Watch TV High Holidays services of 3-denominations on JBS & JLTV! Shana Tovah v'Yikatevu!

As regular synagogue attendance is curtailed by health concerns, many traditional high-holiday attendees will only have participate via online and TV.  

New York/Jersey based Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBS-TV), features Orthodox and Conservative services from, respectively, Hampton Synagogue on Long Island, and Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, as well as Reform services from Central Synagogue in Manhattan. The JBS schedule is as follows:

West-Coast based, Jewish-themed television network, JLTV (Jewish Life Television) offers High Holiday programming via cable and satellite TV in the U.S. and Canada. Jewish Life Television/JLTV is available in over 45 million homes through Bell, Comcast, DirecTV, Spectrum Cable, as well as other video providers.

 

EREV ROSH HASHANAH EVE  (For PDT, subtract 3 hours, e.g., 4pm, 7pm, & 10pm).

Friday, September 18, 2020, 7:00pm, 10:00pm and 1:00am EDT 

Popular Jewish Music Performer and Composer Josh Nelson curates and leads Unwritten, a new High Holiday Prayer Experience, for Erev Rosh Hashanah. This is the time to return.

First daytime of ROSH HASHANAH, 

Saturday, September 19, 2020, 6:00AM, 9:00AM and 12:00N (Eastern)

Rabbi Mark Blazer curates and leads a Rosh Hashanah Service, joined by legendary Cantor Herschel Fox, Dr. Noreen Green from the Los Angeles Jewish Community Chorale, Popular Jewish Musician Craig Taubman and more.

Saturday, September 19, 2020, 7:00PM (Eastern)

The Pico Union Project presents My Israel. Ambassador Dennis Ross and Palestinian Activist Ali Abu Awwad discuss where we are and where we ought to be on the journey to peace and understanding in the Middle East.

Second Day ROSH HASHANAH, 

Sunday, September 20, 2020, 6:00AM, 9:00AM and 12:00N (Eastern)

Rabbi Mark Blazer curates and leads Rosh Hashanah Service, joined by legendary Cantor Herschel Fox, Dr. Noreen Green from the Los Angeles Jewish Community Chorale, Popular Jewish Musician Craig Taubman and more.

Sunday, September 20, 2020, 1:00PM and 6:00PM (Eastern)

The Pico Union Project presents My Journey to Faith. Rabbi Brad Artson, Rev. Najuma Pollard and Aziza Hasan discuss their joys and struggles as faith leaders in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities.

Sunday, September 20, 2020, 5:00PM (Eastern)

The Pico Union Project presents My Israel. Ambassador Dennis Ross and Palestinian Activist Ali Abu Awwad discuss where we are and where we ought to be on the journey to peace and understanding in the Middle East.

YOM KIPPUR     KOL NIDRE 

Sunday, September 27, 2020, 8:00AM and 11:00AM Eastern  (5AM & 8AM Pacific Time) 

Groman Eden Mortuary & Eden Memorial Park presents a Kever Avot Virtual Memorial Service, to honor our loved ones. 

Sunday, September 27, 2020, 7:00PM, 10:00PM and 1:00AM (Eastern)

Popular Jewish Music Performer and Composer Josh Nelson curates and leads Unwritten, a new High Holiday Prayer Experience, for Kol Nidre. This is the time to return.

Sunday, September 27, 2020, 8:30PM, 11:30PM and 1:30AM (Eastern)

From the legendary 1950's television series The Goldbergs, the Goldberg Family attend synagogue for the solemn YOM KIPPUR

Monday, September 28, 2020, 6:00AM, 9:00AM and 12:00N (Eastern)

Rabbi Mark Blazer curates and leads Yom Kippur Service, joined by legendary Cantor Nathan Lam, Dr. Noreen Green from the Los Angeles Jewish Community Chorale, Popular Jewish Music Performer Craig Taubman and more.

Monday, September 28, 2020, 5:00PM, 10:00PM and 1:00AM (Eastern)

The Pico Union Project presents My Song – The Art of Art. Leading Jewish musicians Craig Taubman, Dave Koz, Gabriel Mann and Chava Mirel uncover their process in creating music that touches the soul. 

