Tishrei: A Month of Beginnings

“Tishrei: A Month of Beginnings” by Rachel Adlerstone examines the Jewish month of Tishrei as a cohesive sequence of observances rather than a series of disconnected holidays. The book investigates the shifts that occur as the month progresses, such as the transition from auditory experiences to silence, from fasting to communal outdoor meals, from vulnerability to joy, and from the conclusion of Deuteronomy to the commencement of Genesis. It explores how a visual calendar depicts Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Repentance, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Hoshana Rabbah, alongside the concluding observances of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, noting their different civil day placements in Israel and traditional diaspora calendars.

This study delves into recurring motifs like memory, precipitation, sustenance, dwelling, community, and renewal, analyzing their varied functions throughout Tishrei. Source-based essays trace historical developments and community-specific variations, while contemporary accounts illustrate the month's observance in American homes, academic settings, and synagogues. The text avoids portraying Tishrei as a spiritual challenge or forcing a singular message onto every festival. Instead, it offers reflection questions focusing on transitions and the cumulative meaning derived from the month's experiences, providing readers with an enhanced understanding of Tishrei's intensity and its evolving forms.