Shofar blowing workshop in San Francisco (illustration)
צילום: index open
World Jews prepare for Rosh Hashana
Jewish communities from Marseille to Rio de Janeiro hold workshops on shofar blowing, praying and sending New Year greetings. They also remember Captain Asaf Ramon, whose death touched hearts of Jews in Israel, worldwide
Jewish New Year across the globe: Jewish communities' education institutions and youth movements worldwide have been preparing vigorously over the past few days for the eve of Rosh Hashana – with activities, celebrations and special events.
The tragic death of Captain Asaf Ramon, the eldest son of the first Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, which touched the hearts of Jews in the Diaspora, has been integrated into the joyous celebrations for the Jewish New Year.
"On Rosh Hashana, Israel begins the year with great unity stemming from national grief. We are far away, so it is very difficult for us not to feel it, not to be supported by people around. Therefore, we have decided to dedicate part of the celebration to the memory," says Tamar Shamla, a Bnei Akiva emissary in Marseille.
Corner in memory of Asaf Ramon in Marseilles (Photo: Tamar Shamla)
The youth movement prepared a special corner in memory of the young pilot, and decided that as part of the Jewish school's lessons for Rosh Hashana, the children would be taught about the tragedy of the Ramon family and about its significance for many Israelis.
Despite the distance, Shamla stresses that the feelings of solidarity is very strong. "I know that if I were given only one wish now, I would not hesitate for a minute and come to comfort the Ramon family in Israel," she says.
Activities for the holiday will also be held on Saturday in Panama City, including the story of the first Israeli astronaut and his son.
"We view Asaf Ramon as a symbol and a model. A person who lost his father at an early age and still chose to volunteer and follow in his father's footsteps. We think it's amazing. It's an example which we must learn from and appreciate," says Hanan Bordovich, a Bnei Akiva emissary in the city. "Therefore, in addition to preparing New Year greeting cards for the community's adults, we are also teaching the youth to give to the State like he did."
At Hebrew Academy in SAN Francisco, students are already enjoying the holiday spirit with a special workshop on how to blow a shofar, as well as a simulation of the holiday meal.
In Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Jewish community will begin its celebrations a bit later, focusing on a mass prayer expected to be attended by 300 people.