JLTV will also be running additional high holiday special programming throughout this holy period in the Jewish calendar, from news magazine Good Week Israel, children’s program Rhythm ‘N Ruach, history-driven Unpacked and comedy YidLife Crisis.

Kol Nidre Service. Famed Composer Vladimir Heifitz directs the Cantor’s Concert Ensemble.

Do Jewish Lives Matter? Old City Jerusalem Rabbi Ben Packer addresses renewed Arab intifada and accomplice libels in the press

Rabbi Ben Packer of Jerusalem Heritage House in the Old City addresses L.A.

Rabbi Ben Packer of the Jerusalem Heritage House in the Old City addresses the issue of the renewed intifada from Abbas-incited Muslim youth resulting from libels about Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount/ Al-Aqsa Mosque.



Appearance at the Jewish Activity Center of L.A. (formerly Social Dashboard, led by Aryeh Rifkin). October 25, 2015 in Los Angeles.

How does the symbolism of the four Sukkot species fit you?

“You will take for yourselves on the first day [of Sukkot] the fruit of a citron tree, date-palm branches, twigs of a plaited tree, and willows of the stream; and you will rejoice before Hashem your God for seven days” (Leviticus 23:40).  

What do the lulav and esrog you see Jews carrying on Sukkot mean? JooTube visited the 613 Mitzvah store in Pico-Robertson where Rabbi Shimon Kraft sells etrogs and lulavs for $40 a pair. Moshe Klein and Jonathan Eyshi, 10th-grade Yeshiva students at Mesivta Birkas Yitzchok in Los Angeles explain the lulav and esrog used in prayer during the Jewish holiday of the Tabernacles (Booths), the holiday of Sukkot which runs for a week, commencing Sept 20, 2013.

British scholar, Daniel Pinner writes: 

The Midrash explains the Four Species to represent four different kinds of Jews: “Just as the etrog has both pleasant taste and pleasant fragrance, so there are Jews who have both Torah-learning and good deeds… The date-palm has a pleasant taste but no fragrance, representing Jews who have Torah-learning but have no good deeds…The myrtle has a pleasant fragrance but no taste, representing Jews who have good deeds but no Torah-learning… And the willow which has neither fragrance nor taste represents Jews who have neither Torah-learning nor good deeds” (Vayikra Rabbah 30:12). All four species have to bepresent in order to fulfil the mitzvah; if any one of them is missing, then the Jew has not carried out the mitzvah at all (Rambam, Laws of Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav 7:5; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 651:12); if, for whatever reason, one or more of the species is unavailable, then one shakes the others without saying the Brachah, in memory of the mitzvah which should have been  (Shulchan Aruch ibid.).  Read more of Be an Etrog on Arutz Sheva.

Rabbi Aaron Parry ("Complete Talmud for Dummies") explains the symbolism of the willow branches used in the Sukkot Hoshana Raba worship, originated in Israel's original, sovereign incarnation.



To get more of your questions about Judaism and Jewish ritual answered, purchase a copy of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Talmud" direct from Rabbi Parry here. 

Daniel Pinner concludes in Be An Etrog:

The myrtle with its pleasant fragrance but no taste, representing the Jew who has good deeds but no Torah-learning, survives for appreciably longer than the lulav with its pleasant taste but no fragrance, representing the Jew who has Torah-learning but no good deeds.  And finally we come to the etrog, with its pleasant taste and pleasant fragrance, representing the Jew who has both Torah-learning and good deeds.  The etrog remains fresh and fragrant and yellow (or green) for weeks.  Study and internalise the lesson of the Four Species.  Be an etrog-Jew! Contribute both pleasant taste and pleasant fragrance to the bundle of the Four Species, contribute both Torah-learning and good deeds to the community. The etrog-Jew is the Jew who survives, the Jew who endures.

Thousands of Israelis pray Selichot at Judaism's holiest site, the Wailing Wall in East Jerusalem

Thousands of people gathered on Monday night to pray at the holiest site in Jerusalem- in front of the Wailing (Western) Wall (remnant of the Second Temple) in the Old City of East Jerusalem.



With Rabbis leading prayers of penitence, called Slichot, thousands gathered before Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, which started on Tuesday 26 September.

Video: Jews Shout-out to G-d at the Western Wall; Be favorably inscribed in the book of righteousness!

