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Area Jews Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, The Jewish New Year

The Jewish New Year began at sundown on Wednesday.

KYW's Hadas Kuznits explains what that means.

Walter Ferst, president of Society Hill synagogue says Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar:

"It is the beginning of the calendar in which you end the prior year thinking about where you've been and where you might want to go in the coming year."

It's followed by a ten-day period of reflection:

"Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the year. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, and in tradition Jews reflect upon themselves and their community and the allure is that you are inscribed in a Book of Life for the coming year as of the end of Yom Kippur."

So how do you celebrate the Jewish new year?

"Rosh Hashanah is actually a very upbeat holiday. My personal favorite: we go to services in the morning and then have a family celebration in the afternoon."

And Ferst explains there are traditions reminding you to start off on a good foot this year:

"When we walk back from the synagogue there are always apples and honey to remind you that you should have a sweet new year."

For more, listen to the full interview...

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