Jewish High Holidays – A Time of Appreciation and Giving
September is eventful both in JFCS’ calendar and in the general Jewish calendar. This month is filled with Jewish High Holidays, with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot all falling within this month. Coinciding with these holidays, JFCS is holding a High Holiday food drive as well as participating in the annual Give for Good Louisville event. September and its holidays mark a perfect occasion to reflect on the necessity of nonprofit organizations like JFCS, and the necessity of community support in ensuring the stability of such organizations.
On September 10, the day before Rosh Hashanah, JFCS will participate in Give for Good Louisville, an annual giving day hosted by the Community Foundation of Louisville to encourage support for local nonprofits.
This year, JFCS has also been selected for the official Give for Good Louisville livestream, where we will share the impact of our programs and services across the community. You can tune in, help spread the word, and consider making a gift.
Early giving begins: September 7
Giving day: September 10, open until midnight
Learn more or donate: visit our page
Watch the livestream at giveforgoodlouisville.org
Give for Good offers a meaningful way to begin the High Holiday season by putting the values of community appreciation and support into action.
Rosh Hashanah, representing the Jewish New Year, falls between the night of September 11 and the day of September 13 this year. More religious sects of Judaism encourage followers to take the occasion to engage in self-reflection and repentance. More generally across Judaism, Rosh Hashanah is understood as a time of new beginnings and as the opening of Jewish High Holiday season. This makes it the perfect time for us to start the Jewish New Year with our annual food drive, which ensures that Louisvillians in need can access the food they need to enjoy this season. During this food drive, food drop-off boxes can be found in synagogues and Jewish organizations across Louisville. You can also donate directly at the JFCS office during business hours, or by purchasing items through the JFCS food pantry Amazon wish list.
Our food drive will be open until Yom Kippur on September 21. Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, is an occasion in which Jews are asked to reflect on their lives over the past year and to seek forgiveness for their wrongs committed. It is a day for Jews to think about their closeness to God and to the Jewish communities around them. An occasion with such communal significance marks the perfect culmination of our food drive, an event centered around supporting communities.
Finally, the Jewish festival of Sukkot falls between September 25 and October 2 this year. Celebrating the season of autumn harvest, Sukkot invites Jews to take time to relax while also emphasizing that they welcome guests and appreciate the people around them. In conjunction with these values of support and welcoming, JFCS is holding its Family Mitzvah Day on September 27 between 1 pm and 3 pm. This event invites families and individuals of all ages to enjoy each other’s company while helping the outside community by sorting through the food donations given throughout the food drive. This season of harvest is a wonderful time to ensure that everyone can enjoy delicious, nutritious food, and we need your help in providing this opportunity! If you’d like to take part in Family Mitzvah Day, please sign up to volunteer here.
The Jewish High Holiday season invites us to reflect on helping our community, but our commitment to helping everyone in Greater Louisville live with dignity and purpose continues year-round. Soon, we’ll turn to our annual campaign to secure the support needed to keep creating opportunities for Louisvillians. As we observe the High Holidays and look ahead, we’re thankful for your support. Your generosity makes a meaningful difference to the lives of those we serve.