High Holidays – Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

The Jewish High Holidays (also called the Days of Awe) of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fall in the first half of the Jewish month of Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year,  contains two opposites.  On the one hand it’s the birthday of the world.  A time for sweetness; for apples and honey.  On the other hand it begins a time to take stock of our lives and to begin becoming our best selves.  It begins the Days of Awe, a time for introspection and improvement.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a time to recognize your faults, and apologize to those whom you’ve hurt intentionally or by accident. This day is the most serious and sacred of Jewish holidays and is notable for a 26 hour fast. 

Sukkot

Sukkot is a joyful outdoor holiday characterized by the Sukkahs (booths) we build, decorate and “dwell” in for a week.  Some families eat their meals in the sukkah, and some even camp out in them.  It is customary to decorate a sukkah with seasonal squash, fruits and veggies, and to invite ushpizin, or spiritual guests like Abraham and Sarah, to the sukkah. A modern spin on this is to invite Ruth Bader Ginzburg, or great-grandparents rather than biblical figures. 

The Asheville JCC builds a large, beautiful sukkah each year, typically decorated with corn stalks, pumpkins, gourds and more.  Your family can schedule time for a picnic in the sukkah by signing up about a week before the holiday.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a week-long celebration featuring gift-giving and candle lighting.  The holiday is a commemoration of the end of a four-year battle against the Seleucid Empire which tried to enforce particular Greek beliefs and practices among the Jews. The Maccabee’s success is one of freedom of religion. Later, the Rabbis, uncomfortable celebrating a military victory, introduced the idea of the Hanukkah miracle of light.  Namely, that the last bit of oil found in the Holy Temple lasted for eight nights, allowing for time to acquire a new supply.  

At the Asheville JCC, we celebrate with candle lighting, singing and a specially expanded gift shop offering candles, menorahs, gifts and more. Hanukkah joy is a part of every program for young and old.  

Tu Bishvat

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet dapibus tortor imperdiet erat eleifend sed. Facilisi volutpat et a pellentesque molestie eleifend eu mattis. Vel phasellus et interdum proin neque hac porttitor aenean euismod nunc habitasse. Sapien interdum senectus aenean viverra lacinia labore consequat do auctor turpis etiam rhoncus pellentesque. In aliqua blandit augue dictum pharetra imperdiet vitae tempus convallis praesent eleifend tristique.

Purim

Purim recounts the story of deliverance Book of Esther of the Jewish people from a plot by evil Haman to destroy them in the ancient Persian Empire. Celebrations include dressing in costumes, reading the Megillah, giving gifts of food known as mishloach manot to friend, making contributions to charity, and making enough noise to drown out Haman’s name. 

At our JCC, we make and share mishloach manot, bake traditional cookies called hamentashen and parade around the building in costume.

Passover

Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and the process of going from slavery to freedom. A week-long holiday, Passover is characterized by its own special cuisine which first and foremost includes matzah. 

Adults at the JCC experience a special brunch-time seder, led by the Jewish Lifelong Engagement Director. Children in our programs crunch matzah and sing songs of freedom in their classrooms and afterschool groups.

Shavuot

Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.  At the same time, Shavuot is also an agricultural holiday celebrating the first harvests. Around the Asheville area, folks congregate in all-night or late-night study groups to commemorate this holiday.  Since dairy desserts are customary for this holiday, our JCC staff and children indulge in ice cream from a local ice cream truck.

Shabbat

Shabbat, or Sabbath, is a weekly observance.  Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel described Shabbat as a “palace in time,” meaning a sacred weekly 25-hour sanctuary meant to be built through intentional rest, and joy.  Here at the J, our preschoolers celebrate each week with candle lighting, challah and song.  Adults come to our building for guided meditation and relaxation with friends during Brunch B’Yachad.  Even the children in swim lessons get a taste of challah during Saturday swim lessons. 

Challah Club

Subscribe to the JCC’s Challah Club and receive a fresh challah from Asheville’s City Bakery every week! Challah club participants can pick up a loaf from the JCC on Fridays between 8:30 am and 4 pm. Challah can be paid for by credit card only. Rates: $27/month for pick up at the JCC $6.75 per individual loaf for members / $8.00 per individual for non-members.

Email Meir McCauley or call 828-253-0701 to join the challah club or place an order for year-round individual loaves.

Yom HaShoah

Yom HaShoah is Holocaust Remembrance Day.  A solemn day, The Asheville Jewish community partners each year to bring a special speaker for Holocaust Memorial Day, or Yom HaShoah.  This effort is led by the Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Asheville.

Yom Ha’atzmaut

Following closely on the heels of Yom HaShoah is Yom Ha’atzmaut, or Israel Independence Day.  Combined with Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, the three days together are known as the Yamim. The JCC celebrates with its annual Felafel 5K Splash and Dash. Sign up to run and swim with your friends.