Shana Tova!

Wishing you all a safe, healthy and sweet new year.

Rosh Hashanah starts Friday night the 18th of September / 1st of Tishrei. Customs include blowing the shofar, attending synagogue services, festive meals and eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey.

From left to right:

Tobi Kahn – “Tokah II”, Rosh Hashanah Apple and Honey Set.

Julian Voloj – “Members of self-proclaimed ‘Black Hebrew Israelite’ congregations celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Rainey Park, Queens, NY, circa 2006.” 

The series “Self-Portrait for a New Year” by Ruth Kestenbaum Ben-Dov is an annual act of painterly self-reflection in the weeks leading up to the High Holidays. Since 2009 the artist has created a small self-portrait at this time of year, following the passing of time and the changes it brings. The entire series may be viewed here, with her thoughts on the meaning of the series in a blogpost from 2014 here.