Category Archives: Festivals

Jewish festivals

High Holidays

The Month of Elul, Selihoth, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur

By Yefet Isaac

We are fast approaching the month of Elul. In the next few paragraphs, I would like to give some insights on the month of Elul, Selihoth and the High Holidays.

Rosh Hodesh Elul is on August 20-21 and as per the Sephardic custom, the Bene-Israel community begin the first Selihoth prayers on Sunday August 23 and onwards until Yom Kippur. Men and women rise before the break of dawn and go to the synagogue. There, the special prayers are recited with tears and anguish, as the days of the high holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Hakippurim draw near.

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