MILWAUKEE —  As the sun sets Wednesday, Jewish communities around the world will begin observing Rosh Hashanah, marking the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah also kicks off the Jewish High Holy Days, which last for a 10-day period ending with Yom Kippur on Oct. 11 and 12. 

Rosh Hashanah lasts through sundown Friday, serving as a time for reflection and celebrating a fresh start.

Roberta Clark is the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. She said this year, Rosh Hashanah is more of a chance to grieve together and focus on resilience, as fighting continues overseas.

“This Rosh Hoshana is poignant because of what happened on Oct. 7: 1,200 people were murdered; 251 people were kidnapped. Dozens of people were raped — because of their immutable characteristic —  because they were Jewish. Because they were Israeli," Clark said. 

The one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks is now just days aways. On Tuesday, Iranian airstrikes targeted sites across Israel. This, as Israel is fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, Israel launched its war in Gaza, vowing to eradicate Hamas. The ground operations have devastated Gaza, killing thousands of people.

Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin leads the Chabad Lubavitch Torah Center in Glendale, Wis. He said Jewish High Holy Days are a time to remember the values that unite all people.

“We pray for all of humankind,” Shmotkin said. “For all of us to find our purpose and meaning in existence, and in being here, working together and making our world a better place.”

Clark said this Rosh Hashanah should serve as a reminder of the power of community.

“We will be with community, and there’s nothing better when it comes to getting through a hard time, than being together and supporting each other,” Clark said.