SARASOTA – This Labor Day weekend people of the Jewish Faith are celebrating Rosh Hashanah otherwise known as the Jewish New Year.
“As the sun is setting, as the night is falling, as the darkness is closing in to say – no this is not the end,” said Rabbi Elaine Glickman. “This is the beginning – this is the beginning of the day the beginning of this celebration.”
As the sun began to set Monday evening, millions of people of the Jewish faith celebrated the start of the first of the Jewish High Holy Days.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated over the course of two days. Rabbi Glickman says for many the holy day known as the Jewish New Year is time for personal growth.
“We symbolize the work that we are doing during these ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” said Rabbi Glickman. “To rid ourselves of sin, to rid ourselves of the base impulses within us and to renew ourselves and as you said to grow.”
Rabbi Glickman says Rosh Hashanah is also a time to reflect on all the good and the bad they’ve done in the past year.
And it also serves as an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones – especially after the difficult year and a half the world has experienced.
“Just to have a big traditional meal with your family, with your friends, with whom you feel safe socializing,” she said. “I think a lot of us have gotten very creative in this past year to – in terms of understanding the power of Zoom and sharing meals together in that way.”
Rabbi Glickman says Temple Emanu-El will be streaming their Rosh Hashanah service on both days for anyone that is unable to make it in person.
