Sun City’s Jewish community observes Rosh Hashanah
WOODSTOCK – Calls of “tekiah” and “terurah” were read and followed by blasts from the shofar that reverberated across the chapel of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church.
The final “tekiah g’dola” set off a long, booming blast as the finale, marking the conclusion of the Sept. 5 Rosh Hashanah service for Tikkun Olam, a Reform Jewish congregation in McHenry County that shares space with the church.
A member of Congregation Tikkun Olam demonstrates the blowing of the Shofar for Rosh Hashanah. (Mason Souza I Sun Day Photo)
Rosh Hashanah marks the start of a new year for the Jewish people. Because they follow a lunar calendar, the date is different each year, and the 2013 observation – or year 5774 on the lunar calendar – falls particularly early.
The start of the High Holidays or Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah represents a time for Jews to reflect on the past year and look to improve themselves and their community in the next. Judy Minsley, publicity chair for Tikkun Olam, explained that in Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the day when God opens the book of life which contains the fate of each person for the next year. The book is sealed 10 days later on Yom Kippur, and Jews have a chance to atone in between.
“It’s kind of a very introspective period – you can’t atone to God until you atone to your fellow man,” she said.
Rabbi Dr. David Gilner reads from the Torah along with members of Congregation Tikkun Olam in Woodstock for Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 5. (Photo Provided)
The holiday is marked by many traditions, including eating apples and honey in hopes of a sweet year and blowing the shofar to alert people that judgment is coming.
Several members of Sun City’s Shalom Group were present at the service, and many helped read traditional passages together as a community. The service featured a guest rabbi, Dr. David Gilner, who led the congregation in reading passages from the Torah and delivered a message interpreting the story of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Throughout the service, solo cantor Jennifer Grubb performed traditional Hebrew melodies, many of which were echoed by those in attendance.
The most holy point of the service came as Dr. Gilner led readings from the Torah, a scroll containing the first five books of the Tankah, or Hebrew Bible.
“Rosh Hashanah is more where you start thinking about things that have happened in the past and looking toward the new year with reflection and more toward religious beliefs and what you can do to be a better person,” Shalom Group President Dave Rosenfeldt said.
Rosh Hashanah is linked with Yom Kippur, which falls on Sept. 13 at sundown this year. Considered the holiest day of the year for Jews, Yom Kippur completes the Days of Awe. It is observed as a day of atonement, as the congregation gets together and acknowledges sins in repentance.
The High Holdays are celebrated differently among the three major branches of Judaism: Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. As a Reform congregation, Tikkun Olam services feature more English readings than Hebrew. Reform Jews often take one day off of work for Rosh Hashanah, while Conservative and Orthodox Jews typically take two. Reform Jews are also less likely to follow Kosher laws regarding food.
The Shalom Group was started about 10 years ago in Sun City to give Jewish residents their own community in an area that does not have as large a Jewish population as areas closer to Chicago.
“By being together and celebrating the holidays and so forth, we’re able to provide a forum for them,” Rosenfeldt said.
The group currently has about 130 members across the three major branches of Judaism. Rosenfeldt said Shalom Group members attend services at Tikkun Olam, the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, or Congregation Kneseth Israel in Elgin. Rosenfeldt said the latter two are more on the Conservative end of the spectrum.
In addition to holiday celebrations and monthly meetings led by Rosenfeldt, the group hosts discussions on various topics of interest to its members and the community. For January and February, Rosenfeldt said they are planning on a two-part series on the history of Jews in Chicago.
The group also reaches out to the community by contributing to the Grafton Food Pantry and speaking to Huntley High School students about Jewish culture and traditions.
A lot of the Jewish religion is how you can help other people and be good to people,” Rosenfeldt said.
