Yoav, Israel, says hello, and Shanah Tovah!
Our Partnership2Gether community in Yoav, Israel, sends us some thoughts and wellwishes for the High Holidays and the new year.
From the P2G committee in Yoav
Dear friends, partners, and extended family,
As the new year begins, we pause to reflect on the past year, a year filled with challenges yet also one that brought inspiring community activity. In the face of a complex reality, both in Israel and around the world, our partnership has remained a source of strength, connection, and hope.
Rosh Hashanah is a time for both personal and communal reflection, a moment to revisit the goals we set for ourselves, the relationships we nurtured, and the path we wish to continue walking. It is also a time to express our gratitude and appreciation for the deep and lasting bond between the Yoav and
Lehigh Valley communities, a connection that’s much more than a partnership. It’s a family.
Over the years, this partnership has yielded impressive achievements: meaningful projects, deep human connections, and significant community initiatives. This past year, we witnessed exciting developments: a joint steering committee meeting in Athens, artists from Yoav hosted in the Lehigh Valley, and a variety of community projects, both face-to-face and virtual. Most importantly, we continue to see the strengthening of heartfelt connections between members of our communities, bonds that have grown into deep, enduring friendships.
One of the most moving highlights of the past year was the joint delegation to Greece, which took place March 16-24. Inspired by a new initiative of the Jewish Agency for Israel, we explored the idea of welcoming
a third Jewish community in Europe into our partnership. After careful consideration, we chose to begin building ties with the Jewish communities of Athens and Thessaloniki.
During the delegation, we toured historical and archaeological sites, strolled through vibrant markets, and delved into the rich and profound history of Greek Jewry. We were warmly welcomed in both communities and encountered a sincere desire for future cooperation.
Particularly emotional were our visits to the Jewish cemetery and synagogue in Thessaloniki, where we had the honor of joining the local community for Shabbat prayers and kiddush, moments that beautifully embodied the strength of global Jewish unity.
During the visit, seeds of future collaboration were planted, especially ideas for youth and student initiatives, and we are hopeful they will soon take root and flourish. This journey was made possible thanks to the devoted efforts of many behind the scenes, to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude.
In May, two central and beloved leaders of our partnership, Amit Zehavi, our devoted partnership director, and Hanna Bechar, chair of our steering committee, announced the conclusion of their terms following many impactful and inspiring years of leadership. Amit and Hanna have been pillars of this partnership, leading initiatives and delegations, building bridges, and strengthening the bond between our communities with dedication and love.
To ensure continuity and ongoing leadership, Orit Gutmann, a long-time member of the steering committee, assumed the role of chair on September 1. Orit currently manages the B’shvil HaKehila program, which supports the rehabilitation of communities in the Gaza border region through a year-long healing journey in Israel and abroad resulting in initiatives that promote community resilience and renewal. Orit draws inspiration from the partnership, which continues to demonstrate the power of group and community time and again.
We thank Amit and Hanna
with deep appreciation for their invaluable contributions. We wish Amit every success in her next chapter and warmly congratulate Hanna as she continues to serve as an active member of the committee. We welcome Orit with open hearts and excitement as she steps into her new role.
The Yoav Regional Council remains fully committed to this partnership. Especially in times like these—when we face complex security, environmental, and social challenges—the importance of personal and communal bonds becomes even more evident. Our shared identity, our mutual responsibility, and the warm connection between our communities are sources of pride and strength.
Before closing, we raise a heartfelt prayer for the return of the 50 hostages still in captivity, for the end of the war, and for the healing of Jewish communities in Israel and around the world.
As we begin a new year, we look to the future with hope and determination. May the coming year bring fruitful collaborations, meaningful encounters, and continued growth for our cherished partnership.
Shanah Tovah, a year of peace, health, joy, and fulfillment for us all.
From Alon Inbar May the New Year bring you and your loved ones joy, health, happiness, and success in all that you do and, above of all, peace, so we can see all the kidnapped back at home as soon as possible.
From Mazal and Itzik Malka With love to all our friends in Lehigh Valley, Shana Tova Umetuka. May it be a year of peace, prosperity, and a good start for all of us. Let’s pray for the return of all our hostages and an end to the wars.
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From Yael Malka Wishing you a sweet happy and healthy new year filled with love. May the coming year bring peace and healing to Israel, and may we all be inscribed for a year of safety and strength.
By Ariel Solomon Jewish Day School Director of Hebrew and Judaics
When I was growing up in Israel, in the mystical city of Tzfat, the Jewish holidays were always filled with unique meaning and beauty. For centuries, Tzfat has stood as a center of Jewish spirituality, home to great rabbis and infused with a remarkable blend of Jewish traditions from around the world. Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities prayed, celebrated, and built new customs side by side. For me, childhood in Tzfat was like being invited to a living buffet of Jewish life. On the chagim (holidays), I would wander from synagogue to synagogue, experiencing the richness of each community’s way of keeping mitzvot (commandments), all woven together into the fabric of the city.
Elul nights (roughly
From Riki Chrysler
Dear friends in Lehigh Valley, with the arrival of the Tishrei holidays—Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot— our hearts are filled with longing for you. We wish you a happy and blessed holiday from the bottom of our hearts.
August/September) in Tzfat carried their own magic. Visitors and locals alike roamed the ancient alleys, learning stories of the city’s spiritual past. Just before dawn, we gathered in synagogues for selichot, voices rising together in heartfelt prayer. On Rosh Hashanah, we would walk to the edge of the mountain overlooking the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and recite Tashlich (prayer for the symbolic casting off of sins). The blasts of the shofar echoed from every synagogue, creating a chorus of sound throughout the city.
The holiday of Sukkot transformed Tzfat into something wondrous. Sukkot (the temporary huts erected for the holiday) appeared like mushrooms after the rain—on rooftops, balconies, courtyards, gardens, even on the backs of trucks and along restaurant patios. The streets came alive with the Arba Minim market as neighbors
May days of happiness, joy, and good health come. May these family holidays bring you together. May the children get to celebrate with their parents and the whole family gathered together around the holiday table.
