Navigate to News section

Our Rosh Hashanah Service

Plus: Should we be sponsoring one?

by
Marc Tracy
September 01, 2010
The Sway Machinery.(The Sway Machinery/Heather Conley)
The Sway Machinery.(The Sway Machinery/Heather Conley)

If you are looking for an unorthodox—and very un-Orthodox—way to ring in the new year, Tablet Magazine is co-sponsoring Hidden Melodies Revealed, a “mystery musical extravaganza” with The Sway Machinery, which bills itself “America’s only indie rock/Jewish cantorial music group.” The “part ritual, part rock concert,” which you can learn more about (and purchase tickets for) here, takes place at City Winery in downtown New York City on September 8 at 10 pm—the first night of Rosh Hashanah.

Now is also a good time to mention that Tablet Magazine (and The Scroll) will not be publishing new content during Rosh Hashanah—or during Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah.

Personally, I’m a fan of that policy, and not (only) for the time off/saved vacation days it gives me: I think it is a compelling and potent statement about the magazine’s editorial priorities. Which is why, even though this event is “part ritual,” I question whether the magazine’s sponsorship is undercutting that statement. But maybe folks think I am being nitpicky? Or maybe people think we should be publishing during Jewish holidays? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.