Rosh Hashanah: Tradition, reflection and community in Arizona

Talli Dippold

Submitted photo

As the shofar sounds in sanctuaries and open spaces across Arizona this fall, it will echo the same message heard by countless generations before: wake up, take stock and move forward with purpose. It is a message that transcends faith, speaking to our shared human longing for meaning, renewal and community.”

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As the leaves hint at autumn, Jewish communities around the world prepare for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year — literally, the “head of the year.” This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Monday, Sept. 22 and concludes at nightfall Wednesday, Sept. 24.

A holiday of reflection

Rosh Hashanah is a solemn, hopeful holiday that marks the anniversary of the creation of the world in Jewish tradition. It begins the Ten Days of Awe — a sacred period of reflection, repentance and renewal leading to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Unlike the secular New Year’s Eve, which often emphasizes celebration, Rosh Hashanah blends joy with solemnity. It is a moment to take stock of our actions, seek forgiveness and set intentions for the year ahead.

The synagogue service is central to the observance. One of the most stirring rituals is the sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn blown in a series of ancient calls meant to awaken the spirit and inspire a return to one’s best self. The liturgy is rich with themes of renewal, the fragility of life and the enduring hope for a more just and compassionate world.

Traditions that nourish

Around the table, Rosh Hashanah is infused with symbolic foods. Apples dipped in honey are perhaps the best-known — a sweet wish for a sweet year ahead. Round challah bread, often studded with raisins, symbolizes the cyclical nature of time. Some families serve pomegranates, their many seeds representing the hope for abundant blessings. In many Sephardic homes, a “seder” of symbolic foods includes leeks, dates and pumpkins, each accompanied by special blessings.

Arizona’s Jewish roots and Rosh Hashanah

Jewish life in Arizona dates back to the mid-19th century, when Jewish merchants, traders and ranchers settled in mining towns and developing cities. These early pioneers often gathered in private homes or rented halls to observe the High Holy Days, bringing with them prayer books from Europe or the American East Coast.

By the early 20th century, Phoenix, Tucson and other cities saw the establishment of permanent congregations, allowing for more formal Rosh Hashanah services. Today, Arizona’s Jewish population is one of the fastest-growing in the country, and the holiday is observed in diverse ways across the state — from traditional Orthodox services to musical, family-friendly gatherings and outdoor celebrations that connect spiritual practice with the beauty of the desert landscape.

Organizations such as the Arizona Jewish Historical Society have documented High Holy Day observances over the decades, preserving photographs of families dressed in their holiday best, community meals in synagogue social halls and the steady expansion of Jewish life in the Southwest. For many Jewish Arizonans, Rosh Hashanah is also a time to welcome friends of all faiths, creating opportunities for interfaith dialogue and shared celebration.

Rosh Hashanah in today’s Arizona

In recent years, Arizona’s Jewish communities have found creative ways to observe Rosh Hashanah that reflect both tradition and modern life. Some congregations host Tashlich ceremonies — the symbolic casting off of sins — at local rivers or lakes, sometimes accompanied by music or guided meditation. Others have embraced technology, streaming services for those who cannot attend in person.

At its heart, Rosh Hashanah remains timeless: a call to pause, to listen and to act with intention. In a world that often feels hurried and fractured, its message is profoundly relevant — that each year offers a chance to repair what is broken, deepen our connections, and begin anew.

As the shofar sounds in sanctuaries and open spaces across Arizona this fall, it will echo the same message heard by countless generations before: wake up, take stock and move forward with purpose. It is a message that transcends faith, speaking to our shared human longing for meaning, renewal and community.

Editor’s note: Talli Dippold is executive director of the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in Phoenix. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.