A Sweet New Year for the Very Young

They temple was filling up for services, with congregants arriving in dresses and shined-up shoes, button down shirts and blazers, hair neatly done. These weren't grown-ups coming to pray, however—most of this crowd was under four-feet tall.

They were gathered for a special children's Rosh HaShanah service Thursday morning at Temple Sharaay Tefila. But how much of this centuries-old holiday would the mostly eight-and-under set understand?

"They get it—this service is really accessible for kids," said Tracey Getman, a Mt. Kisco resident who attended with her husband, Jeff, and their three children. "It's not a chore for them to be here, and by the time they leave, they understand the story."

Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year and celebrates the anniversary of creation. By holding a special service for young children, the history and traditions are instilled at a young age, and each year, children remember more and more, said Rabbi Stacy Bergman, who led the service.

"We're really focusing on the highlights of this holiday in terms that they can understand; it's a day of saying 'I'm sorry,' and they can recognize how to make their behavior better," she said.

The service was told through a song "Are You Ready," which taught about Rosh Hashanah through repetition and participation. Children were asked if they had fulfilled all the steps toward celebrating the Jewish New Year, including saying sorry, saying the blessings, learning about the Torah and hearing the story of creation.

The sounding of the shofar, a horn traditionally that of a ram (kids received a plastic version on Thursday) is a strong symbol that helps make the holiday more meaningful to kids, said Bergman. "By giving them one, they can practice throughout the year, and remember the holiday."

Sweet foods served during the holiday convey wishes for a sweet new year—the toddler set skipped the traditional apples dipped in honey and made a beeline for the juice and cookies table following the service.

Parents gathered around their kids, many commenting how starting with simpler services allowed their children to have a deeper understanding each year of the holiday and make a connection to the temple community.

Jonah Bergman, son of Rabbi Bergman, replied with two simple words when asked why it was important to observe Rosh Hashanah, reducing the holiday to its simplest terms.

"To celebrate," he said.