Community Corner

Rosh Hashanah 2013: Celebrate in Fairfax, Virginia

The Jewish New Year 5774 begins Wednesday night.

By Karen Goff and Jennifer van der Kleut

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.

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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.

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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.

Congregation Olam Tikvah, 3800 Glenbrook Road in Fairfax, will hold an Erev Rosh Hashanah service on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and a candle lighting at 7:18 p.m. Services on Thursday, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, will take place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Click here to visit the High Holy Days page of Olam Tikvah's website for more information.

Chabad Lubavitch of Northern Virginia, 3939 Prince William Dr. in Fairfax, will light candles at 7:18 p.m., and then a traditional Rosh Hashanah Family Dinner at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. The cost is $25 per adult and $18 per child, with a maximum charge of $75 per family. Call the office to RSVP or get more information at 703-426-1980. See other events happening at Chabad Lubavitch of Fairfax on the center's website.


How do you celebrate Rosh Hashanah? Tell us in the comments below.

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