KIHEI - The Jewish Congregation of Maui celebrates Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish new year of 5772 and the High Holy Days with events beginning Saturday and running into October.
The month of Tishrei is the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar, marking the anniversary of the creation of humanity and the completion of the world. The first of Tishrei - which this year falls at sunset on Sept. 28 - is Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish new year of 5772.
The Jewish calendar year, which is measured slightly differently than the typical Gregorian calendar, represents the number of years since creation, calculated by adding up the ages of people in the Bible back to the time of creation, according to the website Judaism 101.
Rabbi David Glickman and Amichai Levitz will lead the Rosh Hashanah, Selichot and Shabbat Shuvah services. The schedule follows:
* Saturday, 9 p.m., Selichot service, or prayers of forgiveness service.
* Wednesday, 6 p.m., Rosh Hashanah evening service; formal dinner to follow (call the temple at 874-5397 for cost and more information).
* Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Rosh Hashanah morning service; 6:30 p.m., Rosh Hashanah evening service.
* Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m., Rosh Hashanah morning service; 6 p.m. Shabbat Shuvah service.
* Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Shabbat Shuvah service.
Rosh Hashanah also is known as Yom Hakeseh, or Day of Concealment. "God conceals his people's sins and accords them forgiveness," the services announcement said.
The shofar, or ram's horn, is blown a total of 100 times each day of Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan explained that the sounding of the shofar was the summons of a person's soul to present itself before the judgment of God. The shofar is a reminder to repent and to return to God to receive divine mercy.
Shabbat Shuva, or the Sabbath of Return, is the Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, during the "10 Days of Awe." It is during this time that people of the Jewish faith actively seek peace and wholesomeness in all earthly relationships to elevate to a higher spiritual place in preparation for Yom Kippur, the announcement said.
On Yom Kippur, Jewish people are given the opportunity to repurify ourselves spiritually and prepare spiritually and physically for the coming year.
The Jewish Congregation of Maui's services are at Beit Shalom Synagogue, 634 Alulike St.
For more detailed information on the High Holy Days schedule, go to the website www.mauijews.org. The email for the Jewish Congregation of Maui is administration@mauijews.org.