From Binyamin Aklom As the holidays approach, we extend to you our warmest wishes for a season of renewal, reflection, and joy. May
carefully searched for their perfect etrog (Arba Minim is the Four Species used in Sukkot rituals, and the citrus fruit etrog is one of these plants). As a teenager, Simchat Torah became a personal favorite. My friends and I would join the celebrations at the local nursing home, dancing hakafot from room to room with the Torah. When we finished there, we would walk together to the hospital, continuing the joyous circuit through its wards. Bringing Torah and song to those who could not leave their rooms left a profound mark on my Jewish identity.
That vibrant upbringing in Tzfat shaped who I am today, and it inspires me in my work at the Jewish Day School. Just as Tzfat wove together diverse voices into one spiritual chorus, we strive to nurture our students’ Jewish identities—helping them grow into proud, engaged Jews, con-
this year bring you and your loved ones health, strength, and peace, and may our shared values of community and connection continue to inspire and guide us. Shanah Tovah U’Metukah. May it be a good and sweet year for all.
From Hanna Bachar The year that has just ended brought with it challenges that tested our partnership and our spirit. Yet through
nected to tradition and community.
As this new school year begins, we are already preparing for meaningful holiday celebrations with our students. For Rosh Hashanah, our classes will hold a child-friendly seder replete with tasting symbolic foods and wishing for a sweet and blessed year. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, guests will visit our classrooms to sound the shofar, filling the halls with its stirring call. After Yom Kippur, students will design creative decorations for our school sukkah. During Sukkot, we will gather inside the sukkah to learn about the Arba Minim and the Ushpizin (the seven Jewish forebearers invited by prayer to visit), welcoming the spirit of our ancestors and leaders. Our community will also come together for our annual Sukkot
these challenges, our bond has only grown stronger. As we now welcome the new year, let us embrace it with hope, joy, and the promise of new beginnings. Or, as the beautiful Israeli song reminds us, “Something new begins. You can feel it in the air.” May this year bring light, togetherness, and endless reasons to celebrate life.
dinner, a night of shared food, games, and celebration.
In these challenging times for Jews around the world, our commitment to providing children with joyful, meaningful Jewish experiences is more important than ever. It is through these moments that we instill pride, resilience, and connection to our heritage.
From our JDS, we wish you a Shanah Tovah U’Metukah. May this year bring sweetness, peace, and blessings to us all.
A tapestry of tradition from Tzfat to our JDS community Potluck Sukkot
November 16, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, October
enjoy an afternoon filled with snacks, crafts, and, of course, a PJ Library story. All food must be dairy or vegetarian/ vegan. No meat may be brought to the synagogue. Please note, food may not be heated up in the synagogue kitchen. Please bring 6-8 servings.
Registration is required.
Please contact Abby Trachtman at abby@jflv.org or 610.392.1947 with any questions.
Meet other young Jewish families for PJ stories, conversation, snacks, and crafts!
Please note: Jay’s Local will not be serving at this time. Join Shalom Baby and PJ Library for a Shalom Baby play date!
Local on 2301 West Liberty Street Registration required. Please register by scanning the QR code, or by visitng the link below. jewishlehighvalley.regfox.com/shalom-baby-play-date
STUDENT RABBI
SAM ALLIE
Congregation Am Haskalah
Shalom l’kulam. I’m so honored to be preparing for 5786 in community with you all, to be diving into new roles and relationships while we dive into this next year. Still quite new myself as a student rabbi, I’ve been reflecting lately on this idea of newness, what it means for something to be “new.” I had been thinking about the fact that we say “new year” in English, but Rosh Hashanah is more accurately “head of the year.” We might be generous and translate it as “first of the year,” but even that’s a jump. This is something we know, but maybe something that we don’t consider seriously enough. So, I wondered, is it new, the year? And what does it change to say yes it is or no it’s not new? And this brought about another consideration, about how the newness of the year and my newness relate.
Jewish time, more often than not, can be understood in terms of cycles, and we can see this far beyond “the head of the year.” Each week is a Shabbat cycle, and the Shabbat cycles themselves are part of the yearly Torah cycle. Rosh Hashanah is part of the Days of Awe cycle (from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur) but also part of the new year cycle alongside 1 Nisan, 1 Elul, and Tu b’Shvat. We also follow the harvest-pilgrimage cycle of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. And the dizzying and beautiful thing about cycles is that their beginnings and endings aren’t so distinct. So perhaps Judaism doesn’t see a distinct separation between last year and the new year. Perhaps newness isn’t about a break from something and start of something else, but rather it’s like a feedback loop with repetition and familiarity but also distortion and change and dynamism.
Of course, there are radical breaks in the flow of things too; there are certain inevitable instances in life
FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY CLERGY
that feel and look and act like a major disruption. The clearest examples of this are birth and death. We might also think of significant medical diagnoses or major political changes in our society or the world—things from which it feels like there’s no going back. There’s a radical break from what was and a radical reordering of what is, and what is is new.
This is a different kind of newness, and yet we refer to many of these instances as cycles too. There’s the life cycle that spans from baby naming to tahara (washing of the dead), and there’s the news cycle on a microscale and the cycle of empires on a macroscale. So maybe newness can be a radically different, changed, neverbefore-seen thing, and it can also be a familiar, dynamic, flowing thing. Maybe the important part isn’t the quality of newness but the fact that our awareness of something new means awareness of the cyclical nature of things. What a powerful shift in perspective. Newness is not (necessarily) about comparing what was and what now is or will be; rather it’s about appreciating all that was and is and will be. Newness is taking three steps back and three steps forward, then bowing; it’s neither the steps out nor the steps in but the whole dance, the whole act of noticing creation unfold. We can, and certainly we do, hope for newness that is pleasant to us. We hope that the next year, and our relationships and roles within it, are fulfilling and just and joyous, and we can work hard to achieve these goals. But perhaps most importantly, we can notice and appreciate what was and is now and will be. This is the connecting thread between all that’s “new,” calling upon us to notice and appreciate. May it be so.
L’shana tova u’metukah, tikateivu v’tichateinu!
