WEST BRATTLEBORO-On the evening of Monday, Sept. 22, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community (BAJC), along with Jewish people all over the world, will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, beginning the Year 5786 on the Jewish calendar.
This 10-day holiday period, known as Days of Awe or Days of Repentance, begins on the first day of the first month of the civil year, Tishrei (Sept. 23–24), and ends with Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
During this time, observers hear the piercing sound of the shofar, the ram's horn. The shofar calls all to focus their attention on their actions in the previous year, and ways in which they, both as individuals and as a community, can work more effectively to help create a better world.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, involves 25 hours of prayer and contemplation, fasting, and foregoing of pleasurable activities. Jewish tradition teaches that participating in the rituals of Yom Kippur can atone for transgressions between observers and the Divine. Forgiveness for transgressions against another person, however, must be requested from that person or come directly from them.
BAJC will hold services Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 22 and 23; and Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1 and 2. Everyone is welcome to attend. Membership in BAJC is not necessary, but registration for the individual services is required. Most services will be available by livestream as well.
For service details and registration information, visit bajcvermont.org.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.