WORCESTER, Mass. - For the Jewish community, the holiday of Rosh Hashanah is viewed as a fresh start.

"We recognize and celebrate creation," said Steven Schimmel, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts. "But more importantly, we look back on the year behind us, hold a mirror up to ourselves and to the activities and work that we've done, and what we can do better going forward."

What You Need To Know

  • Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of a new year in the Jewish community

  • The holiday began the evening of September 25, and ends the evening of September 27

  • Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the Jewish High Holy days

Schimmel said while many non-Jewish people know about Hanukah, it's actually a minor holiday when compared to Rosh Hashanah.

The three day period marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy days and it’s a little different when compared to the secular new year on January 1.

"For this new year, we spend the day in synagogue, with our congregants, fellow congregants, praying," Schimmel said. "We also partake in special meals. Traditionally, we eat apples dipped in honey which signifies a sweet new year ahead."

The holiday, while always important, comes at a crucial time. Schimmel described it as a challenging time, filled with uncertainty and a continued rise in anti-Semitism. 

He said Rosh Hashanah is a chance to embrace being Jewish, and continue moving forward.

"We're in a much better place today than perhaps we've ever been in the last 2,000 years," Schimmel said. "With that said, it's been our commitment to our people, our commitment to our heritage, to our tradition and to continue to have that purpose of living a good life and caring for our fellow man that sustained us and enabled us to make it through other periods of hardship."​