BGF's Josh Weiler: Celebrating the Jewish High Holidays and Sukkot

As we find ourselves in the middle of Sukkot, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the Jewish High Holidays and the significance of this joyous festival. Hear from Josh Weiler, Investor in our London team, as he shares how he’ll be celebrating this year with family.

Overview & Timing

The Jewish High Holidays (or High Holy Days), encompass a period of deep spiritual reflection, communal prayer, and joyous celebration. This sacred time begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and culminates with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Following the solemnity of Yom Kippur, Jews around the world transition into the celebration of Sukkot, a festival that commemorates the Israelites' wandering in the desert.

Preparations

Preparations for the High Holidays start well before Rosh Hashanah. They include both spiritual and physical preparations, like attending special selichot (penitential) prayers, participating in acts of charity, and seeking forgiveness from those you may have wronged. In my family, we have a tradition where we call our uncles and aunts from around the world—London, Miami, Washington, Antwerp, Jerusalem, and Toronto. These conversations not only strengthen our familial bonds but also bring a sense of unity and shared purpose as we enter this period together.

As Yom Kippur approaches, the preparations become even more intense. Families prepare a substantial pre-fast meal, ensuring that it includes nutritious and filling foods to sustain them through the 25-hour fast.

One of my favourite moments of the Sukkot preparations is building the sukkah with my family. Together, we set up this simple outdoor hut, covering it with branches and leaves, which serve as a reminder of how God protected the Israelites during their desert wanderings. We decorate it with colourful fruits, handmade artwork, and soft carpets, transforming the hut into a cosy and inviting space. It’s a special tradition that not only enriches our festival but also strengthens our family bonds each year.

Celebrating

Rosh Hashanah is a deeply meaningful time for me. I cherish the moments spent in synagogue services where the shofar (a ram's horn) is sounded, calling me and my community to a place of introspection and repentance. Sharing a festive meal with my loved ones is another highlight. We dip apples in honey to symbolise our hope for a sweet new year and serve other foods like the head of a fish (which I avoid like the plague), pomegranates, and round challah bread. Each of these represent our wishes for health, peace, and success.

In contrast, Yom Kippur is a full day of fasting, prayer, and contemplation. We spend most of the day in the synagogue, where the powerful liturgy, particularly the Kol Nidre and Neilah services, guides us in our journey of seeking atonement. On a personal level, the many hours spent in prayer and meditation are amongst the best of my year. It’s the time I feel my thoughts most deeply, as I reflect solely on my life, relationships and aspirations.

We transition from the seriousness of Yom Kippur into the joyous celebrations of Sukkot. The ritual of waving the Four Species (etrog, lulav, hadass, and aravah) during prayers symbolises unity and the rich diversity within the Jewish community. We eat all our meals within the sukkah and occasionally sleep there, deepening our connection to our heritage and the natural world. Throughout the eight days of Sukkot, we invite family and friends to join us in the sukkah, sharing food, drinks and many laughs (especially halfway through a bottle of whiskey!).

I am deeply grateful to partake in the Jewish High Holidays as it offers me a profound opportunity for reflection, repentance, and renewal, all wrapped in the warmth of tradition and community.