Attacks alter celebration of holiday for local Jews

Stacy J. Willis

Monday, Sept. 17, 2001 | 10:16 a.m.

Gathered in synagogues and casino ballrooms, many of the more than 76,000 Las Vegas Jews will celebrate God's creation of the world beginning tonight at sundown.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, is a celebration -- but many local rabbis are feeling a different sort of message is in order in light of the attacks on the U.S. last week.

"Many of us obviously changed our high holy day services to reflect the terror of what has happened," Rabbi Sanford Akselrad, of Congregation Ner Tamid, said.

"We will pray for a sweet new year, but we need to bring some sense of understanding to people. We actually will address the issue of terrorism, because a synagogue is a place for solace, religion and prayer, and one of the great casualties of terrorism it the psychological damage it brings," Akselrad said.

Rosh Hashana is a day of judgment, when Jews examine their past deeds and ask forgiveness for their sins. It is also a day of remembrance -- Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel -- and this year, said Rabbi Gary Golbart, of Adat Ari El synagogue, for Americans.

"This year it will truly be a time of healing," Golbart said. "We will renew our dedication to peace and goodness."

Ten days of repentance follow Rosh Hashana and culminate on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the year in Judaism.

In Jewish theology God begins opening his book of life on Rosh Hashana. He inscribes the names of those who will live and those who will die in the coming year, and closes the book on Yom Kippur -- sealing each person's fate.

The distinctive ritual for Rosh Hashana is the sounding of the Shofar, an instrument made from a ram's horn. Blowing the shofar welcomes the arrival of the new year.

Other customs are associated with the holiday's meals. Traditional foods such as the Challah bread are sweetened with honey, and apples and carrots are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings and abundance for the new year.

"We're going to try to make them (the U.S. tragedies) affect us in a positive way. We expect people to come in to worship in droves, in search of a renewed spirituality." Rabbi Felipe Goodman of Temple Beth Sholom said.

"It's going to be a very special Rosh Hashana."