Jewish holidays a mix of joy, solemnity

The year 5770 was celebrated last night as thousands of Jews across the Richmond region gathered for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, which began at sundown.

Rosh Hashana falls on the first day of the Jewish month Tishri. It begins a period of introspection and making amends in advance of Yom Kippur, a day of atonement that begins at sundown 10 days later on Sept. 27.

"Yom Kippur is an extremely somber day; Rosh Hashana is a celebration," said Ben Romer, rabbi at Congregation Or Ami in Richmond. "It's not like Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, not that kind of celebration, because it's still a worship setting, but it's an upbeat holiday."

According to Jewish tradition, God determines each person's fate for the coming year on Rosh Hashana and waits until Yom Kippur to seal the verdict. It leads to a period of soul-searching for Jews.

"We really mean to admit and make up for our wrongdoings. Whether we call them sins or mistakes really becomes unimportant," said Martin P. Beifield Jr., rabbi at Congregation Beth Ahabah in Richmond. "What's really important is this process of admitting that, because we are human, we make mistakes. We need to make up for our mistakes, and we need to resolve to do better."

However, Rosh Hashana is a joyous occasion for the Jewish faith. The blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, is a common sound during services for both holidays. A shofar was historically used to signal a warning but now is the notice for the spiritual awakening to begin.

Food, especially sweet food, is also an integral part of the Rosh Hashana celebration, as people wish one another a sweet new year.

"For the congregation, it is an amazing experience to see everybody together. It's really the only time all year you see everybody together," Beifield said.

Sometimes, though, students in college might not have the opportunity to make it home to spend Rosh Hashana with their family. So in steps Hillel of Richmond, which provides social, educational, cultural and religious opportunities for Jewish college students.

The group had a dinner last night for students at the University of Richmond, and one is planned for tonight at Virginia Commonwealth University. Students were given tickets to attend one of the synagogues in Richmond for Rosh Hashana services last night.

"A lot of students take advantage of it. Because it is on the weekend, many students will go home for the holidays," said KB Levin, director of Hillel of Richmond. "However, we like to be able to provide something here on campus for them as well. It's always surprising how many take advantage of it and do stay here."

Levin said nearly 20 students signed up to attend the dinner at UR and nearly 45 at VCU.

The inescapable reality, however, is the upcoming Yom Kippur, when fates are determined and Jews fast for nearly 25 hours.

"By the time you get in there on Yom Kippur, it's time to say, 'I've made right with all my friends and enemies, now I've got to make right with the source that gives me power to do that,'" Romer said.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .