shofar blast at Ne’ilah, (concluding prayer of Yom Kippur), followed by breaking the fast with family and friends. Even if you don’t fast completely, taking time for reflection and forgiveness captures the day’s essence.
Looking for even more ways to make this the best Rosh Hashanah yet? Check out our page with additional resources.
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