Each year, the coming of the fall season ushers in a very meaningful period for the Jewish people. It is a common misconception that Hanukkah is one of the more important Jewish holidays due to its close proximity to Christmas. However, some of the most important holidays actually occur in a one-month period in the autumn.

The first two holidays of this period, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, are commonly known as the High Holy Days. However, the term "Days of Awe" (Yamim Nora'im in Hebrew) better captures the mood of these days, and in fact, the entire month. The month-long period consists of four main holidays beginning on the evening of September 26 with Rosh Hashanah (the start of the Jewish calendar year). Rosh Hashanah is a festive day, yet it does not resemble the celebration of the secular New Year. Rather, Jews spend much of the holiday in synagogue praying and seeking atonement of their misdeeds from the past year. Many less observant Jews, who do not often attend synagogue during the year, will make it a priority to be present at services on Rosh Hashanah, as well as on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Yom Kippur (October 6), occurring ten days after Rosh Hashanah is the most solemn day of the year for the Jewish people. It is a fast day, meaning that Jews do not eat or drink from sundown to sundown (a full twenty-four hours). Other prohibitions include bathing, the use of perfumes, wearing comfortable leather shoes, and marital relations. Yom Kippur is a day when many Jews reflect on the past year and often on their entire existence.

The month also includes Sukkot (Tabernacles) and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing with the Torah). While Sukkot is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, and thus very important, it is not as widely observed as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is an eight-day joyous festival in which many observant Jews eat in temporary huts. The day after this holiday, Simchat Torah, is a day set aside to celebrate Judaism's holiest treasure - our sacred Torah. In addition to telling the ancient history of the Jewish people, the Torah also guides our daily lives and inspires us to be better, ethical humans.

The imagery of this month is of God sitting in judgment of our actions and choosing to inscribe us in the Book of Life or the Book of Death. The metaphor of God as a judge is very poignant as we contemplate the year that was. Even as early as the month preceding this holiday-full month, the Jewish people begin the process of teshuvah - repentance. May we all find the inner-strength to reflect on our actions and thoughts during the past year and resolve to repent for our sins and aim higher in the coming year.