Upcoming Jewish High Holy Days focus on reflection, servanthood in the community

SARASOTA — Local synagogues and members of the Jewish community are preparing for the upcoming High Holy Days — internationally recognized religious holidays that anchor a stretch of 10 days of reflection and service observed annually by the Jewish community across the world.

Each year, Sarasota synagogues recognize Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur with temple members, old and new, and spend the Holy Days observing the ways in which one can be better to themselves and the community.

However, after a year marred by local acts of anti-Semitism, the most recent occurrence happening in Vamo in late June, Jewish leaders hope to also educate and uplift both Jews and non-Jews alike regarding both hatred and the power of community.

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Temple Sinai senior clergyman Chazzan Cliff Abramson has participated in the synagogue's observance of the holidays since 2006. This year, Abramson says the temple has made an extra effort to live up to the Jewish principle of ‘Tikkun olam' — repairing the world.

“It is one step at a time, helping one person at a time,” Abramson said. “A number of things that we do are based on social action; it’s a very big part of what we do in addition to those things that are religious.”

Traditionally, Jewish people refrain from work and all adults fast from sundown the evening before Yom Kippur until nightfall the next day. Following the holiday, the Jewish people put into action the lessons and insights learned during the holiday observance.

At Temple Sinai, members focus on creating social change through serving the homeless community and combating food scarcity alongside local food banks.

Rosh Hashana, which begins at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 25, translates to ‘top’ or ‘new’ year, and serves as a day to begin self-reflection and introspection of the past year. Leading into Yom Kippur, known in Judaism as the Day of Atonement, those who recognize the holiday spend 10 days intensely examining their lives, fasting and planning for the year ahead. Yom Kippur is observed from sundown to sundown and ends on Wednesday, Oct. 5, marking the end of the High Holy Days.

Abramson explained that Judaism has long been rooted in collective reflection and service. His religious community, however, knows clearly targeted hate.

Anti-Semitism is "not a new thing. These acts happen and the only way to combat those things on a grassroots level is to align yourselves with other people who often will need you to align with you,” he said.

He recalled a spring service at the temple, following an anti-Semitism act in a Sarasota neighborhood in February 2022, when fellow clergy member and pastor of Church of the Palms Steve McConnell brought his congregation to Temple Sinai to show support for the congregation and the local Jewish community.

“That’s part of the repairing of the world principle — someone needs help, we are there to help them. And when we’re in need we hope that they’ll be there for us,” Abramson said.

Temple Sinai will host a mix of closed and open services and experiences at the synagogue on the Holy Days. Interested individuals and families may call or log on to the temple’s website for schedule and details at https://www.templesinai-sarasota.org/ or call 941- 924-1802.

Leaders at Sarasota’s Temple Emanu-El also look forward to observing the upcoming holidays with its synagogue members and the community, Rabbi Elaine Glickman said.

Glickman described the temple’s recognition of the holy days as the ‘birth of the world’ in Jewish religion echoing Abramson’s notion of service as an integral part of the community.

“We take an accounting of ourselves. It’s 10 days of intense self-examination and what we bring to the world and what we want to take forward in the year ahead,” Glickman said. “We don’t just focus on ourselves but ask ‘How can I better my community?’”.

Temple Emanu-El was vocal about the anti-Semitic letters that were found at various Sarasota homes earlier this year causing a range of emotions for Jewish people in the community, Glickman said.

“It’s awful to feel targeted and we had our sacred space targeted … but it also is heartening to see the outpouring of support after all of those incidents,” she said.

“For me, seeing people in our community that uplift and do the right thing … the Jewish community here is so fortunate to receive kindness from those not directly affected by it (anti-Semitism).”

Temple Emanu-El will host its annual food drive with All Faith’s Food Bank, host family and kid-friendly experiences, and hold private services in observance of Yom Kippur. If interested in membership or public events visit the temple’s website https://www.sarasotatemple.org/ or call 941-371-2788.

Samantha Gholar covers social justice news for the Herald-Tribune and USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at sgholar@gannett.com or on Twitter: @samanthagholar

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota's Jewish community prepares to observe holidays, serve others