By Andrea
Yeaman
Marietta Daily
Journal Staff Writer
The high holy days
will have a more somber feel to them this year as they fall over the
anniversary of a national tragedy, evoking more reflection during a
holiday already devoted to heavy prayer.
Rosh Hashana will
begin at sunset on Sept. 6 to sunset Sept. 7. It celebrates the new
year, year 5763 on the Jewish calendar, setting off the 10 high holy
days. For Rosh Hashana, Congregation Etz Chaim begins their service with
the blowing of the ram’s horn.
“This is a way to
announce the birth of the world,” Rabbi Shalom Lewis said. “It
reminds us of the Biblical story dealing with Abraham and the near
sacrifice of his son.”
Another holiday
tradition is the throwing of bread into the river, symbolic of ridding
of sins, and eating apples dipped in honey to make the world a sweeter
place.
With Rosh Hashana
comes the cleansing of the spirit associated with a new year. According
to Temple Kol Emeth member Dr. Jill Kahn, she also associates the
holiday with ways to become a better person.
“To me, the
holiday represents the new — a new year, a new beginning, a new start.
Everybody talks about forgiveness for the holiday, but I focus on being
a better person.,” Mrs. Kahn said. “We need to be living examples of
what we could contribute in the world, and I strive to set an example.”
Already setting an
example through her non-traditional way of healing and her book “The
Gift of Taking,” Mrs. Kahn was recently profiled in a Florida
publication “Experiencing the Essence of Days” for her celebration
of Rosh Hashana. Mrs. Kahn, with husband Danny and children Andy, 11,
and Julia, 8, will start off the holiday with a dinner among family and
friends and then visit Temple Kol Emeth for prayer.
“We read and
teach the children in a way they can learn what the holiday is about,”
Mrs. Kahn said. “We teach what our ancestors have done and how we can
learn from that. We try and set a tone to be a better person for the
coming year.”
Rosh Hashana sets
off the high holy days that pass over Sept. 11, adding a new
significance to the holiday for many.
“You can’t
change what happened but you can use it to become a better person,”
Mrs. Kahn said. “It’s unbelievable that someone would commit suicide
and sacrifice others to prove a point. It is the ultimate negativity.
“In every action
in every moment, we should remember what we want. If people want world
peace, you have to start with inner peace. If you want to get along with
the world, start by getting along with your neighbor.”
From the tragedy of
Sept. 11, Mrs. Kahn started a “Pep Rally For Your Spirit” at Temple
Kol Emeth to revive people’s positive spirits.
“Right after
Sept. 11, people started calling me saying that they didn’t feel safe,
and they didn’t know what to do,” Mrs. Kahn said. “If there is
darkness in the world, something should represent the positive.”
Lewis said the
proximity of Sept. 11 within the high holy days will “be a great
sadness for us.” Congregation Etz Chaim will have a special memorial
service that day for the anniversary of the tragedy.
The holy days end
with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the most sacred day on the
Jewish calendar.
“We believe the
fate of the new year is being determined on this day,” Lewis said.
Yom Kippur is a day
of fasting also filled with heavy prayer where God’s forgiveness is
asked. Metro Atlanta synagogues also use this day to participate in
Project Isaiah, a food drive for the Atlanta Food Bank.
ayeaman@mdjonline.com
