I love autumn. I grew up in New England, so autumn always meant the transition from hot and muggy into cool, crisp, and bursting with gorgeous color. And it meant Macoun apples, which are the best apple ever. And Halloween and pumpkin seeds and all that. . . autumn also means that the High Holy Days are right at hand, with Sukkot and Simchas Torah following close on their heels. The rabbi blows the shofar and we eat apples and honey at Rosh Hashanah, fast for Yom Kippur, then we get to shake the lulav and etrog in the Sukkah, and then dance around the synagogue partying like it's 1999 on Simchas Torah.

With all that activity, you're kind of glad when things ease up again. But it's sure fun!