In recognition of the Jewish High Holy Days, this week’s Upper School Chapel featured students who shared the significance of their faith and their traditions during a deeply spiritual time. Rosh Hashanah, which began at sundown on September 22,  is the celebration of the Jewish New Year, a time synonymous with reflection and renewal, and last night’s sundown marked the beginning of the holiest day in Judaism, Yom Kippur, which is also known as the Day of Atonement, which is a time of forgiveness and repentance. 

Excerpts from sacred texts, such as Deuteronomy 31:7 and Isaiah 57:11, were read by Reverend David Hallgren and junior Ainsley H., respectively. Members of PJC (Pennington Jewish Community) as well as other students then took the opportunity to share the things they find especially meaningful about these holidays. Among the rituals and traditions of this time, Matthew P. ’28 and Matt S. ’28 both look forward to the quality time they spend with family. Nonni S. ’29 shared that she is particularly grateful for the opportunity to reflect on her mistakes and spoke warmly of “eating sweet foods and saying our prayers” during the high holidays.

When asked if the meaning of these holidays has changed over time, it was clear that each of the students have matured in their faith. No longer dreading Hebrew school and viewing those lessons as a chore, Matt S. ’28 has sought out other organizations within his faith with new friends he met at that very same Hebrew school, and Nonni S. told a similar story of recently joining a Jewish teen program. For his part, Matthew P. shared that he certainly understands and appreciates more of the meaning behind these religious traditions as he gets older. And thanks to the perspectives of these students, now the entire Pennington community can better appreciate the importance of these holidays, too.