HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH 2026, AND A HEADS-UP FOR YOM KIPPUR (WITH A NOD TO TODAY’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11)

First things first. Let’s all spare a thought today for the people who lost their lives, or whose lives were forever changed, on September 11, 2001. I can’t believe it’s been a quarter of a century; 9/11 is sooo in our consciousness that it feels like the horror happened much more recently than that!

Always remember.

So much has been said, written, and documented about that international tragedy, *(including by me,) that I’m going to leave it at that for today. And move on to happier, and crazier, current events. *(You can read my thoughts on 9/11’s 20th anniversary here: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/tributekarens-memories-the-twentieth-anniversary-of-911.)

Now let’s turn our attention to the Jewish high holy days, which begin tonight with the start of Rosh Hashanah, our New Year. Rosh, (as I lazily often refer to it,) ends on Sunday night. (The exact dates change every year because they go according to the Jewish calendar. I don’t know how that works, so I can’t give you the inside info on that sitch.)

But the absolute nutty thing about the holiday this year is that there are sooo many show biz events scheduled here in LA for this entire weekend! (And I’m happy to say that I’m invited to a bunch of them!) But that means that people of my ethnic persuasion who are even semi-observant will not be able to go to any of them! Many of them won’t even go out in the day today, hours before the holiday begins at sundown, because they want to stay home to prepare tonight’s Rosh Hashanah dinner. (You know that I won’t be having that problem!)

I love that this has the subtle message, “Declare World Peace.”

So here’s the deal with the holiday-conflicting events: First of all, the Emmys are on Monday evening, which is bad planning on the part of that organization to begin with. There are soooo many Jewish people in show business that it’s just rude to us to have it be on the day after the end of our holiday. And that’s because just about all of the pre-Emmys events fall during the three days of Rosh! For example, the attendant Gifting Suites and Lounges are today and tomorrow. And then the cocktail parties and dinners are tomorrow and Sunday nights. It’s just crazy. So observers will have to miss them! (Is this scheduling a form of anti-semitism? I’m not even joking.) I guess the Emmys organizers don’t care much about us, having scheduled their awards show for this weekend.

In addition to all the Emmys events on Rosh Hashanah, (which would be enough for a super-full weekend,) there’s more. There are several other special one-time events over this weekend. There are a few important theatre Opening Nights, complete with after-parties. (Even my multi-events-a-night self had to turn down all but one of them.) Then there are a few specialty items, such as tomorrow’s star-studded 40 Years of Being Alive event I previewed for you a couple of weeks ago. (I’m hoping some of you will join us for that one. Here’s the link with all the info: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/upcoming-40-years-of-being-alive-event-preview.)

Since Rosh is a festive holiday, if you choose to go to any or all of the many special events this weekend, as I definitely am, (the ones I’m attending are sooo special that I’m actually leaving the house for them, as opposed to watching every second of the final weekend of the US Open live,) I’m assuming we’re not disrespecting our heritage if we go to them.

And then a few days later, on the 21st, comes the highest holy day, Yom Kippur. It’s the Day of Atonement, so I always do it right. It’s seriously good for the soul. (But I’ve never understood the order of these two holidays. I always think that the hard, sad day should come first, and be followed by the joyous one. Wouldn’t that make more sense—sadness first, and then follow it with happiness?)

What I wish for all of you.

But since this is the order, (because perhaps my people like to make life a tad difficult for ourselves,) I wish all of you members of my tribe who celebrate our high holy days—no matter if you choose to go to events where you live, or go to temple any time over this weekend—a very Happy New Year tonight. And then on the 21st, I hope you have an easy Yom Kippur.

And no matter who you are and what you celebrate, please remember to check-out my Emmys tweets, @MajorCelebrity, on Monday afternoon and evening, starting with the arrivals. I’m sure I’ll have lots to say that I’ll have to atone for the following week!