Circles of Renewal: Regenerating Time and Rosh Hashanah

This talk explores the origins of Rosh HaShanah as a celebration of time’s renewal and the spiritual turning of the year. We will trace its development in Jewish tradition, from biblical and rabbinic sources to later interpretations, while surveying diverse customs and practices among Jewish communities worldwide. By examining how different traditions shape the experience of the New Year, we will uncover how Rosh HaShanah embodies both continuity and renewal within the cycles of Jewish time.

About the speaker:

Hakham Dr. Yehonatan Elazar-DeMota holds an M.A. in Anthropology and Religious Studies from Florida International University and a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Amsterdam. He pursued post-doctorate research as a fellow in the political history and urban history departments at the University of Antwerp. He is currently a senior research fellow at the Law and Religion department at Emory University, and the Ab Beth Din for the Beth…