What To Know When Rosh Hashanah 2021 Starts In Rockville

ROCKVILLE, MD — For Jews in Rockville and around the world, the holiday known as Rosh Hashanah begins Monday night. The two-day celebration, which ends Wednesday at sundown, marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year.

Considered one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah brings an opportunity for repentance and atonement. It’s also a time when communities come together over special foods, traditions and mitzvahs, or commandments.

Curious about this special Jewish holiday? Here are five things you should know:

1) What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” and marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day period that culminates with Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

The two-day period is also referred to as “The Days of Awe.”

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?

Most notably, Jews will spend significant time in a synagogue or temple praying, listening to the blowing of the shofar, and reflecting on the past year. 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) What foods are 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) Attend a service in Rockville.

Last year, many Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah at home or virtually amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

While many may opt to do the same this year, it’s likely in-person services will be more available as a growing number of Americans get vaccinated against the COVID-19.

Here’s a look at what local synagogues and centers have planned:

Note: Please check with your congregation for service locations and required reservations before attending.

Kol Shalom
9110 Darnestown Road, Rockville, MD 20850

Erev Rosh Hashanah
Monday, Sept. 6

• 7 to 8 p.m.

First Day Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, Sept. 7

• 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. - P’sukey D’zimrah, Shacharit
• 10 to 10:45 a.m. - Family Service: Young children up to 2nd grade
• 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. - Guest Speaker, Torah Service, Shofar Service, Ashrei
• 11 to 11:45 a.m. - Family Service: 3rd – 6th graders
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Rabbi’s Sermon, Musaf
• 4 p.m. - Tashlich (Wootton’s Mill Park)

Second Day Rosh Hashanah
Wednesday, Sept. 8

• 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. - P’sukey D’zimrah, Shacharit
• 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. - Guest Speaker, Torah Service, Shofar Service, Ashrei
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Rabbi’s Sermon, Musaf

Tikvat Israel Congregation
2200 Baltimore Road, Rockville, MD 20851

Erev Rosh Hashanah
Monday, Sept. 6

• 4 p.m. – “The Blast” (various locations including Rabbi Israel's house, 5007 Butternut Drive, Rockville; visit www.theblastdc.comfor additional information)
• 6 p.m. – Mincha & Maariv (in-person and via Zoom)
• 7:15 p.m. – Candle Lighting

Rosh Hashanah, Day I
Tuesday, Sept. 7

• 9 a.m. – Informal lay-led Pesukei D’zimra
• 9:30 a.m. – Services Begin
• 11 a.m. – Youth Services (outdoors)
• 4 p.m. – Shofar blowing at Rockville High School
• 4:30 p.m. – Mincha at Tikvat Israel
• 5 p.m. – Tashlich at the Bridge
• 6 p.m. – Ma’ariv at Rabbi Israel’s House
• 8:12 p.m. – Candle Lighting

Rosh Hashanah Day II
Wednesday, Sept. 8

• 9 a.m. – Informal lay-led Pesukei D’zimra
• 9:30 a.m. – Services Begin
• 7:15 p.m. – Mincha and Ma’ariv via Zoom

B'nai Israel
6301 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852-4195

Rosh Hashanah Evening
Monday, Sept. 6

• 6:15 p.m. - Evening Service in Dweck Sanctuary (Livestream Option) 8:00 PM Outdoor Evening Service in Parking Lot A

Rosh Hashanah Day One

Tuesday, Sept. 7

• 8:45 a.m. - Shaharit Service in Dweck Sanctuary/Bimblich Hall/Gudelsky Hall (Livestream Option)
• 10 a.m. - Torah Service
• 9 a.m. - Shaharit Service in Goodman Assembly Hall
• 10:15 a.m. - Torah Service
• 9:15 a.m. - Family Tots Experience
• 10 a.m. - Youth and Teen Services
• 4:30 p.m. - Outdoor Family Service
• 6:30 p.m. - Tashlikh
• 7:15 p.m. - Minha/Ma’ariv

Rosh Hashanah Day Two
Wednesday, Sept. 8

• 8:45 a.m. - Shaharit Service in Dweck Sanctuary/Bimblich Hall/Gudelsky Hall (Livestream Option)
• 10 a.m. - Torah Service
• 9 a.m. - Shaharit Service in Goodman Assembly Hall
• 10:15 a.m. - Torah Service
• 9:15 a.m. - Family Tots Experience
• 10 a.m. - Youth and Teen Services
• 4:30 p.m. - Outdoor Family Service
• 7:15 p.m. - Minha/Ma’ariv

Temple Beth Ami
14330 Travilah Rd, Rockville, MD 20850

Erev Rosh Hashanah
Monday, Sept. 6

• 7:30 to 9:15 p.m. - Sanctuary service and Oneg

Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, Sept. 7

• 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. - Sanctuary Service
• 11 to 11:30 a.m. - Preschool service
• 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. - Sanctuary Service
• 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. - Teen service and lunch
• 2:30 to 3 p.m. - Tashlich
• 3:15-4 p.m. - K-6 Family Service

Rosh Hashanah, second day
Wednesday, Sept. 8

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Sanctuary Service
• 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. - Tashlich

Not sure what to expect during a Rosh Hashanah service? Chabad.org offers a breakdown of what happens once you enter the synagogue.