During the Yamim Noraim (High Holidays), we often find ourselves searching for deeper meanings and new readings of the prayers in the Mahzor (High Holiday prayer book). Toward that end, JOFA provides you with the following list of books recommended for High Holiday reading and reflection.
Moments of Transcendence: Inspirational Readings for Rosh Hashanah and Moments of Transcendence: Inspirational Readings for Yom Kippur by Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, Jason Aronson Publishing Company, 1992.
Each of these two volumes features anecdotes and contemporary reflections on traditional themes and liturgy in pieces with titles like, “The Ten Precepts of Interpersonal Relationships”, “Al Chet” and “Ashamnu”.
Beginning Anew: A Woman’s Companion to the High Holidays, edited by Gail Twersky Reimer and Judith Kates, Simon & Schuster, 1997. In illuminating commentaries on the Biblical texts read on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a number of contemporary female writers offer a fresh perspective on Jewish history, tradition, and religion.