Another holiday tacked onto the end of Sukkot? Don’t we already have enough reflection and celebration to mark the beginning of a new year? And why does this holiday have two different names
Our overview will guide you through this grand finale to the fall holidays, with its mélange of themes and practices (including a prayer for rain which honors our foremothers and their struggles).The holiday season culminates in a raucous celebration of Jewish learning and Jewish community as we dance with the Torah scrolls.
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Geshem: Verses for Our Mothers | Prayer
By Mark Frydenberg, Translated by Rabbi Simhcha Roth
On Shemini Atzeret, Jews offer a special prayer for rain (it is the beginning of the rainy season in Israel). The traditional version of this prayer refers obliquely to each of the forefathers and their relationship to water; this version highlights the foremothers.
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Feminine Stanzas for the Prayer for Rain | Prayer
By Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan
Based on a translation of traditional stanzas by David de Sola Pool
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New Rituals for Simchat Torah | Article
By Rabbi Jill Hammer
New ideas for celebrating Simchat Torah
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Women's Tefillah and Torah Reading for Simchat Torah | Ritual Component
By Susan Hornstein, From Women's Tefila Net
An innovative way to call up women to the Torah for a women's Torah reading, highlighting the foremothers
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Feminist Haftarah Blessings | Prayer
By the Dorshei Derekh Women's Haftorah Group (Ellen Frankel, Elizheva Hurvich, Lori Lefkovitz, Miriam Senturia, and Rivkah Walton).
Readings by Jewish women selected to complement the weekly Torah reading
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The Woman's Prayer (La Orasion de la Mujer) | Prayer
Melody by Flory Jagoda, recorded by Susan Gaeta
Traditional Sephardic blessing before lighting candles
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Essence of Tishrei | Article
A summary of facts, characters, and holidays pertaining to the month of Tishrei
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