A rabbi has become a uniting force on the Caribbean island of St Martin as he prepares to blow the shofar on a national border, allowing Jewish residents on both sides of the island to perform the mitzvah of hearing the horn blown.
When Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday night, none of Hungary’s 100,000 Jews will be in a synagogue. Instead, they’ll be on a boat in the Danube, under tents and atop the deck of a floating hotel — locations chosen to allow open-air prayer during the coronavirus pandemic.
The center says its service will include prayers for all of humanity’s well-being, a key theme of the holiday. The service will focus on the sound of the Shofar, a trumpet made of a ram’s horn, traditionally used in religious ceremonies. It’s symbolically sounded during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Mendy Schapiro had said the Jewish center received a donation of 2,000 cloth face masks recently from a friend and colleague in New York. The rabbi said he had 2,000 disposable masks to hand out if they needed more for folks.
“Many of us on the outside seem fine but are actually feeling even more lost than ever as the Jewish New Year approaches. Some of these families have no family nearby or cannot attend community dinners with friends,” said Denburg.
Chabad Columbus hosted a drive-thru Rosh Hashanah carnival Aug. 30, to celebrate the holiday in a socially distant fashion.
With COVID-19 making it difficult or impossible for many to attend traditional High Holiday services, Chabad of Montreal has created a database of outdoor Rosh Hashanah services, centered on the sounding of the shofar — the key observance of the holiday.
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Feldman were greeted by UAE Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Abdulla Al Subousi, together with senior diplomats at the embassy and shared a lengthy and friendly discussion followed by a presentation ceremony.
As the year 2020 continues, people the world over are looking forward to a New Year, with the hope that it will be better.
Why is this year different from all others? Traditionally that may be a question reserved for the holiday of Passover, but it rings true for the upcoming High Holiday season. As many navigate the Covid-19 Pandemic, there is uncertainty about the upcoming High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
“During the High Holidays, accessibility can translate into different factors for different people,” Rabbi Lezell said. “Our goal is to lower the barriers of entry and encourage each and every Jew to actively participate in these most holy and introspective days.”
Dubbed “Rosh Hashanah in the Park,” the services — which will be held in Creve Coeur/Olivette, University City/Clayton, the Central West End, Chesterfield, St. Charles County and near Washington University — will be hosted by the five nearby Chabad centers and open to all, with no membership or affiliation required.