Jewish New Year holds extra significance this year at Denver synagogues

DENVER — Wednesday evening marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year celebration, Rosh Hashanah.

The holiday marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar and is viewed as a chance to reflect on the past year.

“A lot of times we think of the new year as just looking forward to forget about what happened, turn over a new leaf, we’re just going to have a new year,” said Menachem Siderson. “In the Jewish religion, Rosh Hashanah is a lot more significant than that. It’s not just about looking forward to the New Year, it’s about looking back at what happened in the past year.”

Siderson is a Rabbi at Aish of the Rockies, where services are set to begin Wednesday evening.

Last year’s holiday happened just days before the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

“I just don’t think anyone thought we would be here,” said Siderson. “Now as we come to the new year and it looks like this new year is going contain some of the same elements of last year, I think that’s a big awakening for some people.”

Siderson said the escalating turmoil in the Middle East is something he’ll be speaking about in his service, but he says the holiday is also an important chance to reiterate the founding principles of Judaism.

“Yes, there’s a lot of fear. Yes, there’s a lot of unknown, but God is reminding us within all that I’m there for you,” he said. “We never know what’s going to happen. Everything is hidden at the beginning of the year for everyone. But again, we go into it with the faith that God is in control.”