Rosh Hashanah 2020 Begins This Weekend In DC

WASHINGTON, DC — For Jews in Washington, D.C. and around the world, the two-day holiday known as Rosh Hashanah begins Friday night at sundown and concludes at sundown Sunday.

Considered the beginning of the Jewish New Year and one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah is packed with special foods, traditions and mitzvahs, or commandments. One of the most important things to do on Rosh Hashanah is to hear the blowing of the shofar, or the ram’s horn.

Here are five things to know about the holiday. Shanah Tovah!

1) What is Rosh Hashanah?

The words actually mean “head of the year” and are used to mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day period that culminates with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

The two-day period is also referred to as “The Days of Awe” and focuses on repentance and atonement.

In Judaism, Rosh Hashanah is considered the sixth day of “Creation,” the day that Adam and Eve were made. Because of their creation, it’s also considered the day the universe’s potential was first recognized; therefore, it’s also considered the birthday of the universe.

2) How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

Several ways. Most notably, Jews will spend a lot of time in a synagogue or temple praying, listening to the blowing of the shofar, and reflecting on the year gone by. Also, there is a traditional trip to a body of water where bread is thrown, symbolizing the casting of sins into the depths of the sea, as referenced in the Bible.

Other Rosh Hashanah observances include candle lighting in the evenings and desisting from creative work.

3) What’s a shofar, and why is a ram’s horn so important?

A shofar is a trumpet made from the horn of a kosher animal with the marrow removed. The central mitzvah or commandment of Rosh Hashanah is to hear the shofar being blown, often in a synagogue, and ideally as part of the prayer service.

Chabad.org says the Torah refers to Rosh Hashanah as the “day of the shofar blast.” Since Rosh Hashanah is two days long, the shofar is blown during the daytime hours of both days, unless the first day falls on Shabbat, in which case the shofar is blown only on the second day.

The Torah doesn’t specify why the blowing of the shofar is important on Rosh Hashanah; however, here are 10 reasons for this special mitzvah.

4) Are there special foods served during Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah feasts traditionally include round challah bread (studded with raisins) and apples dipped in honey, pomegranate, and other foods that symbolize wishes for a sweet year. Some feasts serve parts of the head of a fish or a ram, expressing the wish that “we be a head and not a tail.”

It’s traditional to stay away from nuts as well as vinegar-based and sharp foods in order to avoid “a bitter year.”

5) Your local service may look different this year due to coronavirus.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many are preparing to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at home, socially distanced from extended family and friends. Chabad.org has some tips for those planning to spend Rosh Hashanah at home.

Planning to attend a Rosh Hashanah service in D.C.? While some synagogues have reopened, there’s a chance this year’s services will look different. Here’s a look at what local synagogues and centers have planned:

Adas Israel Congregation2850 Quebec St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

• Friday, Sept. 18: Erev Rosh Hashanah, 7-9 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Erev Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., 6-7 p.m. (mincha)
• Sunday, Sept. 20: Erev Rosh Hashanah Day 2, 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., 6-7 p.m. (mincha)

Hill Havurah, 212 East Capitol St., N.E., Washington, D.C.

• Friday, Sept. 18: The Blast, 5 p.m.; Erev Rosh Hashanah Service (Sermon by Rabbi Hannah after the Amidah), 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Rosh Hashanah Family Service (K-5th grade families), 3 p.m., register here; Rosh Hashanah Tot Family Service, 4 p.m., register here.
• Sunday, Sept. 20: In-Person Tashlich and Shofar Blowing (Outdoors and Socially Distant) 4:30-5 p.m.

Kesher Israel, 2801 N Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

• Friday, Sept. 18, Erev Rosh Hashana: Kesher Kiddush Club, 5:30 p.m.; Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv, 6:50 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 6:52 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19, Rosh Hashana: Shacharit, 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Mincha/Maariv, 6:50 p.m.; Candle Lighting, 7:48 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 20, Rosh Hashana: Shacharit, 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.; Shofar Blowing (outdoors) Francis Stevens, 5:30 p.m.; Mincha Only, 6:50 p.m.; Havdalah, 7:47 p.m.

Machar – The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism

• Friday, Sept. 18: Rosh Hashanah Online - Erev Rosh Hashanah/Shabbat: 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Rosh Hashanah 5781 and Shabbat both begin on Friday evening.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Children and Families Service, 9:30 a.m.; Service I - Renew, 10:30 a.m.; Memorial Service - Remember, 11:15 a.m.; Service II - Resolve, 11:30 a.m.; Virtual Tashlich/Havdalah, 5 p.m.

The Ohr Kodesh Congregation, 8300 Meadowbrook LaneChevy Chase, MD

• Friday, Sept. 18: The BlastDC!, 5 p.m., Shofar-Blowers, step outside and join the communal “Blast” across the DMV.; Erev RH Satellite Broadcast- Social Hall, 6:30 p.m.; Erev Rosh Hashana Livestream Services, 6:30 p.m.; Erev Rosh Hashanah Services- Patio Option, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Youth & Family Services- RH Day 1, Livestream, 8:15 a.m.; 1st Day RH Satellite Broadcast- Social Hall, 9:15 a.m; Rosh Hashana Day 1 Livestream Services, 9:15 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Services- Parking Lot Option, 12 p.m.; Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Services- Patio Option, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 20: 2nd Day RH Satellite Broadcast- Social Hall, 9:15 a.m; Rosh Hashana Day 2 Livestream Services, 9:15 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Services- Parking Lot Option, 1o a.m.; Rosh Hashanah Day 2 Services- Patio Option, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Tashlich Services (with Shofar!), 2:30 p.m.

Sixth and I, 600 I Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

• Friday, Sept. 18, Erev Rosh Hashanah: Signature Service 7 p.m.; Seeing the Sacred with Tara Brach, 7 p.m.; How We Remember with Adam Serwer and Rabbi Shira, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19, Rosh Hashanah - First Day: Signature Service, 10 a.m.; Soulful Sounds with Odetta Hartman, 10 a.m.; Jewish Jeopardy: High Holidays Trivia, 10 a.m.; Gentle Yoga with Alison Waldman, 10:30 a.m.; So God is Not a Being in the Sky: Now What? With Sarah Hurwitz and Rabbi Aaron, 10:30 a.m.; Crafting a New Year with Rachel Farbiarz, 11:15 a.m.; This Land is Whose Land? With Suketu Mehta and Rabbi Shira, 11:15 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah Feast: Cooking Demo, 12:10 p.m.; How Has This Year Changed Us? With Dr. Parker J. Palmer and Rabbi Aaron, 12:10 p.m
• Sunday, Sept. 20, Rosh Hashanah - Second Day: Relax, Renew, Return: A Rosh Hashanah Journey with Rabbi Benjamin Shalva, 10 a.m.; Tashlich, 5:30 p.m.

Temple Micah, 2829 Wisconsin Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C.

• Friday, Sept. 18: Erev Rosh Hashanah/Shabbat Service, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Family Service "Rosh Hashanah Warm-Up, 9 a.m.; Rosh Hashanah Morning Service­, 10:15 a.m.

Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St., N.W, Washington, D.C.

• Friday, Sept. 18: Erev Rosh HaShanah - Congregational Service, 6 p.m.; 2239 Young Professional Service, 8 p.m. (Services will be live streamed.)
• Saturday, Sept. 19: Preschool Experience, 9 a.m.; Family Service, 9:30 a.m.; Congregational Service, 10:30 a.m. (Services will be live streamed.)