Tzfat's Rabbi, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, led a special Selichot service in the Western Wall. "We're praying to G-d by shouting out to him."

During the Ten Days of Repentance, the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, thousands of Jews traditionally visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem for Selichot (penitential prayers). 

A special prayer service was at the Wall held this week, advertised in posters throughout the city of Jerusalem, attended by people from all over the country. It was led by the Rabbi of the city of Tzfat, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, the son of the late Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu. 

The sound of the shofar was not heard during this particular service; rather, Rav Eliyahu asked the participants to cry out together to G-d instead because of the many difficulties besetting the Jewish people and the state of Israel at the start of this new year.

 

“We’re lifting our voices to G-d,” Rav Eliyahu explained. “We’re shouting out to him like a baby shouting out to his father. When a baby cries, his father understands him. His mother understands him. This how we shout out to G-d. Without talking.”

“We pray to G-d that the prayer will not just take place here at  the Kotel [Western Wall, ed.] but in the actual Holy Temple, on the Temple Mount,” added Rav Eliyahu. “May it be rebuilt quickly and in our time. Amen.”

The rabbi also had a blessing for the people of Israel on the occasion of the new year.

“We want to wish everyone the strength of happiness, the strength of blessing. Chatima Tova to the entire people of Israel. May they be inscribed in the book of redemption, in the book of righteousness, in the book of blessing and good living.”   Source: (Israel National News)

Tshuvah, u tefillah, u tzedakah maavirin et ro’ahhagezeirah!  Repentence, prayer, and righteous giving have the Power to transform sins into "good deeds" and a meritous decree for your inscription in the Book of Life.  Behave selflessly, helping and giving to others, and become involved in improving the Klal Yisrael.


A communal-minded person indicates by his altruism and benevolence that he recognizes his mission: to emulate Hashem by being a giver.  Fortify JewTube's mission to defend Hashem's stake in the world. 


For doing so, may He bless you with a kesivahva chatimah tovah!  May you be inscribed in the book of redemption, in the book of righteousness, in the book of blessing and good living!

Jews complete 3-weeks of penance on Shemini Atzeret / Hoshana Rabah - exclusive video

Jews around the world observed Hoshana Rabbah on Friday, 9 Oct. The day is known as the day of the final sealing of judgment for the coming year, which began on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, 3-weeks ago.

Prayer services at Los Angeles' Orthodox "Happy Minyan" were filled with pleas for forgiveness and blessing, as begun on Yom Kippur. Hoshana Rabbah marks the final day of the holiday of Sukkot, the Feast of the Tabernacles.

The modern day observance of the rituals of Hoshana Rabbah are reminiscent of the practices that existed in the times of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. During Sukkot, the four species (citron and woven lulav) are taken in a circuit around the synagogue once daily. On Hoshana Rabbah, there are seven circuits.

The priests carried the palm branches or willows in their hands. The entire ceremony is to demonstrate rejoicing and gratitude for a blessed and fruitful year.

Five willow branches are beaten on the ground or other surface to symbolize the elimination of sin. This is also symbolic as a prayer for rain and success in agriculture. According to the Kabbalah, beating the ground with the five willow branches is done to "Sweeten the Five Severities". There is no blessing said for this ritual, but the Aramaic expression "chabit, chabit velah barich" is chanted. This happens to be the oldest known Jewish custom (or Minhag) in Orthodox Judaism. (Source Wikipedia)

Today marks the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret - and tonight and Sunday, the celebration marking the completion of the annual cycle of temple-readings of the Torah - Simkhat Torah begins. Synagogues' Torahs are carried, kissed, and danced around the congregation (and sometimes overflowing into the streets).

The Torah's are scrolled back to the beginning - and the cycle of reading, worship, and study begins anew.

Normal is Overrated.: Making Confessions

Normal is Overrated.: Confessions

Media-producer Rabbi Alan Abrams, formerly of L.A, relocated to Phoenix, proposes a novel way to conduct your annual Elul atonement.

Israeli Kabbalist teacher, Rabbi Avraham Sutton, celebrates Havdalah with the So Cal Carlebach- Happy Minyan

The Israeli spiritualist teacher, Rabbi Avraham Sutton, celebrates Havdalah, acknowledging the conclusion of the holy Sabbath day of rest with the Happy Minyan-aires, Carlebach-orthodox congregation of Southern California.

