High Holidays and Succot

Meaning and Philosophy of These Holidays

Commentary, based on Jewish Orthodox Tradition 

Instruction on Observance of these Holidays 

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For Jews in Russia, and new immigrants from Russia in Israel even the holiest days in the Jewish calendar - Rosh ha-Shana and Yom Kippur -are sometimes only names devoid of any meaning. The goal of this book is to fill this vacuum. It clarifies the significance and philosophy of these holidays, as well as Succot. It also contains information on how these days are observed.
The material is based on classical sources and is true to the spirit of traditional Judaism, yet is re-worked and translated into Russian in a way that makes it accessible to today's Russian Jews. The book deals with the most basic concepts of the High Holy Days and Succot and includes translations of works by Rabbi J.-D. Soloveitchik and Nobel Prize winner Sh. Agnon. Worthy of note are special sections on the Biblical account of the Binding of Isaac (the key symbol on Rosh Hashana) and the entire Book of Jonah (read in the synagogue on Yom Kippur) both of which appear with a new, extensive Russian language commentary. 

CONTENTS

PUBLISHER'S FOREWORD

Part 1. ROSH HA-SHANA

1.  Introduction
2.  Creation of the World and God's Judgement
3. Judgement and Repentance (Teshuva)
4.  Repentance and Celebration
5. Additional material
5.1.  The Fast of Gedalia
5.2.  The Sacrifice of Yitzchak: text with commentaries

Part 2. YOM KIPPUR

1.  Introduction
2.  The Time for Appealing - the Book of Yona
3.  The Peculiarities of Teshuva on Yom Kippur
4. Yom Kippur in the Temple
5.  The Celebration of Yom Kippur
6. Additional material
6.1. A Princess - a Parable of the Dubna Preacher
6.2.  R. J.-D. Soloveitchik. Man is Vulnerable
6.3.  Sh. Agnon. Fragments from the Book "The Days of Awe"

Part 3. SUCCOT, SHEMINI ATZERET AND SIMCHAT TORAH

1.  Introduction
2.  Tabernacles (Succot)
3.  Unity
4.  Water
5.  The Relationship between the Holy Days
6.  The Order of Celebration

Appendix. THE LAWS OF THE HOLIDAYS