The growing Jewish community of Mullica Hill commemorates Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot with services and festivities
The Mullica Hill Jewish community began a month of celebration, reflection and unity last week with the occurrence of Rosh Hashanah from sundown on Wednesday, Sept. 20 to nightfall on Thursday, Sept. 21. Within the following weeks through October, members of the religious community observe 10 days of reflection followed by Yom Kippur, as well as the festive holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. At the Chabad of Gloucester County, a number of services will be held, as well as the opportunity to participate in the religion’s traditional rituals for the growing Jewish community in Mullica Hill.
According to Rabbi Avi Richler, Rosh Hashanah, meaning the head of the year in Hebrew, commemorates the creation of the world according to Jewish tradition, 5,778 years ago.
“Ultimately, the universe was created for the human kind to make it a better place, so we celebrate the human potential,” Richler said.
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, the synagogue offered an evening service followed by a community dinner, featuring symbolic treats such as apples dipped in honey, representing a “sweet new year,” pomegranates, symbolizing how good deeds should be many, such as the seeds of the fruit, and the head of a fish, signifying the new year as a year of leadership and growth.
The synagogue expected 40 to 50 people for the dinner, providing an opportunity for seniors or families who are unfamiliar with hosting the meal a place to eat together.
On the following Thursday and Friday, morning services were held preceding the shofar sounding, an ancient ritual of blowing a ram’s horn, Richler said, symbolizing a wake up call for a new year, new opportunities and a time to “rediscover a connection with God, community and the mission of making the world a better place.” Lunch was served with an expected 100 guests in attendance.
“Traditionally on this day, God looks at the world on its birthday and reevaluates each and every human being’s deeds over the past year and scribes them for a year of blessings in the coming year,” Richler said.
Leading up to Yom Kippur, a day of atonement when God forgives those for their sins, members of the Jewish community will spend their time reflecting, repenting and asking for forgiveness, Richler said, re-evaluating and committing to doing better in the year to come. According to the synagogue’s website, www.jewishgloucester.com, for about 26 hours, from sunset on Sept. 29 to after nightfall on Sept. 30, the Jewish community will “abstain from eating or drinking, washing their bodies, wearing leather shoes and engaging in marital relations.”
“Rosh Hashanah is more of a celebration, whereas Yom Kippur is more of a reflection where we fast, we pray and we try to act as angels to symbolize our trying to obtain a perfect state of being and to have that relationship with God,” Richler said.
At 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, a Kol Nidrei service will be held, followed by a morning and afternoon services on Saturday, Sept. 29. At 7:05 p.m., the fasting will end and a break the fast meal will be served with bagels, lox, cookies and cakes.
A few days later, the seven days of Sukkot, a holiday of unity bringing the community together with historical rituals, will take place. The Chabad of Gloucester County will build a hut, sit outside and connect as a community through children’s programs, adult programs, services and prayer. The final two days will be marked with the dancing of the Torah, a massive celebration collaborating with synagogues from across South Jersey.
According to Richler, the Jewish community in Mullica Hill is growing through the demand of the synagogue’s services and programming. Richler said the Chabad is not just a synagogue, but also an outreach center, working in the prison system, drug rehabilitation centers and within the wider community. Richler serves on the Human Relations Commission for the county, as well as provides charity work to the community and local food banks. The synagogue recently opened a full-time Jewish center at Rowan University, and will also be breaking ground on a 12,000 square-foot building in the coming months on Commissioners Road.
“When we came in 2007 to Gloucester County, we knew one Jewish family,” Richler said. “Today, we have about 150 families involved in our center. It’s a family; it’s a warm, friendly environment when you come here.”
Richler said no prior experience or affiliation is necessary to visit the Chabad of Gloucester County; everyone is welcome.
The Chabad of Gloucester County is located at 12 Woodstown Road, Mullica Hill. To learn more about the synagogue, visit www.jewishgloucester.com. For more information on High Holiday services and events, visit www.jewishgloucester.com/hh2017.
