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Shana Tovah! Diverse north Brooklyn crowd witnesses Rosh Hashanah up close

GREENPOINT — Dozens of community members congregated in Greenpoint’s Transmitter Park on Oct. 4 to witness a years-long tradition, the first of the High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah, and were treated to an experience that likely left an indelible mark on them. 

Rosh Hashanah, meaning, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year,” is a two-day observance and celebration, marking the beginning of the civil year, according to the teachings of Judaism. It begins 10 days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The Greenpoint Shul (Congregation Ahavas Israel), located at 108 Noble Street, is the oldest continually operating synagogue in Brooklyn since 1904 and is where the get-together began. After the obligatory exchange of pleasantries, the group then took a short walk to Transmitter Park.  

The late afternoon gathering, which boasted picture-perfect weather, included prayer, song and perhaps the best-known ritual of Rosh Hashanah, the blowing of the shofar, a musical instrument made from an animal horn. This serves as a symbolic “wake-up call,” stirring Jews to mend their ways and repent.

“While there are so many layers to the holiday, the central mitzvah is the shofar blowing,” explained Isaiah Rothstein, Rabbi of the Greenpoint Shul, noting that it symbolizes a desire for justice in the world, the want for people to live lives of integrity and also for them to be free. 

“These are all the deeper meanings behind the blowing of the shofar,” he continued.

Then came the ritual of Tashlich, whereby prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one’s sins are symbolically cast into the water via the throwing of bread into it to symbolize the “casting off” of sins.

“The throwing of bread into the water signifies us letting go, releasing everything from our past and recognizing that we want to move forward into a greater level,” Rothstein said. “The water serves to cleanse us.”

Transmitter Park, a local waterfront destination with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline, served as the ideal destination for hurling chunks of bread into the East River.  

Rosh Hashanah is the time when we reflect on our actions, our behaviors, our relationships and work to become the best version of ourselves, according to Rothstein.  

Spectators of the event varied both in age and gender, as well as religious beliefs. There were those of Jewish descent and others that were simply curious. 

“Judaism was never meant to be an institutional religion, it was actually meant to be a way of life,” Rothstein said. “We see our neighbors as part of our community, Jewish or not. In this world, where things are so volatile and fragmented, it’s important that people know that they are cared for. It’s a universal message, a holiday of peoplehood, a holiday of coming together, community and reminding ourselves that we are connected to something greater.” 

This article is dedicated to my father, Richard Schneiderman (1936-2021). The High Holidays and his Jewish heritage were both extremely important to him.