Now almost one year after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz — director of Elon Chabad — said he was initially concerned students would not want to participate in celebrating Rosh Hashana this year.

But instead, Minkowitz said he noticed "a renaissance in Jewish pride" throughout the Elon community, with the first anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks less than a week away. 

"Ironically," Minkowitz said. "We have generated more Jewish pride, love and community."

Rosh Hashana is the celebration of the Jewish new year. Also called the Day of Judgement, the holiday lasts for two days and kicks off a period of 10 days that ends on Yom Kippur. The period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is meant to create a deeper connection to an individual’s spirituality through spending time with loved ones, acts of kindness and seeking forgiveness. 

This year, Rosh Hashana falls from Oct. 2 to 4. Throughout the rest of this week, Elon's Truitt has partnered with Elon Chabad and Hillel groups to host several events for students.

Freshman Marissa Bishop said she is excitedly anticipating her first Rosh Hashana on campus.

“I’m looking forward to celebrating this year, especially with everything going on in the world right now,” Bishop said.

To kick off the holiday Oct. 2, Minkowitz will host his favorite Elon tradition: a brisket dinner for around 100 to 250 students. Minkowitz said this is a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate heritage and religion. He also said he looks forward to fun traditions such as singing songs and enjoying apples dipped in honey to welcome the “sweet” new year.

"Elon knows how to make everything exciting, fun and beautiful," Minkowitz said.

The following day, Oct. 3, the blowing of the shofar will be held during the morning service — a central part of Rosh Hashana traditions. A shofar is a ram horn that has been fashioned into a trumpet type instrument. 

Students will also attend other events throughout the day, including Tashlich — an atonement ritual held outside Lakeside Dining Hall by Lake Mary Nell at 1:30 p.m..

Minkowitz described this ritual as a way to focus on turning the page from the past and bringing the best version of themselves into the new year.  

"We ask God for forgiveness for anything we may have done this past year. We also ask him to give us a good new year that's coming up,” Minkowitz said. “In that theme, we go to a lake, and we figuratively cast away all our sins by reciting certain prayers."