happening in the prayers. Today, more than 56,000
people take part in these Yom Kippur services at 300
locations across Israel. An additional 1,500 people attend
one of Tzohar’s 60 Rosh Hashanah services.

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6. Go to Israel
In general, traveling to Israel on the High Holidays is a
more special experience than traveling to the Jewish state
during nearly any other time of year, explains Arnold,
whose daughter is studying in Israel for the year.

Arnold says Israelis have a reputation for being rude
or pushy, but during the Hebrew month of Elul — the
month leading up to Rosh Hashanah — Israelis tend
to mellow out.

“It’s like they know it instinctively,” Arnold says
with a laugh. “Their Jewish souls come out and they
know it is the yamim noraim and they better get
themselves together.”
The whole country prepares with holiday festivals,
music, delicious holidays foods and smells, he says.

7. Hold a discussion group
Skipping the rabbi’s sermon? Write your own, and invite
others to hear it. Klein has tapped into several online
resources to provide fodder for discussion at the table,
or for her son and his friends to discuss in an intimate
setting. Gross, too, says that using online content and
hosting a discussion group can help you learn about
the holiday, and then share those insights with others.

8. Make an Elul reflection calendar
If you want to get an early start, make an Elul reflection
calendar, says Gross.

Create a pie chart divided by the Hebrew months.

Break each pie down by the number of days in that
month. On each slice, record a guided meditation
question, or something you want to work on. Then,
every morning or before bed, read it and reflect.

Here, too, Gross says, there are plenty of online
trigger questions if you need guidance.

9. Picnic
Moses says hosting or attending a holiday picnic brings
people together, offering a venue to eat traditional foods
and spend time in nature at the same time. While the
children are playing, the adults can host the
aforementioned discussion group, or meditate under
the open sky.

10. Pray outside
In general, being outside is a good way to infuse
spirituality into your holiday. Transform your backyard,
a park or forest into a synagogue and pray.

Most years, Moses attends her synagogue’s
alternative Jewish New Year get-together for members
and non-members.

“There are thousands of people there, right under
the stars, with no ceiling above you,” says Moses. “You
feel like you are one with nature, with each other and
with God — whatever sense of God there is.”
On years she cannot make the service, she and her
family might travel to the beach instead.

“We’ll just sit there and listen to the ocean,”
20 THE GUIDE 2016/2017




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THE GUIDE 2016/2017
21