Jewish holidays fill Sept. month

Burt Schapiro knows the meaning of atonement.

More than 10 years ago, a family tragedy turned the Yuma man's life upside down when his then-11-year-old son was in a serious traffic accident that left the boy in a coma for two weeks.

Schapiro's son eventually recovered, but less than a year later it was time for the Jewish holy ceremony Tashlich, where people symbolically throw bread into a body of water to signify the fish devouring their sins. They do it for themselves, for others - for everyone.

During that ceremony, Schapiro reached in his bag, grabbed a big handful of bread and threw it.

His son asked why he threw so much.

"I have a lot to forgive," Schapiro said, thinking to himself about forgiving the person who caused the accident.

His son also grabbed a large handful of bread.

"So do I," he said.

Schapiro's story of atonement is an example of what the Jewish High Holy Days are all about.

Tashlich is just one of several events during the month of September, starting with Rosh Hashanah, which began at sundown Sept. 18. Rosh Hashanah signifies the beginning of the Jewish New Year. A service follows the next day, then the Tashlich follows directly after that.

This year begins the year 5770 on the Jewish calendar, Schapiro said.

Ten days later is Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown on Sunday.

During this time, called the Days of Awe in Hebrew or the High Holy Days in English, Schapiro said, Jewish people embark on the serious task of examining their lives and repenting for any wrongs they have committed during the previous year. The process of repentance is called teshuvah, he said.

Schapiro, the leader of the Congregation Beth HaMidbar in Yuma, said the services for the High Holy Days are conducted by Josh Knobel, a second-year student at the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles.

The Congregation Beth HaMidbar is the only Jewish congregation in Yuma, Schapiro said. And with only about 100 families, he said he would like to extend an invitation for more Jewish people in the area to come and participate in services for Yom Kippur.

"Some come from a conservative background," Schapiro said. Others in the congregation come from a reformed or reconstruction form of Judaism, he said.

"Hopefully, they have found a home here."

For more information about the Beth HaMidbar congregation, call Schapiro at 783-0897 or leave a message at the congregation phone number, 210-8368.