BERMAN Temple Israel of Lehighton
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
―J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring”
J.R.R. Tolkien was a Catholic, but his words resonate with one of the major themes of the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe. Our liturgy during these days is filled with admonitions to wake up, pay attention, and decide how we want to live. As Maimonides taught: “Wake up, you sleepy ones, from your sleep, and you who slumber, arise. Inspect your deeds, repent, remember your Creator. You who forget the truth in the vanities of time and throughout the entire year and devote your energies to vanity and emptiness which will not benefit or save: Look to your souls. Improve your ways and your deeds and let every one of you abandon your imperfect/destructive path and thoughts.” (Laws of Repentance 3:4)
These are not easy times in which to live. We are witnesses to growing totalitarianism around the globe. Antisemitism is on the rise. Our hearts are broken by the events of October 7, by the hostages still in captivity, and by what is happening in Gaza. It is hard for us to talk with one another. Underneath it all, our climate is changing in ways that are rapidly becoming irreversible, and governments around the world are not doing enough to mitigate it. It is likely, in fact, that the instability and anxiety created by climate change are fueling much of what is listed above. It is painful to live in times such as these. But, as Gandalf says, we don’t get a choice about that part. We only have a choice about how to respond. Our tradition is filled with stories of courage and resilience in times of hardship, from Biblical times to the present. From the Israelites in Egypt, to Akiba and the Roman Empire, to those who found light and hope in the camps, we have found ways to face difficult circumstances and to thrive against all odds.
What helps us to maintain courage and hope?
Paying attention / waking up. The shofar calls us to pay attention! In Hebrew, paying attention is translated as “sim lev,” which literally means
“to place the heart.” We must first pay attention to what is happening around us and within us, to place our hearts
may we strive to live with compassion, loving-kindness, and hope. May we, again and again, choose life.
healing mistakes. Each act of care and healing gives us resilience and hope. Learning and rest. While making time for learning and rest may seem frivolous in difficult times, it has sustained our people throughout the millennia. Curiosity and creativity enable us to see things differently, and our wisdom writings remind us that we are not dealing with something new, but the perennial struggles of humanity. Achad HaAm famously stated, “The Jews did not keep Shabbat. Shabbat kept the Jews.” Creating a time for rest and joy enables us to disengage from the difficulties of the world for a while, to renew our spirits, and to resume our work of healing the world refreshed. While Shabbat does this for us throughout the year, Rosh Hashanah is a special time to reset our souls.
Courage begins with the heart—indeed, the word is from the French word for heart, coeur. In the biblical understanding, the heart was the place where the wisdom of our intellect, our emotions, and our intuition was integrated. This integration is the birthplace of courage and hope.
May we face the coming year, and these times that we are living in, with the courage of the heart. May we pay attention, may we pursue justice and work for peace, may we uphold and strengthen the communities that sustain us, may we create time for rest and renewal, and
we continue on, how do we keep going when chaos surrounds us?
Rosh Hashanah teaches us that renewal is possible even in the darkest times. Just as the shofar calls us to wake up and reflect, it is also G-d’s siren song to the soul, reminding each of us that the world cannot exist without us. Every day presents a chance to awaken to new possibilities, to recommit ourselves to our values, and to bring light into the world. Renewal is not about denying hardship; it’s about discovering ways to grow stronger in spite of it. Every challenge we face— whether personal struggles, global turmoil, or threats to our community—contains an opportunity for spiritual growth. Each mitzvah, each act of kindness, each moment of prayer is a step toward renewal. These small, intentional actions accumulate, strengthening our resilience and fortifying our Jewish identity. In a world where fear can feel overwhelming, it is precisely our traditions that anchor us. The observance of Rosh Hashanah, the turning inward on Yom Kippur, the message of unity from Sukkot, where all Jews gather under one roof, and the joy of Simchat Torah, when we keep dancing through the strength the Torah gives us, are reminders that we are never powerless. Even in moments of uncertainty, we are capable of creating light, hope, and
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continuity.
This High Holiday season, let us commit to finding renewal every day. Let us rise above fear and uncertainty by reaffirming our connection to our faith, our community, and one another. By doing so, we ensure that our people remain vibrant and unshakable, no matter the challenges we face. May the coming year be one of health, courage, and spiritual growth. May we find the strength to persevere, the wisdom to renew, and the joy to celebrate life as a people who endure, who shine, and who continue to bring light to the world.
Shana Tova U’Metuka—a good and sweet year to all. Am Yisrael Chai!
RABBI MOSHE KURTZ
Congregation Sons of Israel
The High Holidays can be a daunting time for many of us. God calls upon us to reckon with our sins and beseech Him for mercy. When we internalize the severity of the matter, it can be a cause of much apprehension. While this is certainly true, there is perhaps a way for us to approach these High Holy Days that acknowledges their gravity while also the opportunity that they offer us.
When Rav Shmuel Rozovsky zt”l, one of the great Talmudists of the previous century, interviewed to study in the yeshiva of the eminent Rav Shimon Shkop zt”l, he was initially denied due to his young age. Figuring that he came all this way, he decided to sit in on one lecture prior to departing. At the end of the class,
Rav Shkop noticed that this young boy was crying profusely. When he asked what was troubling him, the child replied that he was distraught that he did not fully comprehend the lecture!
Upon hearing this, Rav Shkop admitted him into the yeshiva, for an individual who possesses such a strong desire to grow and cultivate his understanding of Torah is someone he wanted in his academy. And as they say, the rest is history. (See Sichos l’Sefer Devarim, Rav Avigdor Neventzal, p. 21.)
Rav Yaakov Bender shlit’a (Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash, p. 278-79) shares another remarkable anecdote:
“As a young man, the Sfas Emes was learning throughout the night and was so engrossed in the topic that he did not realize when it was time for the morning prayer service. Later, his grandfather, the Chiddushei Harim, spoke with him about missing the morning service and the dangers of being lazy. The Sfas Emes listened, not defending himself. His study partner asked him why he chose not to tell the Chiddushei Harim that he had not been sleeping, but learning! The Sfas Emes looked at him in surprise. “What? And lose out on rebuke from the zeide (grandfather)?” he asked. He understood that true rebuke is an expression of love and encouragement.”
