Love it or hate it, Rosh Hashanah is the holiday when everyone and their mother's mother comes together inside of the same building to celebrate the new Jewish year together. Months ago, it was unfathomable to consider a high holyday season without convening together in person. Turns out, it's fathomable.
While every Jewish community around the globe had to reconsider and re-envision what Rosh Hashanah looks like during a worldwide pandemic, I am really proud of the creative means our Austin congregation used to approach the season. There were family-friendly options, meditative options, traditional options, and even an option to virtually visit the "hallway" to shmooze.
In the week leading up to the holiday, we got ourselves into the spirit by reading books, making crafts, and eating all the foods. And of course, TCDC participated with us as well! First, we made pipe cleaner apples to serve as house decorations with straw "beads" that each kid cut themselves.
Another day, we had deliciously round apples and sweet honey for snack.
Another day, we made "round challah" soft pretzels.
We made "New Year's Collages," with pictures, hopes, dreams, and wishes for our incoming year. The artistic process sometimes gets messy before getting to be masterpieces.
When we were finally ready for the new year to actually begin, we made sure we had all the symbols, foods, and noise makers.
Here's what Rosh Hashanah also looked like in 2020. I truly wish for health and sweetness for so many in the new year. And I am hoping all communities can continue to express creativity in response to a wide variety of needs at any time. Shanah Tovah!
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