Happy New Year 5770

Although the majority of Americans celebrated New Year’s Day on January 1 this year, those who are members of the Jewish community will celebrate beginning Friday. The Jewish holidays that celebrate the new year are known as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and fall close together.

“Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are two of 10 high holidays that celebrate the creation of the world and God’s sovereignty,” said Rabbi Joseph Blair of the Temple House of Israel in Staunton. “Many people call Rosh Hashanah the ‘birthday of the world,’ since the holiday is a celebration of the world’s creation.”
Rosh Hashanah translated literally means “head of the year” and Yom Kippur means “day of atonement.” The 10-day Jewish new year celebration begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur.

“During the 10-day period, the imagery is that of God as judge. It is a solemn time. According to Jewish metaphor, at the beginning of the year, our fate for the coming year is inscribed in the Book of Life,” said Blair. “At the same time, it is a joyous time as we celebrate God, creation and the compassion and mercy that God shows to us.”

To celebrate these joyous yet solemn holidays, the Temple House of Israel in Staunton will hold special services with a special cantor from northern Virginia performing holiday selections.

“The holiday services will be similar to a regular Shabbat service,” said Blair, comparing to the Jewish Sabbath services, “but will have additional prayers and selections from the Torah.”

During Rosh Hashanah, Jews partake of special meals consisting of apples and honey, symbolizing hopes for a sweet new year. Both religious and secular Jews also often celebrate by eating pomegranates.

“It is said that a pomegranate is a symbol of righteousness because it has 613 seeds, reflecting the 613 good deeds that one can do in the world,” said Steve Grande, director of Civic Engagement at Mary Baldwin College. “When my family celebrates Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I talk to my children about the ways we can do good in this world and I think about how I can be a better person in the new year.”

The Jewish new year involves introspection, repentance and making resolutions to live one’s life better in the new year.

During Yom Kippur, members of the Temple House congregation will fast and pray and spend most of the day in the synagogue. At the end of the day, they will break their fast with a communal potluck. The day of fasting and prayer gives them a clean slate with which to start the new year.

“I think that Jewish people are onto something by having their new year in September,” said Pastor Keith Harris, of the Waynesboro Covenant Church. “Schools usually start back in September and for children, parents, teachers and bus drivers, September really is the beginning of the year.”

Rosh Hashanah will fall on Sept. 18 which is a Sabbath this year and thus makes the day an especially holy one for Jews. Yom Kippur begins Sept. 27 at sundown.