Sara Himeles

New York

Editor at Jewish Unpacked

Editor at OpenDor Media

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Articles

Why are Christians celebrating Passover and hosting non-Jewish Seders?

2 weeks ago | unpacked.media | Sara Himeles

Celebrating Passover is extremely common with 70% of American Jews attending Passover seders. In many ways, Passover is the ultimate Jewish holiday that recalls the Jewish people’s miraculous exodus from Egypt. But did you know some Christians are starting to celebrate the holiday as well, and even host their version of a Passover seder? Given the growing trend of non-Jews celebrating Passover in recent years, we wanted to better understand Christian seders held in some churches.
Passover guide 2025: How and when to celebrate the Jewish holiday

2 weeks ago | unpacked.media | Sara Himeles

Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about Passover, the seven- or eight-day holiday (depending on where you live) and how to celebrate it. Read more: Get our guides to all the Jewish holidays. Passover starts the evening of Saturday, April 12, 2025, and goes until the evening of Sunday, April 20, 2024. This corresponds to the 15th through 22nd of the Hebrew month Nisan.
How to celebrate Purim

1 month ago | unpacked.media | Sara Himeles

Purim 2025 (or 5785 in the Jewish calendar) is coming up! Here is everything you need to know to celebrate/ Purim (which means “lots” in Persian) is the Jewish holiday that celebrates how the Jewish people were saved from annihilation in ancient Persia as told in the Biblical book of Esther. In the story, Haman, the evil advisor to King Ahasuerus of Persia, plots to kill all the Jews.
Hanukkah guide 2024: How and when to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights?

Dec 8, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, and how to celebrate it. Read more: Get our guides to all the Jewish holidays. Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights that typically takes place between late November and late December. Jews celebrate it by lighting the menorah, playing the game of dreidel and eating special holiday foods like latkes and sufganiyot.
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah guide 2024: How to celebrate, when are the holidays?

Oct 23, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are the culmination of the High Holiday season that starts with the Hebrew month of Elul and Rosh Hashanah, and continues with the 10 Days of Repentance, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know. Read more: Get our guides to all the Jewish holidays. Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah immediately follow the seven-day festival of Sukkot. They are celebrated as one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.
Observing Sukkot? Here's everything you need to know to celebrate

Oct 15, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

Alright, you made it through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and now it’s time for the joyful festival of Sukkot. Are you ready for yet another holiday? Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered with this checklist. #NoHolidayFatigueLulav (palm branch) — It is a mitzvah to take what is known as the four species (arba’at haminim) and shake them each day of Sukkot (but not on Shabbat). The lulav (palm branch) is one of those four species.
Sukkot guide 2024: How and when to celebrate the Jewish harvest holiday

Oct 14, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

Sukkot is a week-long festival that integrates themes of joy and insecurity. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know. Read more: Get our guides to all the Jewish holidays. Sukkot means “booths” or “huts” in Hebrew and is named for the temporary structures in which Jews “dwell” during the holiday. Meals are eaten in the sukkah, and many choose to sleep, read and hang out in them as well.
How do you celebrate Yom Kippur and other Jewish Day of Atonement questions, answered

Oct 10, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

You asked, we answered! Our editor Sara Himeles who recently finished her rabbinical studies answered all of your Yom Kippur questions. Besides creating a sacred space/gathering inspirational readings: what should we do if were not attending synagogue? If you’re not attending synagogue but still want to take part in some Yom Kippur observances, you can fast, pray, and refrain from work. If you don’t have a machzor (High Holiday prayer book), you can find one on Sefaria (Ashkenaz or Sefard).
Observing Yom Kippur? Here's everything you need to know

Oct 9, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

Sara Himeles Sara is editor in chief at Unpacked. She has created and managed content and strategic communications for former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and presidential candidate Barack Obama.
How do Jewish people forgive and repent on Yom Kippur? The Rabbinic perspective on teshuvah

Oct 9, 2024 | jewishunpacked.com | Sara Himeles

Jewish thinkers throughout the centuries have explored the meaning of teshuvah (translated as “repentance” or “return”). Today, we broadly think of this practice as “forgiveness” or “repentance”Rambam described teshuvah as a personal transformation, as if one says, “I am now another person, and not that person who perpetrated those misdeeds.” Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook believed that it was returning to oneself, while Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik described it as recreating oneself.