Rosh Hashanah Brings Time of Reflection for Jewish Community

For thousands in and around State College, Wednesday evening begins both a new year and a time for reflection, repentance and family.

This is the start of Rosh Hashanah, commonly known as the Jewish New Year and one of the High Holy Days of the Jewish faith.

“For many people, this is a time of reconnecting with their faith,” says Rabbi David Ostrich of State College’s Congregation Brit Shalom, who expects an influx of attendees at the special services at the synagogue in the coming days.

Ostrich says this a period of community and family. Many families reunite for Rosh Hashanah, filling sections of the synagogue with people from out of town that Ostrich only sees at this time of year. Having them brings great joy to himself and his congregation, he says.

Rosh Hashanah translates literally to “the head of the year,” and is a celebration of the biblical account of God’s creation of the world. Ostrich says this a time for reflecting on not only the past year, but also on thousands of years of Jewish tradition.

“Judaism is a religion where we sees ourselves as continuing a relationship with God that began some 4,000 years ago,” Ostrich says. “Our history is a lens with which we should see the modern world.”

This involves many traditional ceremonies and symbols that serve to remind members of the Jewish faith of their heritage. One of the most prominent of these is the shofar – a hallowed out ram’s horn that is ceremoniously blown throughout the ten days of reflection that lead to Yom Kippur, one of the holiest of all days in the Jewish faith.

Alex Bolotovsky, the director institutional advancement with the Penn State Jewish organization Hillel, says there is also a theme of sweetness throughout the celebrations. One tradition is to eat apples dipped in honey to signify the hopes for the sweetness of the coming year.

Other traditions include apologizing to those one has wronged in the past year, so that the year begins with a fresh start free of sin.

Leah Chakoff, director of engagement with Penn State Hillel, says these traditions have helped her become a better person.

“To me, Rosh Hashanah means becoming a better person each and every year,” she says. “It’s a reminder at the same time every year of where I am, where I want to go and the person I want to be.”

Michele Abramson – a Penn State student and president of Hillel – describes herself as “not a very religious person,” but says Rosh Hashanah gives her the opportunity to celebrate her culture with the people she loves.

She says it also comes at an appropriate time of the year: the beginning of fall, shortly after the start of the semester.

“When I was a freshman I actually met some of my closest friends at Rosh Hashanah since it was so early in the semester,” Abramson says. “So I think that it is a good time for new students because it can serve as an opportunity to help them get acquainted.”

Ostrich has been working hard to prepare for the High Holy Days. Like many Rabbis, he has put much time and energy into preparing sermons that will resonate with the holiday’s themes of repentance and allegiance to God. Despite the work that’s gone into preparing for Rosh Hashnah, he says he is excited and glad to begin the holiday.

He, like the many other member of the State College Jewish community, is looking forward to wishing for his friends, family and congregation to “be written for a good year in the book of life.”

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