OKC rabbi is celebrating the Jewish New Year as a Navy chaplain

New year, new rabbi, new start.

Alex Hamilton, of Oklahoma City, is experiencing the newness of life.

Hamilton's rabbinical ordination was held in May at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. And the new rabbi is celebrating Rosh Hashana — also known as the Jewish New Year — for the first time as a new Navy chaplain.

Rosh Hashana, which began at sundown on Friday, marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, a 10-day period that culminates with Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Hamilton, 29, is leading High Holy Days services while stationed at the Chapel of Hope in Yokosuka, Japan.

"I will be leading services with the emerging Jewish community out here," he said. "I'm excited because it will be fairly small and intimate."

Hamilton said he knows a little something about serving in small settings, and that may be to his advantage in his new chaplaincy assignment.

"In the Jewish world, Oklahoma City is a small town, despite the metro area being home to about a million people," he said. "I find it very important to represent the smaller communities in the discussions about the future of Judaism."

More: What is Rosh Hashanah? When is it? What to know about Jewish New Year traditions, food, more

Hamilton, who is married to Adeena Eisen, said his hometown "is a big part of who I am."

"There is a full-size Thunder flag hanging in my office. I’m proud to be an Okie."

Falling in love with Torah

Hamilton grew up attending Emanuel Synagogue, where Rabbi Abby Jacobson is spiritual leader. Jacobson, a Florida native, said she's extremely proud of Hamilton, who is one of less than a handful of rabbis to come out of the Oklahoma City synagogue since the 1990s.

Hamilton said he was working at a Jewish summer camp in Colorado when the camp director told him that he had set up an appointment for him with the former dean of a rabbinical seminary who was visiting at the time.

"I went to that meeting and walked out wanting to go to rabbinical school, but I think I had repressed it for a while," Hamilton said.

As for being a chaplain, Hamilton said he serves military members of various religious traditions and no spiritual traditions, not just those who are Jewish. He said an important part of being a chaplain is to be a friendly presence and a reminder that no one is alone.

Ordination was 'full-circle'

Jacobson wasn't surprised that Hamilton became a rabbi. She said he was a 10th-grader in her class that was similar to a confirmation class during the year she became Emanuel Synagogue's rabbi. Jacobson said over the years, he showed leadership abilities.

"He stood out as being extremely serious about his Judaism, and people were already making jokes that he was going to be a rabbi," she said.

Jacobson said one of her favorite conversations with Hamilton occurred when he was at a summer camp and putting together a skit. He had a question about Hebrew vowels, and she had always told her congregation that there would never be a time when she wouldn't want to talk about Hebrew vowels.

"So he called me at 7 in the morning one day, and I remember that as being very special," Jacobson said.

"I appreciated that he cared enough to get every vowel point correct for a silly youth program, but I also appreciated that he felt comfortable enough with me to call, to sort of break out of that idea that 'high school student has to ask other high school students' kind of bubble."

When Hamilton was asked who he wanted to attend his rabbinical ordination as his mentor, he chose Jacobson, who had attended the same seminary. He said she was his first rabbinic mentor, and having her at his ordination "felt right."

"It was a full-circle type of thing. She has been one of those people who has always been there for me," he said. "She and Rabbi Juan (Jacobson's husband, Juan Mejia) have always reminded me that every Jewish community is important."

Jacobson was thrilled at the invitation.

"I was so proud to see him in the halls of the seminary, wearing his Navy white. He was the same ― easy to talk to, quietly magnetic, happy, humble kid that I remember from when he was in 10th grade," she said.

High Holy Days at a glance

The Jewish High Holy Days are often called the “Days of Awe.” During this period, it is common for Jewish individuals to give to charity, visit the graves of their loved ones and to ask for forgiveness from friends and family for any wrongdoing.

Observant Jews typically celebrate Rosh Hashana with the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn. "Life’s endless circle is introduced through round foods, such as a special round challah with raisins for extra sweetness," said leaders from Temple B'nai Israel in Oklahoma City. They said apples are dipped in honey, honey cakes can be served as a traditional dessert, and in some homes, a traditional holiday stew called tzimmes is served.

Yom Kippur, set to begin at sundown Sept. 24, is a more somber observance. It is the most sacred holiday on the Jewish calendar. On this day, members of the Jewish faith community ask forgiveness for broken promises to God and voluntarily fast from food and drink.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC rabbi celebrates Jewish New Year as Navy chaplain