At Shaare Rason, Mumbai’s Jewish community marks Rosh Hashanah with the shofar

More than 20 people gathered at the 185-year-old Shaare Rason synagogue on Tantanpura Street, Khadak, near Masjid railway station on Sunday to hear the shofar mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

The Hebrew year 5787 began at sundown on September 11. Since the first day fell on the Sabbath, when the shofar is not blown, the congregation held the ceremony on Sunday. Sinora Kolatkar, secretary of Shaare Rason synagogue, said the horn is blown 101 times as a symbol for the coming year.

The shofar, made from a sheep’s horn, is sounded as a call to spiritual reflection and return to God. Rosh Hashanah begins Judaism’s High Holidays: ten days of repentance and reflection leading to Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and Judaism’s holiest day, is set to begin at sundown on September 20 and end after nightfall on September 21. It is traditionally observed with prayer and a fast.