Athens Jewish Community Celebrates Rosh Hashanah

Jews all over the world and here in Athens are celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is one of two High Holy Days on the Jewish calendar.  Jews celebrate the holiday in synagogue and with family gatherings.

Rosh Hashanah began Sunday evening at sundown and runs for two days.  Next week, Jews will mark Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and atonement.

Jews in the Athens community, including students at the University of Georgia, celebrated the new year with the traditional blowing of the Shofar, a ram’s horn.  It is also customary to eat apples and honey in hopes of a sweet new year. Students and residents were welcome to join in the celebration at the Chabad House on South Lumpkin Street and at Hillel on South Milledge Avenue.