Prayer and musical accompaniment by Shifra Hastings, Ira Caplan on guitar, Steve on percussion, & Joshua Spiegelman on flute. Another Joo-Tube original.

Moshav Band plays Shlomo Carlebach tribute at L.A. Concert

Havdalah is the prayer which ends the holy Sabbath, distinguishing it from the mundane. Led by Moshav's Yehuda Solomon.

"Yibane Ha Mikdosh / Stand-up for your rights" with guest fiddler, Lior Kamenitsky

Full version of Sukkot Hoshana Rabbah service at L.A.'s modern orthodox, Happy Minyan

Soulful modern Orthodox Jewish Sukkot prayer worship with lulav and etrog. Led by Jeff Rohatiner with guest Chazzan Yehuda Greene. Torah reading service, led by Chazzan Lazar Wax, 39-year vet from NYC.

The seventh day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, 21st day of Tishrei, is known as Hoshana Rabbah (Aramaic: הוֹשַׁעְנָא רַבָּא, "Great Hoshana/Supplication"). This day is marked by a special synagogue service, the Hoshana Rabbah, in which seven circuits are made by the worshippers with their lulav and etrog, while the congregation recites Hoshanot. It is customary for the scrolls of the Torah to be removed from the ark during this procession. In a few communities a shofar is sounded after each circuit.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoshana_...

Five willow branches
At the conclusion of a number of Piyyutim (liturgical poems), five willow branches are beaten on the ground or other surface to symbolize the elimination of sin. This is also symbolic as a prayer for rain and success in agriculture. According to the Kabbalah, beating the ground with the five willow branches is done to "Sweeten the Five Severities". There is no blessing said for this ritual, but the Aramaic expression "chabit, chabit velah barich" is chanted. This happens to be the oldest known Jewish custom (or Minhag) in Orthodox Judaism.

"It was customary to make one procession around the altar on each day of Sukkot, and seven on the seventh day" [Sukkah 4:5]. The priests carried the palm branches or willows in their hands. The entire ceremony is to demonstrate rejoicing and gratitude for a blessed and fruitful year. Moreover, it serves to tear down the iron wall that separates us from our Father in Heaven, as the wall of Jericho was encompassed "and the wall fell down flat" (Joshua 6). Furthermore, the seven circuits correspond to the seven words in the verse Erhatz benikayon kappay, va'asovevah et mizbahakha Hashem - "I wash my hands in purity and circle around Your altar, O Lord" (Psalms 26:6).

A rare, inside look into the spiritual, musical, modern-orthodox Jewish prayer service: The Happy Minyan davens Sukkot / Sukkos Hoshana Rabbah

Hoshana Rabbah is the seventh and last day of Sukkot, which is the day before Shmini Atzeres. Named for the fact that more hoshanot are said on this day than all the previous days of the festival. On Hoshana Rabbah the beating of the aravah, willow branch, is performed. Although Hoshana Rabbah was not accorded any different status by the Torah than the other days of Chol Hamoed, the Jewish people have observe many customs on this day and have invested it with a solemn character. For example, the white parochet, curtain on the ark, in shul remains up until after Hoshana Rabbah.

In the morning services of Hoshanna Rabbah, following Musaf (and some places after Hallel) the hoshanot are said as written in the prayerbook, the congregation marches around the bima seven times, after which comes the beating of the aravah, willow branch. The aravahs are beaten against the floor five times. No blessing is recited over the beating of the aravah since it was merely a custom.

Highlights from this year's Hoshana Rabbah Sukkot service. A rare look into the orthodox prayer service that rocks with an open celebration of Jewish spirituality and prayer. Enjoy this 12-min video:

Facilities provided by Cong. Bnai David of Los Angeles. Spirituality provided by The (Carlebach) "Happy" Minyan congregation

Hoshana Rabbah is known as the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashannah. During the festival of Sukkot the world is judged for water and for the blessings of the fruit and crops. The seventh day of the festival is the final sealing and since human life depends on water, Hoshanna Rabbah is somewhat similar to Yom Kippur. Hence there are additional prayers and quests for repentance as on Yom Kippur.