Mumbai Jews Celebrate Hebrew New Year 5787

Mumbai's Jewish community joined the international community in celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Hebrew New Year, on Sunday. The celebrations included the weekly holiday of Sabbath on Saturday and the New Year on Sunday.

In Mumbai, Jews gathered at different synagogues to listen to the blowing of the shofar, a sheep's horn that heralds the new year. At the 185-year-old Shaare Rason synagogue, a gathering of over 20 people took part in the ceremony.

Rosh Hashanah, which means 'head of the year', marked the beginning of the Hebrew year 5787. The year began at sundown on September 11, but since the day arrived on the Sabbath, the celebrations were held on Sunday.

According to Sinora Kolatkar, secretary of the Shaare Rason synagogue, the shofar cannot be blown on the Sabbath. 'The shofar is blown 101 times as a symbol of the coming year,' said Kolatkar. The blowing of the horn is a wake-up call from spiritual slumber and a plea to return to God.

Rosh Hashanah starts the beginning of the Jewish 'high holidays', a ten-day period of repentance and reflection that ends with Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown on September 20 and ends at nightfall on September 21, is the 'Day of Atonement' and the holiest day of the year in Judaism.

On Yom Kippur, believers abstain from food and drink, intimacy, avoid wearing certain kinds of footwear, do not wash or use cosmetics, and spend the day in prayers. The day is observed for roughly 25 to 26 hours, from sunset on the eve of the holiday until after nightfall the next day.

The Jewish community in Mumbai is a small but vibrant one, with a rich history and culture. The community comes together to celebrate various festivals and holidays throughout the year, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The celebrations of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are an important part of Jewish tradition and culture. They provide an opportunity for the community to come together, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the new year with hope and optimism.

In conclusion, the celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Mumbai marked the beginning of the Hebrew year 5787 and the start of the Jewish 'high holidays'. The community came together to pray, reflect, and seek forgiveness, and to look forward to the new year with hope and optimism.