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Posted By admin on September 25, 2022

This Rosh Hashanah,one Phoenix rabbi isadvocating for a broader sense of goodwill following the headiness of the past couple of years.

Believers consider this Rosh Hashanah the 5,783rdyear since human lifes creation. Marking the new year for the Jewish faithful, Rosh Hashanah starts Sunday evening and concludes Tuesday evening.

Ending with Yom Kippur, or "day of atonement," the 10 days following the start of Rosh Hashanah calls for self-reflection and self-reckoning,Congregation Kehillah Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman explained. This season of renewal could not only help many return to a sense of normalcy, but should also spur more toimprove upon the world, the rabbi added.

I think if we emerge from COVID without changing without changing our society, without changing yourself we will have lost a great opportunity, Sharfman said. What if we took this chance to be a lot kinder, show more love, more compassion, engage in social justice work and to try to create a society that is a lot better?

Sharfman, who is president of the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis and vice president of the Arizona Faith Network, said many rabbis in the area will be addressing mental health issues from the pulpit this Rosh Hashanah.

Weve all suffered and weve all had losses as it relates to the pandemic, Sharfman said. We are experiencing as a society a great deal of anxiety.

Sharfman has been Congregation Kehillahs rabbi since it was founded 14 years ago. She is a 36th-generation ordained rabbiand herfamilys first woman rabbi.

This is the time when Jews come home, Sharfman said. It is a special privilege to be together in the same space as others who are brave enough to make themselves go through this spiritual and psychological work together.

Those interested in attending a Rosh Hashanah service can find an event usingChabad of Arizona's online directory.

Rosh Hashanah:What you should know about the holiday

Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez atjose.gonzalez@gannett.comor on Twitter@jrgzztx.

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Phoenix rabbi wants to spread kindness this Rosh Hashanah - The Arizona Republic

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