Rebecca Rivera '01, Upper School English teacher and Jewish Student Union Sponsor, along with Rev. Ricardo Bailey, head chaplain, offer their reflections on the Jewish High Holidays, which begin today with Rosh Hashanah, in the video below. 

"Rosh Hashanah day is spent in prayer at the synagogue, and typically families will get together that night to celebrate over a large meal (think Thanksgiving)," Ms. Rivera said. "Traditional foods include apples and honey to represent a sweet new year, as well as a special round challah bread to represent the cycle of life. This is a festive and celebratory holiday, but not in the way we celebrate New Year’s in the secular world. It is a time to begin reflecting on the past year in order to prepare for Yom Kippur 8 days later. Appropriate greetings include Happy New Year and L’Shanah Tovah."