Want to support your Jewish colleagues, friends, students, and community members during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Use this guide to get started.
The Jewish High Holidays, also known as the High Holy Days or Days of Awe, represent the most sacred period in the Jewish calendar. As workplaces and schools become increasingly diverse, understanding how to be a supportive ally during this meaningful time demonstrates respect, inclusivity, and cultural awareness. This guide will help you navigate the High Holidays with sensitivity and create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Rosh Hashanah, literally meaning "head of the year," marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year. This two-day celebration (beginning this year on the evening of September 22, 2025 and ending the evening of September 24, 2025) is a time of reflection, renewal, and looking forward to the year ahead. Many Jews refrain from working or going to school, particularly on the first day. Jewish tradition teaches that during Rosh Hashanah, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year in the "Book of Life."
Key traditions include:
Yom Kippur, occurring ten days after Rosh Hashanah, is the holiest day in Judaism and many Jews will take the day off work and school. It's a 25-hour period of fasting, prayer, and repentance when Jewish people seek forgiveness for their sins and commit to personal growth. In 2025, Yom Kippur begins the evening of October 1, 2025 and ends the evening of October 2, 2025. The day concludes the ten days of repentance and reflection that began with Rosh Hashanah.
Key observances include:
Following closely after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is a joyful seven-day harvest festival that commemorates the Israelites' journey through the desert. This year, Sukkot begins the evening of October 6, 2025 and ends the evening of October 13, 2025. Many Jewish families build temporary outdoor structures called "sukkot" (huts) where they eat meals and sometimes sleep during the holiday. Depending on their level of observance, some Jews do not work or go to school on the first two and last two days of Sukkot.
Key traditions include:
The festival period concludes with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (October 13-15, 2025). For some Jews, these celebrations are no-work and school days, and mark the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the immediate beginning of a new cycle.
Key observances include:
While it is not traditionally a part of the High Holidays, October 7, 2023 was an incredibly painful day for many Jews around the world. While so many have been struggling to navigate the complex emotions and events that have occurred since then, be sure to make space and provide flexibility and understanding for your Jewish colleagues and students as they sit with the heaviness of the day.
Do:
Don't:
Using proper greetings shows cultural awareness and respect. Here are the most common High Holiday greetings:
For Rosh Hashanah:
For Yom Kippur:
General High Holiday greeting:
Demonstrating genuine curiosity about Jewish traditions shows that you care about your colleagues' and students' experiences:
Good questions to ask:
Avoid:
Policy Considerations:
Inclusion Strategies:
Policy Considerations:
Inclusion Strategies:
Supportive Actions:
Myth: "Jewish holidays always fall on the same dates every year." Reality: Jewish holidays follow the Hebrew lunar calendar, so dates vary each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Myth: "If someone doesn't look Jewish or typically observe any other Jewish holidays, they don't observe the High Holidays." Reality: Jewish identity is diverse and includes people of all backgrounds and ethnicities, and religious observance is incredibly personal. Many Jews may not do anything outwardly Jewish the rest of the year, but they will celebrate the High Holidays.
Myth: "These holidays are just like any other religious celebration." Reality: The High Holidays hold unique significance as the most sacred period in Judaism, combining celebration with deep spiritual reflection.
Myth: "If someone is off for one holiday, then they will be off for all of them." Reality: Again, religious observation is incredibly personal. As Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, many Jews will take off work and school only for Yom Kippur, but not for the other holidays. Some may only take off for a few hours. If you have two Jewish colleagues or students, they may each observe the holidays differently.
Being an ally during the Jewish High Holidays is just one aspect of supporting Jewish colleagues and community members year-round. Consider these ongoing actions:
Supporting your Jewish colleagues, friends, and community members during the High Holidays creates a more inclusive environment for everyone. When we take time to understand and respect each other's traditions, we build stronger relationships and more cohesive communities.
The Jewish High Holidays offer an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the past year, consider our actions, and commit to being better versions of ourselves. By being thoughtful allies during this sacred time, we demonstrate that diversity isn't just tolerated but celebrated and valued.
Remember, being an ally is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Small gestures of respect and understanding during the High Holidays can have a lasting impact on your relationships and contribute to a more inclusive society for all.