Jewish new year ushers in time of reflection

The Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana, begins today at sundown and ushers in the 10 most holy days of the year, concluding with Yom Kippur on Oct. 8.

"This is the equivalent of Christmas and Easter rolled up into one," said Rabbi Larry Moldo of Modesto's Congregation Beth Shalom.

Rosh Hashana means "head of the year" and begins the year 5772 on the Jewish calendar, which records the years since creation. Unlike boisterous secular celebrations on New Year's Eve, the Jewish observance is a serious one, marked by a thorough cleaning of homes and hearts.

"Because it's the beginning of the new year, it's a lot of introspection and trying to have better relationships with people and a better relationship with God," Moldo said.

It's also when the synagogue will swell with nonmembers, Jews who perhaps attend only at this time each year. "For many people, this is a very emotional time period," Moldo said. "Many people will travel to be with their family."

The 10 days of repentance end with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement — fasting, praying and a final time of seeking forgiveness from man and God. The days follow what for some is a monthlong time of cleaning the home, using special dinnerware, eating certain foods, such as honey, which signifies sweetness, saying special prayers and seeking forgiveness for acts done during the past year.

"It's not like the Macy's Thanksgiving parade," Moldo said with a chuckle. "We don't start planning (for the next year) the next day, but close."

During the 10 days, he added, "We're setting up that the coming year will be better than the previous year was, closer to doing the things God wants us to be doing and acting with God to make this closer to the kind of world God had in mind for it to be. We're focusing on the areas where we have fallen short, hopeful that next year, we'll be focusing on other areas."

The shofar, or ram's horn, is blown on the first and second mornings of Rosh Ha-shana. It's a reminder of the biblical story of Abraham, who in obedience to God prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but instead sacrificed a ram caught by the horns in a nearby thicket, a substitute provided by God.

A final shofar blast concludes the High Holy Days at the end of Yom Kippur.

The holy days, hinted at in the Old Testament, did not gain their current importance and ritual until after the Roman destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in the first century.

Bee staff writer Sue Nowicki can be reached at snowicki@modbee.com or (209) 578-2012.