Worry coincides with start of Jewish holiday The Jewish new year’s day, Rosh Hashana, starts at sunset today. The new year, according to the Jewish calendar, is 5762. Unlike the American and European new year’s day, this is a highly
Worry coincides with start of Jewish holiday
The Jewish new year’s day, Rosh Hashana, starts at sunset today. The new year, according to the Jewish calendar, is 5762.
Unlike the American and European new year’s day, this is a highly religious holiday, one of only two (the other is Yom Kippur, 10 days following Rosh Hashana) that don’t observe historical or natural events, but rather require of the observing Jew to spend time in introspection, atonement and prayer.
Undoubtedly, the events of “Black Tuesday” last week will be on everybody’s minds at services tonight.
In addition to the horror felt by everybody in the U.S. and all over the world, there’s a growing concern in the Jewish community about a possible backlash against Jews and Israel.
It’s a realistic fear, said Sandy Meyers, Jewish Community of Kauai board member, whose parents survived the Nazi Holocaust. Historically, many events and problems have been blamed on Jews, and the results are often violent attacks and the destruction and vandalism of synagogues and cemetaries.
Sara Silverman, president of the local Jewish board, noted Jews “have long been the scapegoat.”
There’s a perception that the United States’ friendly relationship with Israel is the cause of Arab terrorists’ grievance against America, though many analysts are saying that Osama bin Laden’s hate of the U.S. is caused by the presence of troops in Saudi Arabia, the land of Mecca, Islam’s holy city.
Another community member, who wished to remain anonymous, is concerned that some people misconstrue the events unfolding on television.
“I’ve heard from several people that the U.S. should retaliate against Israel because Palestinians were dancing and cheering when they heard the news” of the attack, she said. She added that many people don’t understand the political situation in the Middle East and confuse Palestinians and Israelis.
Watching recent reports from Honolulu International Airport, Silverman was reminded of flying El Al, the Israeli national airline, to Tel Aviv a few years ago.
“They searched everything,” she said, “even my contact lens case.”
Though thousands are still considered missing after last Tuesday’s suicide hijackings of airplanes that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., it’s clear, statistically speaking, that many of the victims are Jewish. There are at least 2 million Jews in New York, which is the largest Jewish community in the world outside Israel.
A third of all American Jews, as well as many Israeli immigrants, reside in New York, which is the cultural capital of American jewry. The Israeli foreign ministry has set up a Web site with a database of missing persons, where people can search for loved ones or announce their status. There’s also a hot-line phone number in New York for Israelis seeking this information.
To many, it’s reminiscent of the Israel-based Missing Persons agency that worked for 20 years after the Holocaust, trying to locate and reunite lost relatives. The Web would have helped cut those many agonizing years significantly.
There are no accurate figures on the Jewish community on Kaua’i, said Silverman, but there are 150 names on the newsletter’s mailing list.
The monthly newsletter features prominently, in Hebrew alphabet, the word “shaloha,” a combination of shalom (Hebrew of peace, hello and goodbye) and aloha.
The 10 days after Rosh Hashana are known as Days of Awe. According to tradition, this is the time when God signs names into the Book of Life or the Book of Death for the coming year. These high holidays, as they’re known, culminate with Yom Kippur, a day of fast and prayer.
As a symbolic way to wish a happy new year, many eat sweets (in Israel they eat apples with honey, for a healthy and sweet year).
Another part of Rosh Hashana is the blowing of the shofar, or a ram’s horn, which emits a loud, mournful sound.
A symbolic ceremony, called Tashlich, in which people throw their sins away by emptying their pockets into the water and reciting repentance verses from the book of Michah, will be held at Nawiliwili Harbor following the services.
This year’s services on Kaua’i will be led by a cantor from Chicago, who, as of last Friday, hasn’t canceled her trip.
Staff writer Yael Li-Ron can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226) and yael@pulitzer.net
