Local Jewish community discusses Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
By: Joseph Harvie
Local rabbis are asking their congregations to look for ways to repent not only for their sins, but also for the sins of the world during the High Holidays, which begin Friday at sundown when Rosh Hashana starts.
Jews will commemorate the beginning of the Jewish year 5767 on Friday, the first of the 10 holy days of the Jewish religion. The holidays begin with Rosh Hashana, and during that day the shofar, a ram’s horn, is blown as a symbol of sorrow for the sins of the previous year and in expectation of making oneself better in the new year.
During Rosh Hashana, Jews prepare for the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. The 10 days leading up to Yom Kippur is a time of deep thought for Jews when they reflect on the sins committed over the past year, and prepare to ask for God and man’s forgiveness.
This year, rabbis are asking their congregations to look at the sins of the world, especially in the wake of the conflict between Lebanon and Israel, which was waged from July 12 to Aug. 14. The violence began when Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers in hopes of exchanging them for Lebanese prisoners. Israel responded with air strikes on suspected Hezbollah military targets and strongholds, as well as the roads and infrastructure in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, until a United Nations brokered cease-fire began in August.
Interim Rabbi Michael Goldstein of Congregation B’Nai Tikvah said he will include prayers for the peace throughout the world during high holiday services.
"We will be including prayers for the safety and well-being of Israel in the coming year and its people," Rabbi Goldstein said, "as well as pray for peace not only between Israel and its neighbors, but also throughout the world."
He said the first step people should take to bring about peace is to have world leaders listen more to the people they represent.
"I think that in general, and this is not a political statement, but I think the world would be better served if world leaders paid more attention to what the common citizens in their own countries and in others have to say," Rabbi Goldstein said.
Rabbi Goldstein said he would also ask his congregation to pray for an end to the mass killings and starvation in the Darfur region of Sudan. The region has been in a conflict since 2003 between the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited from local Baggara tribes, and the non-Baggara Sudanese of the region. Reports estimate that about 400,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, according to the Coalition for International Justice, a recently defunct non-profit organization that worked to bring international injustices to light.
"It is very disturbing that despite overwhelming evidence of what is going on and world leaders can’t get past talking and make a difference on the ground," Rabbi Goldstein said. "And that continues to be an area of great concern of mine."
Rabbi Goldstein said world leaders must get involved in the situation so that the violence can stop.
Rosh Hashana and the week that follows is also a time for Jews to reconnect with people whom they may have wronged in the past year. Rabbi Goldstein said repairing friendships and doing good deeds locally, such as volunteering and donating to local food pantries, is a form of goodwill that could spread to a national and international level.
"I try to focus on repairing and strengthening relationships with others and try to clear up any misunderstandings or any points of contention or unresolved personal matters," Rabbi Goldstein said. "And at the same time to do extra acts that in small ways may help lead to a repair of the world."
Rabbi Mendy Carlebach of Chabad of North and South Brunswick, on Route 27, said he is also going to encourage his congregation to think about people in other parts of the world who have faced violence this year.
"Everything that takes place in this world is relevant to us even though it may seem like it is a world away," Rabbi Carlebach. "Even though we are living a good life here in the United States of America, the most wonderful country in the world, every human is connected one to another, and our brothers and sisters are suffering in all parts of the world."
He said that people should pray for those suffering throughout the world.
"We, as a collective group of people, should ask God and tell him what we need in the world is peace," Rabbi Carlebach said.
He said that he would also like to see people, not only in his congregation, but throughout the world, to continue a project he started in the summer, in which people do an act of kindness for another.
"If everyone in the world did an act of kindness it would make a difference," Rabbi Carlebach said. "It can be as simple as smiling at someone or being nicer to one another, and that can change things all over the world."
In addition, Rabbi Carlebach said that by reflecting on these things, and focusing on peace throughout the world, God will guide people towards peace.
"When we reach out to God, when we just try to do our best, God notices that," Rabbi Carlebach said. "And God will reach out to us. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect. We are human. We have our faults, but if we reach out to him, he will in return reach out to us."