During these Days of Awe, God asks us to improve our ways. While this is a challenge, it is also an opportunity. Words of tough love are an expression of care and concern for our welfare. And like the young Rav Shmuel Rozovsky, the most essential step to starting our journey is to express our willingness for this coming year to be even better than the last. And so may it be His will.
Wishing a Kesiva v’Chasima Tova—may we and all our loved ones be inscribed in the Book of Good Life and have a Happy New Year.
RABBI MOSHE RE’EM
Temple Beth El
There is one line in the High Holiday liturgy that speaks to me most profoundly. The words reflect the great hope that Judaism places in humanity and in the individual’s ability to change. In the famous Unetaneh Tokef prayer we find the following said about G-d: “Until his/ her dying day You wait for him/her, if s/he returns (and changes) You accept him/her immediately.”
Only G-d is capable of issuing a pardon. However, that pardon is not automatic. It requires the sincere desire on our part to improve, to do whatever we can to become better and to behave in a way that in some small measure contributes to repairing a very broken world. Time and again, on a yearly basis, every Rosh Hashanah, we promise and commit ourselves to change only to face our own disappointment. What is encouraging is that G-d never gives up on us. If so, we should never give up on ourselves. If we can change in some small measure, that can have a ripple effect on others.
Why does G-d have so much faith in human beings? Because, as the prayer continues, G-d recognizes that we are but “flesh and blood,” our “origin is dust and to dust we shall return.” We are “broken like a shard, withering grass, a fading flower, a passing shadow, a dissipating cloud, a blowing wind, flying dust, and a fleeting dream.” When compared to the Divine, who transcends space and time, our existence is insignificant. And yet, the human capacity to improve the world is tremendous.
If G-d is so patient, shouldn’t we be more patient
with ourselves and others and never give up on ourselves and others? That great optimism resonates throughout the High Holiday liturgy. As we begin a new year, may 5786 bring with it fulfillment of our hopes and dreams and patience for us and for others to change.
L’Shanna Tovah Tikateivu!
RABBI ADRIENNE RUBIN
Congregation Bnai Shalom
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, in “The Book of Jewish Values,” tells the story of Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter, the father of the Musar movement who once saw a cobbler working late by the light of a flickering candle. The rabbi pointed out that the candle was about to go out and asked the man why he was still working. The cobbler replied, “As long as the candle is burning, it is still possible to mend.” Rabbi Salanter repeated those words for weeks: “As long as the candle is burning, it is still possible to mend.”
Isn’t this the central message of the High Holy Days? That as long as we are alive, it is still possible for us to return, to repent, to right our wrongs? The Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, remind us that none of us is perfect. We all make mistakes. The work of this season is not to deny our mistakes, but to face them honestly and accept our responsibility for them. As we take stock, we can begin to repair the harms we have caused, and we can make
themself in business, and work on learning to express our anger fairly.”
As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we can embrace and take to heart the words of Rabbi Tarfon in Pirkei Avot: “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” Taking that first step is hard, but it can be done. If we need to repair a relationship, we can start with a text or a phone call. If we’ve fallen out of touch with someone, we can write them a note. If we’ve spoken harshly, we can offer a sincere apology. If we’ve turned away from a cause or commitment we once valued, we can begin again. If we have been holding onto anger, we can start, or at least try to start, letting it go. If we’ve been distant from our community, we can show up.
As long as the candle is burning, it is still possible to mend. If we’ve fallen short of who we want to be, we can begin again. And there is no time like the present.
L’shanah tovah tikateivu v’teichateimu. May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a good year.
RABBI MICHAEL SINGER
Congregation Brith Sholom
Maybe you have had this experience: It’s your birthday or Hanukkah or a graduation celebration, and you are excited to receive gifts. Then you start tearing off wrapping paper to find a pair of socks or a screwdriver set or a calendar for your desk. All nice and
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receiving something is nice, and gratitude is always important, but there is also a little let down.
Then sometimes we receive a gift that at first seems strange, overly practical, or mundane but later turns out to be a real life saver (new phone case, charger, joke book). Well, in the Jewish tradition, God often comes bearing sacred gifts, such as the Torah, mitzvot, Shabbat, and the Land of Israel, that are often complex and require effort on our part to fully realize.
One amazing and sacred gift from God that too often gets overlooked is the process of teshuvah (return) encapsulated in the Yamim Noraim (the Days of Awe, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur).
“Gift?!” you say. Yes! One of the most important of all of God’s gifts. The process of teshuvah allows each of us a new beginning, an opportunity to acknowledge, atone, and reimagine the mistakes we made in the previous year and grow, strive, improve, and work to become the very best of ourselves. God gives us the opportunity to begin the New Year with a clean slate, a second chance, an ability to shed the weight of our failures, repair relationships, and free ourselves from the negative burdens of our past. We can reclaim and commit to our core values, grow as individuals and communities, and make the very best out of our lives. God gives us this gift of life renewal, of teshuvah, out of profound love and faith that we can become better human beings.
This sacred gift, however, takes some serious spiritual work and commitment if we wish to make the most out of it. And as with some gifts, we don’t know the worth of
what we really have been given until we step forward into the future that awaits us. My wish for you, your family, and our entire Lehigh Valley Jewish community is that God’s gift of teshuvah leads us all to a better, more peaceful, and blessed New Year.
L’Shanah Tovah!
CANTOR ELLEN SUSSMAN
Temple Shirat Shalom
I can remember the time when my children would chant Torah for the High Holy Days, just as many of my bar/bat mitzvah students have done. For me that was one of the highlights of the Yamim Noraim. I can also remember the amazing blasting sound of the shofar chorus of religious school students during the Rosh Hashanah morning service. The excitement of changing the Torah covers to white, dry cleaning my white robe, and rolling the Torah to the Akedah are all memories etched into my psyche. So are ascending the bima, the Aron Hakodesh opened, standing next to my clergy partners as the choir and organ begin the Avinu Malkenu, and my singing voice ascending into the heavens.
