With Rosh Hashanah beginning at sundown this Friday, September 22 and Yom Kippur beginning at sundown on Sunday, October 1, members of the Jewish faith will be celebrating the high holy days.
Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky of the Chabad of Northeast Queens explained that Rosh Hashanah is the “anniversary of the creation of man” and described it as being a coronation day.
“Every year at this time humankind is supposed to come together and recognize the sovereignty of God,” he said. “It's really the coronation day.”
Yom Kippur is a day of repentance during which observers fast, Blesofsky said. Blesofsky said that if a person sincerely regrets things they did wrong and is honest about them then God will wipe the person's slate clean so that they can start over again.
In celebration of the high holy days, the Chabad of Northeast Queens will hold various services. For Rosh Hashanah there will be services at 7 p.m. on September 22, 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on September 23 and 9 a.m. on September 24. Following the September 24 morning service, there will be a Tashlich service at the bay and the blowing of the Shofar, a ram's horn, will take place at 11:15 a.m. that day.
For Yom Kippur, Kol Nidre will take place at 6:15 p.m. on October 1. On October 2, morning services will begin at 9 a.m. followed by Yizkor service at 11:45 a.m., Neilah service at 5:45 p.m. and the final Shofar blowing at 7:15 p.m.
“We're very friendly and open to anybody who wants to come,” Blesofsky said. “In general, it's just a warm environment.”
The Chabad of Northeast Queens community center is located at 26-06 213th Street in Bayside. For more information, call 718-279-1457.
High Holy days beginning soon
By Jessica Lyons
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