What To Know When Rosh Hashanah 2021 Starts In Silver Spring

SILVER SPRING, MD — For Jews in Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring.

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 each congregation for COVID-19 policies and reservation requirements before attending.

Chabad of Silver Spring
519 Lamberton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902-1625

Rosh Hashanah Night One
Monday, Sept. 6

• 7:12 p.m. - Candle Lighting Night 1
• 7:10 p.m. - Evening Service

Rosh Hashanah Day One
Tuesday, Sept. 7

• 7 a.m. - Morning Service
• 9 a.m. - Morning Service
• Night 2 Light Candles After: 8:09 pm

Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Wednesday, Sept. 8

• 7 a.m. - Morning Service
• 9 a.m. - Morning Service
• 7:10 p.m. - Evening Service
• 8:07 p.m. - Holiday Ends

Kemp Mill Synagogue
11910 Kemp Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Erev Rosh Hashanah
Monday, Sept. 6

• 6:45 a.m. - Erev RH Selichot & Shacharit (sanctuary), (Shacharit at approximately 8 a.m.)
• 6:45 a.m. - Erev RH Selichot & Shacharit (tent), (Shacharit at approximately 8 a.m.)
• 8:30 a.m. - Erev RH Youth Selichot & Shacharit (SH), (Shacharit at approximately 9:45 a.m.)

*Shacharit will be followed by Hatarat Nedarim The Mikva will be open for men this year

Rosh Hashanah Day One
Monday, Sept. 6

• 7:12 pm - Candlelighting
• Mincha followed by Maariv (Shkia 7:30 pm), (Sanct, SH, Tent – No assigned rooms or seats)............7:15 pm

Tuesday, Sept. 7

• 7 a.m. - Shacharit (KMS Tent)
• 8 a.m. - Shacharit (Sanct, SH, BM, Mayberg)
• Approximately 10 a.m. - Drashot and Shofar Blowing

*There will be an additional shofar blowing 10 minutes after Musaf in Sanct, SH, and Mayberg

• 5:30pm Tashlich - Early Mincha
• 6:30 p.m. - Afternoon Shofar Blowing (Tent)
• 7 p.m. - Mincha (Sanct and Tent) (Shkia 7:28pm)

*Short D’Var Torah by Rabbi Weinberg followed by Maariv

• After 8:10 p.m. - Candlelighting and Kiddush

*NO preparation for the second day of Yom Tov may be done prior to 8:10pm

• 7 a.m. - Shacharit (KMS Tent)
• 8 am. - Shacharit (Sanct, SH, BM, Mayberg)
• Approximately 10 a.m. - Drashot and Shofar Blowing

*There will be an additional shofar blowing 10 minutes after Musaf in Sanct, SH, and Mayberg

• 6:30 p.m. - Afternoon Shofar Blowing (Tent)
• 7 p.m. - Mincha (Sanct and Tent) (Shkia 7:27pm)

*Shiur between Mincha/Maariv by Rabbi Aaron Levitt (Sanct)

• 8:08 p.m. - Maariv and end of Yom Tov

Looking for more services? We have a list of Bethesda Rosh Hashanah services here.

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