My entire family would come to my home for all the Jewish holidays. I cooked the recipes handed down to me from Mollie, my grandmother, the quintessential balabusta. The holiday table was replete
with dishes, silverware, and stemware from my mother and grandmother. The table was covered with a tablecloth cross-stitched by my grandmother. It was beautiful and perfect. Just what I wanted my children to remember: the warmth of family and family tradition on the High Holy Days. These are my memories but everyone has their own of the High Holy Days. We cannot help but being transported back to times past when we hear the special nusach or tunes of the season. I always found it interesting that Jews refer to the High Holy Days as the holidays, just like our Christian neighbors refer to Christmas as the holidays. It seemed this referred to their importance and the fact that there are so many familial responsibilities and expectations associated with that time of year.
This alludes to one of the big problems associated with the High Holy Days. We have expectations that can no longer be fulfilled. My parents are gone, my children live far away, and my duties as a cantor have changed. It will never be as I remember it. I know many of us have the same challenges. As circumstances change, we can experience loneliness and despair. How can we combat these feelings and still find meaning this time of year? As always, our tradition has an answer: open up to the community.
(the Akedah), it is always interesting to hear the rabbi’s d’var Torah. Read the poetry in the Machzor and allow the words to touch your soul.
And, of course, feel the music of the High Holy Days as it envelops you with the sounds of our people. By spending the holidays participating in services, we can feel the embrace of the Almighty as God spreads a shelter of peace around us. If you are alone with no one to worry about during the holidays, turn this into a blessing and take the opportunity to focus on your own spirituality and find your own meaning. Spend the time being inspired by our tradition.
During these High Holy Days, no matter where we are or where we find ourselves, let us take this opportunity to really connect to the ancient words and rituals that bind the people of Israel together.
Shana Tovah U’metukah.
RABBI SHOSHANAH TORNBERG
Congregation Keneseth Israel
fitting theme for these Yamim Nora-im (Days of Awe).
Recently, I read an interesting article by Israeli Rabbi Dalia Marx exploring the origins of Kol Nidrei (“From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar”). At its core, the dry, legal language of Kol Nidrei cancels the vows we make to God in the event that we are unable to fulfill them. Our earliest ancestors used vows in expressing their spirituality, at times in ways that our tradition lauds, and at other times in ways against which our tradition warns. In the rabbinic period, vows were discouraged, and Kol Nidrei itself was met with some confusion and discomfort. A curious aspect of its textual development is the fact that the original text claims to nullify vows made in the previous year, while the current version in most prayer books claim to nullify vows that will be made in the year to come. Historically, this latter version sometimes put Jews at risk in antisemitic communities that claimed this caveat proved Jews could not be trusted (never mind that this referred only to vows we make to God).
If family is not around, reach out to those in a similar situation. It is a time to be together with other Jews. Either go to one of the local synagogues or, if that is impossible, go online and watch a service. Immerse yourself in the sacred words of our Torah. Even though we all know the story of the binding of Isaac
October 1 this year, our Lehigh Valley Jewish community observes Kol Nidrei, its triad of utterances haunting the record of our deeds. This ancient, compelling strain plucks the yearning from the Jewish soul like a melody from an orchestra of strings. It is so powerful, partly because its melody is rooted in the murky recesses of time. It seems, some years, that its words hardly matter. Kol Nidrei pulls at something beyond words—certainly a
Marx references an interesting archaeological connection between 4th-8th-century Babylonian incantation bowls and the 9th-century legal text of Kol Nidrei. Though these texts have marked differences, their commonalities are fascinating. Discovered throughout Mesopotamia, the bowls were made of clay and had Aramaic writing. They were found buried upside down in or around the home. These bowls were used as magical tools to wrench a favor, blessing, or fate for one’s personal life. Like Kol Nidrei the bowls utilize a list of Aramaic nouns and verbs related to vows, commitments, promises, oaths, and the like. It is likely that such formulas were used by Jews long before the implementation of Kol Nidrei as part of our formal Yom Kippur worship.
But, aside from being interesting, why does this matter? As we approach this season, if we spend the time and offer the attention and authenticity that these holy days demand, we begin to touch something well beyond the comfortable boundaries of our day-to-day reflections and interactions. Yom Kippur offers us the chance to approach the unknown. We aim to touch the beyond. We tremble before the Throne of Glory. We are small and mortal, and our lives are all too easily snuffed out in a blink. And yet we stand before the awesomeness of the Holy. We acknowledge on these days what little control we have over our lives. In truth, it can be terrifying. Both the bowls and the text of Kol
Clergy messages Continues on page 7
BANK. BORROW. INVEST
Clergy messages
Continued from page 6
Nidrei demonstrate how, since ancient times, human beings have used language to negotiate our encounter with the unknown.
It is curious that this legal formula (and the incantation texts, for that matter) em-
ploys language as a broker between us and the beyond. I began this piece by remarking how much weight Kol Nidrei bears on its melody alone. It is as if, in the difficult work of approaching the throne, we use words,
but we know our hearts and their yearnings cannot be carried only on mere words’ rational, articulable merit. The dauntingness of the task requires something more, requires a kind of spiritual uplift, work for which words
Sounding the shofar at older adults communities
By Howard Nathanson Jewish Family Service Board Member
What is a shofar?
The shofar is simply the hollow horn of a kosher animal, except for a cow—due to that golden calf incident in Exodus. Every Rosh Hashanah, we anxiously await the sounding of the shofar. The shofar must be curved and have no blemishes, cracks, holes, or adornments. The loud blasts act as a wakeup call to us as we begin the 10-day period of self-reflection and teshuva (repentance). The shofar also represents the trumpets used for a coronation of a sovereign. We envision G-d as our sovereign during this period, judging our past year’s deeds and acts and hoping for a judgement for a good life in the year to come.
are not a match. Music sends our prayers heavenward. I am grateful for the wings of melody upon which our prayers (God-willing) will soar in this season to come. It is a special time of year, in which music emerges both as prayer from deep within the heart and also as voice from on high.
May the composers and musicians that raise the tone and tenor of our prayers on these Days of Awe find blessing for their labors and gratitude from our kehillah. The power of our Kol Nidrei depends upon them. The efficacy of all our prayers does.
High Holy Days Schedule of Services at area synagogues
For questions about any of the following listings, to confirm that schedules have not changed, and to register to attend any services or events, contact the hosting synagogue using the information provided below.
