Verona, Cedar Grove Celebrate Rosh Hashanah

This Sunday, as the day draws to a close, the Jewish community will ring in year 5773 as part of their celebration of Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. The festivities will continue until nightfall on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Temple Sholom of West Essex, 760 Pompton Ave. in Cedar Grove will be holding services Sunday Sept. 16, at 7:45 p.m.,  Monday Sept. 17, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., as well as Tueday Sept. 18, at 9 a.m.

Congregation Beth Ahm, located at 56 Grove Ave. in Verona, will hold their services Sunday Sept. 16 at 8 p.m., Monday September 17, Family Service at 9 a.m., traditional service at 11:15 a.m., Tashlikh service at 2:15 p.m., and Tuesday Sept. 18, at 9:45 a.m.

Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year,” signals the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, marks the end of the High Holy Days.

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.

“Rosh Hashanah is a new beginning,” said Rabbi Laurence Groffman of Temple Sholom in Cedar Grove. “People can look back over the past year and consider what they have done wrong, have remorse where they have wronged people over the past year and reflect on how they can make an attempt to correct it to start the new year.”

On this day, as on the Jewish Sabbath from sundown Friday evening until sundown Saturday evening, Jews avoid work and spend the day with family. And with the holiday, there are certain traditional dishes families prepare and serve.

Some families eat apples dipped in honey in hopes that the new year will also be sweet. Another tradition is to bake round challahs to symbolize the year returning to it's beginnings.

Another tradition is to eat foods people have never tried before. Many families enjoy pomegranates because the fruit is said to have 613 seeds - the number of mitzvahs, or good deeds, Jews are supposed to try to attain.

So, it's time to get into that festive mood! Patch has come up with some great recipes that will make your Rosh Hashanah meal extra special this year.

Newton Patch contributor Wendy Schapiro shared her family recipe for a mouth-watering, traditional meal complete with , and .

Want to try something new this year? Take a look at this , which Susan Silverberg shared on Culver City Patch.

In the mood for some baking and indulging that sweet tooth at the same time? Try this recipe for from West Bloomfield Patch.

Here’s wishing you L’shanah Tovah--the traditional Happy New Year greeting-- and B'tayavon (that’s Hebrew for bon appetit)!

How are you celebrating Rosh Hashanah this year? Share your Rosh Hashanah recipes and traditions with us in the comments section below!