Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. The shofar (the ram’s horn), wakes us from our stupor and demands that we face ourselves and our wrongdoings. The liturgy of the holiday stresses that life is short, our days are numbered, and our chance to change, do good, repent, accomplish the things we dream of and treat the people we love as they deserve to be treated, is now.
The High Holy Days, unlike most Jewish holidays, are heavily focused on the synagogue. Many Jews who rarely attend synagogue will do so on these days. Although the process of teshuvah, repentance, is highly personal and introspective, we do it in the presence and solace of one another. The liturgy focuses on the themes of judgment, repentance, God’s majesty and memory.
Traditionally Temple Israel members celebrate Erev Rosh Hashanah service and Rosh Hashanah morning services, accessible to all. Family service for those with young children typically begin at 9:00 a.m. and traditional morning services begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by Tashlich along the Intracoastal.