ALLENTOWN
CHABAD OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY
Rabbi Yaacov Halperin, Chabad Lubavitch, 4457 Crackersport Road, 610-351-6511, ChabadLehighValley. com
All are welcome regardless of affiliation, knowledge, or previous background. Traditional services are blended with contemporary messages in a friendly environment with Hebrew-English prayer books provided. There is no cost to attend and no membership fee. Kiddush buffet afterward; the suggested donation is $50 per seat.
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
6:40 p.m. Evening service
Tuesday, September 23
9:30 a.m. Morning service
10:45 a.m. Children’s service
11:15 a.m. Shofar sounding followed by kiddush
4:30 p.m. Tashlich and shofar sounding service
7:30 p.m. Evening service
Wednesday, September 24
9:30 a.m. Morning service
10:45 a.m. Children’s service
11:15 a.m. Shofar sounding followed by
kiddush
SHABBAT SHUVA
Saturday, September 27
10 a.m. Morning service followed by kiddush
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
6:26 p.m. Fast begins and light candles
6:45 p.m. Kol Nidrei service
Thursday, October 2
9:30 a.m. Morning service
11 a.m. Children’s service
11:45 a.m. Yizkor memorial service
5 p.m. Mincha service
6 p.m. Neilah closing service
7:22 p.m. Fast ends, followed by break fast
SUKKOT
Monday, October 6
6:18 p.m. Light candles
Tuesday, October 7
10 a.m. Morning service
Wednesday, October 8
10 a.m. Morning service
SHEMINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT TORAH
Monday, October 13
6 p.m. Evening service followed by kiddush and hakafot
Tuesday, October 14
10 a.m. Morning service
11:45 a.m. Yizkor memorial service
6:30 p.m. Evening service followed by Hakafot under the Stars
Wednesday, October 15
10 a.m. Morning service followed by kiddush and hakafot
CONGREGATION AM
HASKALAH
Student Rabbi Sam Allie and Rabbi Steve Nathan, Reconstructionist, AmHaskalahDirector@gmail.com
Services are in-person at the JCC (except tashlich) and live on Zoom. They are free to attend and open to all. Tickets are not required, but all nonmembers must RSVP. Email the synagogue to register or for a Zoom link or accommodations.
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
7 p.m. Service
Tuesday, September 23
10 a.m. Service
2 p.m. Streamside tashlich at Allentown’s Cedar Creek Parkway
Rose Garden pavilions at the end of Honochick Drive, followed by a dairy/ vegetarian potluck lunch
Wednesday, September 24
10 a.m. Service
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
6:45 p.m. Kol Nidrei
Thursday, October 2
10 a.m. Service
1 p.m. Creative avodah
5:30 p.m. Neilah
7 p.m. Free community break fast
CONGREGATION
KENESETH ISRAEL
Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Reform, 2227 West Chew Street, 610-435-9074, kilv.org
Youth services are concurrent with all services listed.
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
7:30 p.m. Service
Tuesday, September 23
9 a.m. Family service
10:30 a.m. Service
1 p.m. Tashlich
Friday, September 24
10 a.m. Hike (location to be determined)
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre service
Thursday, October 2
9 a.m. Family service
10:30 a.m. Service
12:30 p.m. Meditation service (following morning service)
2:30 p.m. Study session for all 4:05 p.m. Yizkor
5 p.m. N’eilah and Havdalah
CONGREGATION SONS
OF ISRAEL
Rabbi Moshe Kurtz, Orthodox, 2715 Tilghman Street, 610-433-6089, sonsofisrael.net
SELICHOS
Sunday, September 13
12:58 a.m. Selichos service
8:30 a.m. Shacharis
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
6:30 a.m. Selichos/Shacharis
6:40 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
6:40 p.m. Candle lighting
Tuesday, September 23
8:30 a.m. Shacharis
10 a.m. Youth programming 10:30 a.m. Shofar blowing
5:15 p.m. Tashlich (hosted by the Kurtz family at the Lakes; walking group leaves the synagogue at 4:55 p.m.)
6:40 p.m. Mincha
7:25 p.m. Maariv
7:38 p.m. Earliest candle lighting
Wednesday, September 24
8:30 a.m. Shacharis
10 a.m. Youth programming
10:30 a.m. Shofar blowing
6:45 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
7:36 p.m. Yom Tov ends
FAST OF GEDALIAH
Thursday, September 25
5:40 a.m. Fast begins
6 a.m. Selichos/Shacharis
6:35 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
7:24 p.m. Fast ends
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
6:30 a.m. Selichos/Shacharis
3 p.m. Mincha
6:25 p.m. Latest candle lighting
6:43 p.m. Fast begins
6:45 p.m. Kol Nidrei (tallis should be donned a few minutes prior)
Thursday, October 2
9 a.m. Shacharis
10 a.m. Youth programming
11:30 a.m. Sermon and Yizkor
5 p.m. Mincha
6:10 p.m. Neilah
7:15 p.m. Maariv
7:23 p.m. Fast ends
SUKKOS
Monday, October 6
6:30 a.m. Shacharis
6:17 p.m. Candle lighting
6:25 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
Tuesday, October 7
High Holy Days Schedule of Services at area synagogues
9 a.m. Shacharis
5:40 p.m. Daf Yomi
6:20 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
After 7:15 p.m. Candle lighting and preparation for second day
Wednesday, October 8
9 a.m. Shacharis
5:40 p.m. Daf Yomi
6:20 p.m. Mincha/class/Maariv
7:13 p.m. Yom Tov ends
CHOL HAMOED SUKKOS
Thursday, October 9
6:30 a.m. Shacharis
6:10 p.m. Candle lighting
6:15 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
Friday, October 10
6:30 a.m. Shacharis
6:10 p.m. Candle lighting
Saturday, October 11
9 a.m. Shacharis
6:10 p.m. Mincha / Shalosh Se’udos
7:09 p.m. Shabbos ends
Sunday, October 12
8:30 a.m. Shacharis
6:10 p.m. Candle lighting
6:15 p.m. Mincha/Maariv
Monday, October 13
6:15 a.m. Shacharis
6:06 p.m. Candle lighting
6:10 p.m. Mincha
SH’MINI ATZERES & SIMCHAS
TORAH
Tuesday, October 14
9 a.m. Shacharis
10:45 a.m. Yizkor
6:05 p.m. Mincha/Maariv/hakafos
After 7:04 p.m. Candle lighting and preparation for second day
Wednesday, October 15
9 a.m. Shacharis followed by hakafos and Torah readings with Kol Hane’arim
7:03 p.m. Yom Tov ends
7:10 p.m. Maariv
TEMPLE BETH EL
Rabbi Moshe Re’em, Conservative, 1305 Springhouse Road, 610-435-3521, bethelallentown.org
Services marked with an asterisk (*) are available for streaming as well as in person. Call the synagogue to register for services and to get streaming access.
