High holidays

Where are Israelis escaping to during the holidays? Top destinations seeing a demand surge

Ahead of the High Holy Days, vacation demand has jumped 25%, with Seychelles, Mauritius, and Corfu leading as safety becomes a top traveler priority.

Le Morne Beach, Mauritius.
 A kippah demonstration in front of a synagogue in Berlin

US urges countries to boost security around synagogues ahead of High Holidays

Blowing shofar in Jerusalem's Nahlaot neighborhood

Grapevine: Nahlaot journeys

New Jewish children's books released for the High Holidays in 2026 include ones about awe, tashlich and apologizing for burping.

From fake burps to reverse tashlich, new children’s books bring the High Holidays to life


Israelis return to booking vacations early: These are the destinations gaining popularity

Crete, Rhodes, Batumi, and Budapest lead bookings for the High Holy Days as average airfares remain 6% below last year, for now.

Margaret Island in Budapest.

Fire at kosher meat processing plant in Iowa shuts down production ahead of High Holidays

Elefant said OU Kosher was working to “find solutions for ramping up production at other plants” while warning that the crisis could fuel bad actors. 

The largest kosher slaughterhouse in the United States is located in Postville, Iowa and has been renamed AgriStar.

'From Alienation to Monarchy': Ruth and the architecture of loving-kindness - book review

Yael Ziegler’s 'Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy' is a 534-page book on a four-chapter megillah.

RUTH JOINS her mother-in-law, Naomi, in traveling to the Land of Israel, while Orpah turns back to Moab after accompanying them for a stretch. King David will descend from Ruth, and Goliath from her sister-in-law.

Voice dedications and videos: Shufersal launches app for redeeming the Gold Gift Card

The app enables receiving digital gift cards, sending gifts, and adding personal dedications - without physical cards.

The new “Gold Gift Card” app.

Refresh for Passover: Holiday sets and precise cooking and serving tools

Ahead of the 2026 Passover shopping season – a roundup of products for the holiday, from cooking and serving tools to care sets and bedding.

The roso MONO roaster, 129 NIS instead of 599 NIS.

'God does not do a half job,' Safed's Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu says following Maduro's detention

“The shared denominator is clear,” Eliyahu wrote, describing systems built on oppression, corruption, and fear, and arguing that such a rule “will not survive over time,” according to the statement. 

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Jewish children take part in a special prayer for rain at the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee, in northern Israel, October 29, 2025.

Finally, you can breathe: Hotel prices plummet by up to 30%

Golden tourism season: Africa Israel Hotels offers up to 30% off vs. holidays. Weekend in Eilat NIS 1,345, Dead Sea NIS 1,300, Jerusalem NIS 1,220.

Vert Jerusalem Hotel.

Sukkot candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Sukkot times for your area.

Shabbat candles

Brand news: The hottest holiday launches

Sleep like in a hotel, wine in memory of a hero, candles that will upgrade the atmosphere, a beauty comeback, the favorite hair oil, sweet surprises, holiday flowers, and home inspiration.

Intima

The lesson of Yom Kippur: We must fight indifference and marvel at all life's gifts - opinion

It is the day that fights apathy by asking us to recognize the faculty of utter appreciation through its specific prayers.

THERE IS only one remedy: to realize that we are managers of our life, not its owners.