Rabbi & Rebbetzin Corner September 2026

Shalom Mishpocha,
 
      Autumn is approaching and it's Back to School time. September is the month when we celebrate the Harvest. Autumn is just around the corner! School has started, hurricane season is ramping up, and though September is a transition month into fall time we still have 21 days of summer left until the Autumnal Equinox on Tuesday, September 22nd at 8:04 P.M. EDT-the first day of Fall. September is one of the more enjoyable months. It's not too cold. It's not too hot, and it doesn't have as many allergies that spring and summer have. We enjoy cooler nights sitting around the fire pit and celebrating Sukkot! 
 
      September’s name comes from the Latin word septem, meaning “seven.” This month had originally been the seventh month of the early Roman calendar. September, in Old England, was called Haervest-monath (Harvest Month). This is the time to gather up the rest of the harvest and prepare for the winter months. September is a month full of meaningful celebrations, awareness days, and commemorations that bring attention to important causes and milestones nationwide. September has a diverse range of significant days.
 
       Wednesday, Sept. 2nd 2026, is the 81st anniversary of V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) that recognizes Allied Forces' victory over Japan during World War II.  Officials announced the surrender of Japan to the Allies on August 15, 1945. The official signing of surrender took place on September 2, 1945, officially ending World War II. The surrender ceremony was held onboard the battleship USS Missouri BB-63 on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay Japan. The USS Missouri, a powerful battleship, was chosen as the site for the surrender ceremony for symbolic and practical reasons. Launched in 1944, the USS Missouri had seen significant action in the Pacific Theater, making it an appropriate venue for the historic event. Moreover, the ship bore the name of President Harry S. Truman’s home state, adding an additional layer of significance to its selection.
 
       Saturday, September 5th, 2026, is the International Day of Charity. A day to encourage charitable actions and donations, highlighting the importance of giving back and supporting the needy around the world.
 
        Monday, September 7th, 2026, is Labor Day. Labor Day is a Federal Holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. The three-day weekend it falls on is called Labor Day Weekend. As we do on all three-day weekends join with us as we pray there will be NO traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth of Virginia this Labor Day weekend! 
 
        September 11th, 2026 marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a milestone recognized across the United States through remembrance ceremonies, educational initiatives, and national service programs. Families of victims will gather to read aloud the names of the 2,983 people killed in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Seven moments of silence will mark key times of the attacks and tower collapses. The Pentagon attack will be marked in Washington, D.C., with a mix of solemn remembrance events, community tributes, and national commemorations. There will also be commemorations at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, PA (Shanksville) for the 25th memorial of the crash of flight #93.
 
        Patriot’s Day is also Friday, September 11th. By presidential proclamation, Patriot Day is observed in the United States on September 11th, or 9/11, in memory of the thousands who lost their lives because of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States that involved four hijacked planes. The observance also honors those who came to aid in the aftermath. Each year on Patriot Day, the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff. Citizens are asked to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. EDT (when the first hijacked plane struck the World Trade Center in New York City)! We are encouraged to devote the day to serving our neighbors and communities.
 
       September 17th is Constitution Day. This day celebrates the adoption of the U.S. Constitution by all thirteen states, which occurred on September 17, 1787.
 
       This September is a busy one as we begin the Fall High Holy Days, The Fall Feasts so mark your calendars!  Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) begins at sunset, Friday Sept. 11th through Sunset Saturday Sept. 12th 2026. Yom Kippur begins at Sunset on Sunday, Sept. 20th, 2026, through sunset on Monday Sept. 21st, 2026. Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins at sunset, Friday Sept. 25th through sunset on Saturday Oct. 3rd 2026. 
 
       We pray you have a safe Labor Day Weekend as we pray for no traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth of Virgina over the three-day weekend! Let us prepare to enter in and celebrate the Fall Feast Days, the High Holy Days next month with anticipation and expectation!!
 
Love and Blessings,
 
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Carlson!