SELICHOT
Saturday, September 13
8 p.m. Strings of Hope (Brith Sholom)
9 p.m. Community-wide Selichot service
Save the Dates
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
6:40 p.m. Light candles
7:15 p.m. Dedication of memorial plaques
8 p.m. Service
Tuesday, September 23
8:30 a.m. Full traditional Shacharit*
9:45 a.m. Torah service and Musaf*
9:45 a.m.-noon. Youth service
10:30 a.m.-noon. BimBom Buddies
11 a.m.-noon. Teen Talk
Following the services: Tashlich Service at the Stream (Princeton Court Site; enter the cul-de-sac and follow the pathway to the bridge)
4 p.m. Jewish Family Education family tashlich and shofar blowing at Fish Hatchery, Allentown
7:39 p.m. Light candles
8 p.m. Ma’ariv service
Wednesday, September 24
8:30 a.m. Full traditional Shacharit*
9:45 a.m. Torah service and Musaf*
10:30 a.m. Contemporary family service
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
6:15 p.m. Kol Nidre service
6:25 p.m. Light candles
Thursday, October 2
8:30 a.m. Full traditional Shacharit*
9:45 a.m. Torah service, Yizkor, and Musaf*
9:45 a.m.-noon. Youth service
10:30 a.m.-noon. BimBom Buddies
10:45 a.m. Yizkor service
11 a.m.-noon. Teen Talk
3 p.m. Guided prayer service and walking meditation
4 p.m. Mincha*
5:45 p.m. Ne’ilah*
5:45 p.m. Jewish family program
7 p.m. Ma’ariv and Havdalah*
7:21 p.m. Shofar blowing
SUKKOT
Monday, October 6
6:17 p.m. Light candles
Tuesday, October 7
9:30 a.m. Service
10:30 a.m. B’Yachad family service
7:15 p.m. Light candles
Wednesday, October 8
9:30 a.m. Service
HASHANA RABA
Monday, October 13
6:06 p.m. Light candles
SHEMINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT
TORAH
Tuesday, October 14
9:30 a.m. Service
6:30 p.m. Service
7:04 p.m. Light candles
Wednesday, October 15
9 a.m. Service, honoring Daniel Leisawitz as chatan torah and Adina Re’em as kallat b’reishit
TEMPLE SHIRAT
SHALOM
Cantor Ellen Sussman, Reform, cantorsussman@gmail.com
Temple Shirat Shalom is providing hospitality in homes during the High Holidays. Email Cantor Sussman for information.
BETHLEHEM
CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM
Rabbi Michael Singer, Conservative 1190 West Macada Road, 610-866-8009
SELICHOT
Saturday, September 13
8 p.m. Strings of Hope
9 p.m. Community-wide Selichot service
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
6:43 p.m. Candle lighting
7 p.m. Ma’ariv
Tuesday, September 23
9 a.m. Morning service
5:30 p.m. Tashlikh at the Monocacy Farm Project, 395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem
7 p.m. Afternoon/evening services
7:41 p.m. Candle lighting
Wednesday, September 24
9 a.m. Morning service
7:40 p.m. Havdalah
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
5:45 p.m. Mincha
6 p.m. Kol Nidre service
6:28 p.m. Candle lighting
Thursday, October 2
10 a.m. Morning service and Yizkor
5:30 p.m. Afternoon service
6:30 p.m. Ne’eilah service
7:26 p.m. Yom Kippur ends
SUKKOT
Monday, October 6
6:19 p.m. Candle lighting
Tuesday, October 7
9 a.m. Morning service
7:18 p.m. Candle lighting
Wednesday, October 8
9 a.m. Morning service
7:17 p.m. Havdalah
HOSHANAH RABBAH
Monday, October 13
7:45 a.m. Morning service
6:08 p.m. Candle lighting
SHEMINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT TORAH
Tuesday, October 14
9 a.m. Morning service
11 a.m. Yizkor
7 p.m. Simchat Torah family service
7:07 p.m. Candle lighting
Wednesday, October 15
9 a.m. Morning service
7:06 p.m. Havdalah
EASTON
CONGREGATION BNAI
SHALOM
Rabbi Adrienne Rubin, Reform 1545 Bushkill Street, 610-258-5343, bnaishalomeaston.org
Call the synagogue office regarding tickets for Break the Fast and to preregister for services and events as noted. Bring a photo ID.
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
7:30 p.m. Morning service
Tuesday, September 23
10 a.m. Morning service followed by Rosh Hashanah community luncheon (kosher dairy/vegetarian meal)
2:40 p.m. Tashlich (meet at the synagogue at 2:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, September 24
10 a.m. Morning service
2:15-3:15 p.m. Community family service (must preregister)
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre service
Thursday, October 2
10 a.m. Morning service
1 p.m. Yizkor service
2:15-3:15 p.m. Community family service (must preregister)
4:30 p.m. Afternoon and Ne’ila service
7:21 p.m. Holiday ends, followed by Break the Fast (must preregister and purchase tickets)
SUKKOT
Monday, October 6
6 p.m. Sukkot Service in the Sukkah, followed by a festive meal
PRE-SHABBAT PIZZA IN THE SUKKAH
Friday, October 10
6 p.m. Pizza in the Sukkah (must preregister)
SHEMINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT TORAH
Tuesday, October 14
6:30 p.m. Evening service including Yizkor followed by Simchat Torah celebration and festive oneg
LEHIGHTON
TEMPLE ISRAEL OF LEHIGHTON
Rabbi Marjorie Berman, Reform 194 Bankway Street, svsemmel@ptd.net, 610-379-9591
All services led by Rabbi Majorie Berman except for the September 24 chanting service, led by Rabbi Daniel Swartz. Call Temple Israel at 610-379-9591 to register for services.
