This year Oct. 2-4, Jewish people around the world will observe Rosh Hashanah. Also known as the Jewish New Year, it is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days 鈥� a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that takes place at the start of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. In all synagogues, a shofar 鈥� a ram鈥檚 horn trumpet 鈥� is played to remind listeners to reflect on their behavior. After services, Jewish people often return home for a festive meal of foods symbolizing the new year, such as apples dipped in honey and challah bread that is round rather than braided.
鈥淭he perfection of a circle symbolizes entering the new year with a clean slate,鈥� says Rabbi Sanford Olshansky, 麻豆原创 adjunct professor of Judaic studies. He describes the Jewish High Holy Days as a time of 鈥渟piritual accounting.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a time of self-examination, self-evaluation,鈥� he says. 鈥淗ow do we feel about where we鈥檙e at in our lives? How do we feel about where we stand in terms of the moral and ethical principles by which we ought to be living?鈥�
Within 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of History, Olshansky teaches Judaism and Science, a course that deals with the perceived conflict between science and Judaism, as well as Western religion in general. Through thought-provoking discussions about topics such as the Big Bang, DNA, Einstein鈥檚 Theory of Relativity and subatomic particles, students explore how one can reconcile major scientific questions with biblical creation stories.
鈥淭he purpose of the course is not to prove that religion is true,鈥� Olshansky says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 to show that there is some common ground 鈥� more than many people realize 鈥� between science and religion.鈥�
Yom Kippur 鈥� which begins at sunset on Oct. 11 and concludes at nightfall on Oct. 12 this year 鈥� falls at the end of the Jewish High Holy Days and is also known as the Day of Atonement. Fasting is traditionally observed 鈥� although children, elderly adults, ill people, and pregnant women are forbidden from partaking 鈥� and the shofar is sounded to mark the conclusion of the fast at nightfall. Afterwards, it鈥檚 traditional to enjoy a 鈥渂reak-fast鈥� meal of typical breakfast and brunch foods.
The traditional Hebrew greeting on Yom Kippur is G鈥檓ar chatimah tovah: 鈥淢ay you complete a good sealing.鈥� This refers to completing the process of reflecting on the actions of the past year, confessing and seeking forgiveness for wrongdoing, and planning to improve in the new year.
鈥淲hatever Jewish denomination you look at, from the most traditional to the most liberal, confessions are moral and ethical failings, not ritual failings,鈥� Olshansky says.
When you think of confessions, you may picture a one-on-one conversation with a religious leader, such as in the Catholic tradition. But in the Jewish tradition, confessions are traditionally done in a group setting rather than in a one-on-one environment. Confessions are written out anonymously and phrased in the plural 鈥� 鈥淲e have been deceitful,鈥� for example 鈥� so that no one feels singled out.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a comfort level of being surrounded by people who are all flawed,鈥� Olshansky says. 鈥淲e could all do better, and we help each other to start the year with a clean slate.鈥�
For Olshansky, teaching Judaism and Science and serving as a rabbi both provide an opportunity to invite self-examination 鈥� in himself and others 鈥� which he describes as the 鈥渟piritual heart鈥� of the Jewish High Holy Days.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a joke that I鈥檝e used from the pulpit in the past,鈥� he says. 鈥淎 person is praying on New Year鈥檚 morning: 鈥楪od, I鈥檝e been really good so far this year. I haven鈥檛 spoken harshly to anybody. I haven鈥檛 taken anything that wasn鈥檛 mine. I haven鈥檛 been mean to my family members. But now God, I鈥檓 going to get out of bed, and then I鈥檓 going to need lots of help.鈥欌��
Central Florida Hillel at 麻豆原创 serves as a center for Jewish life on campus enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world (contact Executive Director Hunter Gold for more info). Chabad 麻豆原创 is an organization dedicated to encouraging individuals of all backgrounds and degrees of observance to explore their Jewish heritage (contact Rabbi Chaim Lipskier for more info). Both organizations are hosting Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur observances and meals this year.
