Rosh Hashanah is a very busy time in a Jewish home, and we know you have a lot to do, so here’s the meaning behind this High Holiday is 2 minutes.

Rachael Posted:

A few days ago I saw the movie “The Adjustment Bureau” starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.  I liked the movie because it was fun and not the thriller/chaser/blood & guts film you might expect.

For anyone who hasn’t seen the movie and wants to, please stop reading now because I’m going to discuss some of the core ideas.

The movie plays with the idea that there are many levels of ‘messengers’ or ‘agents’ who do the bidding of a higher power called ‘The Chairman’.  For every person there is a plan and these agents make sure that we are all staying on our plan because chance circumstances can sometimes derail things.  It’s a great concept to play with even to the point of having someone trip and fall which delays them just those few seconds needed to miss a bus etc. etc.

The bump in the plan is when the two heroes are determined to be together even though they’re not supposed to be.  The movie raises the question of whether or not you can change your plan.  After the movie I had a fantastic discussion about the Jewish themes that weave throughout the movie.  The concept of ‘angels‘ or ‘agents’ follows a Jewish thread but most importantly, the idea that determination and genuine heartfelt commitment can indeed change our fates, our ‘plans’.

That is the essence of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  The idea that there is a destiny drafted for each of us but that we can effect that draft before it is sealed.  We are in part the creators of our own destinies.  That’s why Judaism says we should choose every action we take and not allow things to ‘just happen’.

I definitely recommend the movie. Â

It’s always a challenge to look past the dairy piece of Shavuot especially if you have an intolerance to the food group. But Rachael explains what you can do to celebrate the holiday without eating dairy food.

As we all prepare our Mishloach Manot, Costumes and food, we thought we would share with you a great recipe for Hamentashen, courtesy of allrecipes.com

The month of Shevat is home to the holiday of Tu B’Shevat. The holiday is most commonly referred to as the “birthday of the trees” so why do we celebrate a New Year for the trees just as we have Rosh Hashanah, a New Year for humanity? Rachael has the answer.

In celebrating Tu B’Shevat, it is customary to plant trees and to eat the shivat haminim, the seven species, that we read about in Jewish text. Rachael introduces each of the species and explains the significance behind these foods and how they relate to Tu B’Shevat.

Some Jewish festivals seem to adopt certain characteristics of secular holidays. Tu B’Shevat is one of them, even though it possesses a more complex history, a deeper meaning and a heightened spirituality. Sometimes confused with Arbor Day, Rachael delves into this common misconception.

Here is a fun one for you.

On the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, we read from the Book of Ruth, a story about  Ruth, an ancient Noabite and her mother-in-law Naomi, an ancient Israelite. The story goes deeper to explain how and why Ruth essentially becomes a “Jew by Choice” and becomes accepted into the community.

Rachael offers a suggestion on how to use Mussar to help with all the organizing and stress of cooking, cleaning and preparing for Passover.