Herndon Readies for Rosh Hashanah 2013

By Karen Goff

It's an early Jewish New Year in 2013 as Jews in Herndon and all over will ring in 5774 Wednesday night through Friday.

Rosh Hashanah, which occurs 143 days after Passover according to the Greogorian calendar, will be the earliest it has been since 1899.

Jews typically celebrate the holiday by attending services to hear the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn) and welcome the new year. They also celebrate with traditional meals that include a round challah bread the represent the circle of life, and apples and honey for a sweet new year.

Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year,” signals the beginning of the High Holy Days. Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, (this year on Sept. 13-14) marks the end, and together they are two of the holiest days for Jews.

Like most New Year celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection and a time to bring about changes in the coming year. The traditional blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, during services on Rosh Hashanah marks a time to contemplate past mistakes and find ways to make things right.

While most local synagogues require advance tickets to services, there are a couple of free, last-minute options.

Shoreshim of Reston will hold services Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Anne's Church in Reston. No tickets required. More info here.

Chabad of Reston-Herndon will hold services open to all Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 376 Elden Street, Herndon. No tickets required. More info here.

For information about events at Congregation Beth Emeth in Herndon, click here.

For information about events at Reston's Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, click here.

To learn more about Rosh Hashanah, read this post from Rabbi Leibel Fajnland of Chabad of Reston-Herndon.

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