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 22
7 p.m. Service
Tuesday, September 23
10 a.m. Morning service followed by kiddush and tashlich
Wednesday, September 24
10 a.m. Morning chanting service with Temple Hesed
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, October 1
7 p.m. Kol Nidre service
Thursday, October 2
10 a.m. Morning service
5:15-6 p.m. Yizkor
6 p.m. Ne’ilah and Havdalah followed by break fast
Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley
Rosh Hashanah for tykes BOOK REVIEW
“Rosh Hashanah: New Year, Gather Near,” written by Leah Weber, illustrated by Taryn Johnson, Little Bee Books, 2024, 22 pages.
“My Shofar: A Rosh Hashanah Board Book,” written and illustrated by Ann Diament Koffsky, Behrman House, 2025, 12 pages.
By Sean Boyle Jewish Day School Librarian
“Rosh Hashanah: New Year, Gather Near” and “My Shofar: A Rosh Hashanah Board Book” are two great board books to introduce young
children to Rosh Hashanah traditions.
“Rosh Hashanah” has a racially diverse family coming to celebrate the holiday, and the cousins are excited to prepare and celebrate with their bubbe. Using colorful illustrations with an autumnthemed palette, Weber and Johnson portray many aspects of Ashkenazi holiday rituals and traditions. There are no back matter, glossary, or detailed descriptions of the different events in celebrating the holiday, but this is a great book for families that celebrate Ashkenazi traditions and can help provide
additional information or confirmation that what a child sees in the book is the same as what the family does.
He maintained his
9. Polite answer from Tom Sawyer 13. “Of course!”
14. Florida’s “Horse Capital of the World”
“My Shofar: A Rosh Hashanah Board Book” is the fourth title in Koffsky’s My Jewish Objects series. The main character is a young female elephant trying to blow her shofar. She is unable to make a loud blast and tries many different techniques to get louder. Finally, she takes it to an adult for help, and the adult clears some obstructions inside. The book introduces the concepts and differences of loud and quiet and demonstrates perseverance. There is a little back matter explaining the shofar and its use.
15. Japan’s prime minister, 1964-72
16. Author of Tehillim
18. Alphabet components: Abbr.
19. Cause to be loved
20. Crow cry
22. “Oy vey!”
23. Jewish historian Baron
24. Beach toy
25. She was (Edna) Garrett
26. Author of Tehillim
30. Harden’s team, on the scoreboard
31. Not as much
32. Authors of Tehillim
36. Former NFL coach Edwards
37. Swiss investment banking giant
38. Author of Tehillim
44. “Te ___” (Pedro’s “I love you”)
45. Squiggly fish
46. Like Eilat weather
48. Old coin of France
49. “___ & the Women” (2000 Richard Gere movie)
50. Place for floats
52. Word before “Hu” on
Both books are ideal for kids 3 and under and are great supplements for families celebrating the holidays. The older person reading the
Pesach
54. Talmudic source naming the authors of Tehillim
56. Popular wood
57. Start one’s day
58. “Musket” ending 59. Locking mechanism
60. Hurdles for those seeking J.D. student status
61. Mickey’s stock symbol
Down
1. Prepares for Shabbat, perhaps 2. Sinat ___ 3. Shabbat item
4. Best Picture winner in the 21st century
5. Words after “rent” 6. Bathroom, for short 7. Draw out, as an answer 8. Hechsher in Israel 9. Armani competitor, briefly 10. Subway slogan 11. Some highlights 12. Author of Tehillim 17. Rock sci. 21. Bonny young girl 24. Hoot
books aloud will enjoy them too.
Sean Boyle is librarian of the Jewish Day School and Congregation Keneseth Israel, and president of the Association of Jewish Libraries.
27. Went silent (with “up”)
28. “Bali ___,” song in “South Pacific.”
29. 12th of 12, briefly
32. They found the Dead Sea Scrolls
33. Colt’s fans, for short?
34. Couple’s pronoun
35. DH’s goal, often 36. “The Newspaper of Torah Jewry”
39. Like some supplements
40. Sacrificial spots 41. Common Lashon, unfortunately 42. Gave a sermon
43. Kol follower
44. Author of Tehillim 47. Hons
50. “X-Men: Days of Future ___”
51. $5 bills, in old slang
53. A squat, e.g. 55. Word on Italian street maps
Some local cooks’ global treats for your holiday table
By Sandi Teplitz Special to Hakol
Our Lehigh Valley community is fortunate to have many talented cooks. Several of these have come to us from other countries and have graciously offered to share their favorite Rosh Hashanah recipes with Hakol readers. We hope you enjoy their tasty treats.
Appetizer from South Africa, submitted by Pam Byala
3 diced onions sautéed in 3/4 cup oil until soft 1 dozen eggs hard-boiled, peeled, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper
Spoon the onion onto the egg, discarding most of the oil. Add seasonings. Place in a serving bowl, adding a tablespoon of the remaining oil to moisten. Mix well, then cover with wrap. Refrigerate and serve with freshly sliced challah.
Main course from Toronto, Canada, submitted by Lauren Rabin
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Sprinkle of garlic powder
1 egg
2 tablespoons matzo meal
1 1/2 cups ketchup
2 cups ginger ale
Combine all ingredients except the last two and form balls.
Combine ketchup and ginger ale in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then add the meatballs and simmer for two hours. Serve with rice.
Vegetable from Ukraine submitted by Rifka Greenberg
Eggplant, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers in equal proportions
One onion sautéed until soft Garlic, salt, and pepper to taste Cilantro, chopped
Roast the first three ingredients at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cool and peel. Drain the liquid. Combine the mixture with onion. Stir and season with the rest of the ingredients. Simmer for a few minutes. Serve at your favorite temperature with crusty bread.
We’re here to offer a full kosher selection from the first day of the new year to the last.