Although houses of worship are still closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, online services have sustained many faith communities. WXXI Classical will offer two special broadcasts from Temple B’rith Kodesh for the High Holy Days.
On Friday, September 18th, tune in for our broadcast celebrating the Jewish New Year, as Senior Rabbi Peter Stein, Assistant Rabbi Rochelle Tulik, Cantor Keri Berger, and Choir Director Jason Berger lead the services live from Temple B’rith Kodesh. The Erev Rosh Hashanah Service will be broadcast live on Friday, September 18th at 8:00pm on WXXI 91.5 FM, WXXY 90.3 FM in Houghton and WITH 90.1 HD2 in Ithaca, and is made possible with support from the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation.
Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish year, and this year is the 5,781st Birthday of the World. It is a time of family gatherings and special meals. Symbolic foods, such as apples dipped in honey, represent the hope for a sweet year ahead, and round challah bread symbolizes the cycle of the year. Other Rosh Hashanah customs include sounding the shofar and performing Tashlikh by reciting prayer near flowing water, and the traditional greeting on Rosh Hashanah is Shanah Tovah ("have a good year").
Temple B'rith Kodesh was founded in 1848 as an Orthodox synagogue with 12 members who met in a room leased from a Baptist church on St. Paul Street. It is the oldest Jewish congregation and the largest Reform temple in the greater Rochester area. Temple B’rith Kodesh moved to its current location on Elmwood Avenue in 1962, and currently serves over 800 families.
