Rosh Hashanah- Jewish New Year

 Rosh Hashanah- Jewish New Year.

So here we are slap bang in the middle of September and wouldn't you know it. It's a Happy, Healthy, Sweet and Peaceful New Year to all of you wherever you may be. There is an air of glorious surrealism about this whole period of the calendar year. While most of the rest of the Christian population are in the middle of that transitional moment between the end of the summer and the beginning of autumn, the global Jewish population are about to sing Auld Lang Syne, linking arms and knocking back the traditional whiskies. They'll also be celebrating a New Year. Indeed it does sound bizarre and incongruous and maybe it should always be that way because this is Judaism at its finest and most uplifting.

This morning millions of Jews around the world will contemplate life and then cherish it for all its worth. At times there will be solemnity and reverence while all around us Rosh Hashanah will be there at the crack of dawn before following us lovingly throughout the day. It is time for praying, ruminating, chanting those utterly evocative hymns and then repenting at leisure. It'll be a time of absolution, sombre reflection, standing up and sitting down, bowing our heads respectfully and thinking, a simple emotion we tend to take for granted.

At various points we'll be serenaded by the blowing of the Shofar or the ram's horn since this ceremony gives Rosh Hashanah its point and purpose, its sense of occasion and a clear resonance of what it means to be Jewish. It gives the day its central focal point, a familiar and recognisable sign that all is well with the world. The sound of the Shofar can probably be heard all over the world simultaneously. It's a touching and moving moment that gets you right here. The first day of Rosh Hashanah is normally the the cue for a fashion parade, comparisons of notes, reminiscences of the year gone by and warm smiles of recognition. 

Rosh Hashanah is the perfect opportunity to share family pleasantries, exchange glad greetings and then wish each L'shana Tova and Chag Semach.  It is a chance to air old jokes, inquiries about each other's work or student experiences at either school or university. It is the one moment when you feel compelled to switch off, relax and just let the whole holiday period wash over you. But across the Jewish global population there is a fervent hope that wonderful Israel will once again enjoy the most peaceful New Year.

And yet for my lovely family this year represented a radical departure from the norm. Under normal circumstances we would have occupied Saracens rugby union club in London. For a number of years now Saracens have kindly availed themselves of the local Finchley Jewish Reform community. But this year Saracens were playing at home in their magnificent Stone X Stadium and of course rugby had to take precedence to religion. It seemed only fair so there were no complaints from the congregation.

So here we were today at the Vue Cinema which acted as an improvised synagogue(shul). To be greeted with huge tubs of sweet or salt popcorn seemed to lend the whole day an air of obvious incredulity. We gathered by the foyer with lanyards and identity cards ready to be taken and Jewish prayer books. We proceeded to one of the main screens which played host to this most unconventional location for a Rosh Hashanah service.

Some of the traditionalists among us were half expecting usherettes with trays of ice cream and Kia Ora orange juice cartons. We then looked up at the screen and might have thought that for a couple of amusing moments that we'd be bombarded with trailers for new films on the cinema circuit. We knew that Pearl and Dean had lost their advertising rights in cinemas but were convinced that the Meerkat family would appear on screen with exhortations to buy cinema tickets. Sadly, this was not the case so we were treated to the usual choirs singing their hearts out on screen and the Jewish blessings and prayers.

And so we settled down to the cinema experience and remembered your much loved grandparents who relished this Jewish holiday with all the enthusiasm that almost seemed to come naturally to them. This is the first day of the Jewish New Year which in itself sounds totally inappropriate in the middle of September. But from a historic point of view this has become a familiar time of the year so there were no disputes or questions asked. The torah scrolls were lifted proudly at the Vue Cinema and that one is a movie sensation. L'shana Tova and Chag Semach. May you all have a Happy, Healthy, Sweet and Peaceful New Year.