A complete guide to the High Holidays

September 1 - October 12, 2007 / 18 Elul - 30 Tishrei, 5768
with candle-lighting times for Melbourne Australiaother cities

18 Elul
SaturdaySeptember 1
The Birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic Movement

The Birthday of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi - the founder of the Chabad Chassidic Movement.

A Day of rejoicing and introspection.

25 Elul
SaturdaySeptember 8
1 Hour after midnight Selichos are recited. Then every morning until Rosh Hashana the Selichos are recited in the early morning.

ErevRoshHashana
WednesdaySeptember 12
Hatarat Nedarim (Nullification of Vows) after the Shachrit (morning) prayers.

Make a Pruzbul.

Prepare a candle or flame that will be able to burn safely for more than 48 hours. (For example: a 48 hour Yahrzeit candle. This will be used to light the Yom Tov Candles on Thursday night, and the Shabbos candles on Friday evening).

Eruv Tavshilin.

Light Yom Tov Candles -- 18 minutes before Sunset (5:49pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Rosh Hashana

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-zi-ko-ron.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Rosh Hashana
ThursdaySeptember 13
Blowing of Shofar and the Tashlich service in the afternoon.

Light Yom Tov Candles AFTER nightfall not before (6:47pm), from a pre-existing flame.

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Rosh Hashana

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-zi-ko-ron.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.
NOTE: A pre-existing flame is a flame burning continuously since the onset of the festival, such as a pilot light, gas or candle flame.

Rosh Hashana
FridaySeptember 14
Blowing of Shofar.

Light Shabbos Candles 18 minutes before Sunset (5:51pm), from a pre-existing flame.
After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Shabbos

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Shabbos Koi-desh.
Termination of Shabbos (6:49pm)

4 Tishrei
SundaySeptember 16
Fast of Gedaliah - A daytime fast - We neither eat nor drink, from approximately three hours before sunrise until 40 minutes after sunset (Fast ends: 6:37pm).

6 Tishrei
TuesdaySeptember 18
Yahrzeit of Rebitzen Chana - the mother of the Rebbe. A day which the Rebbe would encourage for women to add in their commitment to the special Mitzvot obligatory on the Jewish women, for which the name Chana is an acronym.
A. Maintaining a Kosher home.B. The observance of Taharat Hamishpacha. The lighting of Shabbos and Yom Tov candles.

ErevYom Kippur
FridaySeptember 21
Kapporos service in the early morning.

Festive meal in the early afternoon.

Light the candles 18 minutes before Sunset (5:57pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Shabbos & Yom-Kippur

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Shabbos V'Shel Yom Ha-ki-purim.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Fast begins. One does not eat nor drink until after the fast ends Saturday night. Fast begins (5:57pm).

Yom Kippur
SaturdaySeptember 22
Yizkor memorial prayers.

Yom Kippur/Shabbos ends after nightfall (6.55pm).

After Maariv (evening services) it is a custom to do the Kidush Levanah Service before going home.

Sukkot Eve
WednesdaySeptember 26
Prepare a candle or flame that will be able to burn safely for more than 48 hours. (For example: a 48 hour Yahrzeit candle. This will be used to light the Yom Tov Candles on Thursday night, and the Shabbos candles on Friday evening).

Eruv Tavshilin.

Light Yom Tov Candles -- 18 minutes before Sunset (6:01pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Yom Tov

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Foods and drink are consumed in the Sukkah Prior to eating a meal in the Sukkah we recite the following blessing:

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de- sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-shev Ba-su-kah.
First dayof Sukkos
ThursdaySeptember 27
Shake the four kinds; We recite the following blessings:

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Awl Ne-tee-las Lu-luv.

The following blessing is said only the first time before we shake the Four Kinds:

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heh-che-yoh-nu Vi-ki-ye-mo-nu Ve-he-ge-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Light Yom Tov Candles after nightfall, from a pre-existing flame not before (6.59pm).
After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Yom Tov

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

Second dayof Sukkos
FridaySeptember 28
Shake the four kinds.

Light Shabbos Candles 18 minutes before Sunset (6:03pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Shabbos

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Shabbos Koi-desh.

Chol HaMoed - Intermediate DaysSaturday - Wednesday, September 29 - October 3

1st dayChol Hamoed
SaturdaySeptember 29
Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, Musaf for Sukkot.
Termination of Shabbos (7:01pm)

2nd dayChol Hamoed
SundaySeptember 30
We do not put on Tefilin today.

Shake the four kinds.

Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, Hoshaanos, Musaf for Sukkot.

3rd dayChol Hamoed
MondayOctober 1
We do not put on Tefilin today.

Shake the four kinds.

Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, Hoshaanos, Musaf for Sukkot.

4th dayChol Hamoed
TuesdayOctober 2
We do not put on Tefilin today.

Shake the four kinds.

Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, Hoshaanos, Musaf for Sukkot.

After midnight we recite the entire Psalms (Tehilim). Afterwards we eat an apple dipped in honey.

Hoshaana Rabah
WednesdayOctober 3
We do not put on Tefilin today.

Shake the four kinds.

Hoshaana Rabah Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, (all) Hoshaanos, Musaf for Sukkot.

After Mincha we conclude recital of Psalm 27.

Prepare a candle or flame that will be able to burn safely for more than 48 hours. (For example: a 48 hour Yahrzeit candle. This will be used to light the Yom Tov Candles on Thursday night, and the Shabbos candles on Friday evening).

Eruv Tavshilin.

Light Yom Tov Candles -- 18 minutes before Sunset (6:07pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Yom Tov

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

After Maariv; Dancing with the Torah.

SheminiAtzeret
ThursdayOctober 4
Yizkor memorial prayers and Geshem Prayers

Light Yom Tov Candles after nightfall, from a pre-existing flame not before (7:06pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Yom Tov

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

After Maariv; Dancing with the Torah.

SimchasTorah
FridayOctober 5
Hakafot (Dancing with the Torah).

All males get Aliya to the Torah.

Shabbos Beraishis
SaturdayOctober 6
Light Shabbos Candles 18 minutes before Sunset (6:09pm).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Shabbos

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Shabbos Koi-desh.
Termination of Shabbos (7:07pm)

30 Tishrei
FridayOctober 12
Light Shabbos Candles 18 minutes before Sunset (6:16).

After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Shabbos

Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Shabbos Koi-desh.