We join the community in wishing our friends and neighbors of the Jewish faith a happy and healthy New Year. Rosh Hashanah began Sunday night at Jewish places of worship and the services include the traditional sounding of the shofar.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement, which begins next Tuesday at sunset) are the High Holidays on the Jewish calendar.
When avid baseball fans think of Yom Kippur, they recall the story of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, Sandy Koufax, who chose not to pitch in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on the day of Yom Kippur, and being of the Jewish faith, he wanted to observe the holiday. Koufax took the mound in Game 2 and his team lost despite his fine pitching.
The Hall of Fame left-hander, who was born in Brooklyn, came back to pitch complete-game shutouts in Game 5 and Game 7 and help the Dodgers win the World Series over the Twins.
In Beacon Hill, we have the Vilna Shul and we welcome the occasion of the New Year to congratulate the congregation for their continuing efforts of maintaining this historic structure (which turns 100 next year) and for being so welcoming to all members of our community.