WVU’s Judaic community begins celebrating the Jewish New Year

Jewish community members began celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the high holiday marking the Jewish New Year, Thursday.

"Rosh Hashanah recognizes that our world was created by our creator. It gives us time to think about God and make a positive resolution throughout the year," said Zalman Gurevitz, a rabbi who led a service Wednesday night to welcome the New Year in the Mountainlair at West Virginia University.

The day is known as Tishrei, or the first day of the year, Gurevitz said, followed by 10 days of repentance and leads up to Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.

The service was sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center at WVU, a group organized in 2007 to share the values of Judaism.

"Our main goal is to educate students about Judaism," Gurevitz said. "We use our opportunities to talk about the Jewish religion, our heritage and to speak on the great things that our creator has done for all of us."

The service was offered in both Hebrew and English and allowed participants a chance to celebrate the holiday together with a New Year's dinner.

Mike Radow, member of the Center, has been attending services for more than a year with his sister.

"I am grateful to be here," Radow said. "The services are great, but the people you meet and the food are even better."

Alyson Peltz, a senior child development and family

studies major, has been

attending the services for almost three years.

"This is my family when I am at school. They really care about their members and anyone else who might be interested in attending," she said.

Mike Marynoski, a Chabad member, agreed with Peltz about the family atmosphere of the Center.

"The people here are so welcoming. That makes it easier to bond and build a connection with them," Marynoski said. "Every time I come to the services is a new feeling for me."

In addition to providing services on the Jewish high holidays, Chabad also offers weekly services.

Services are held every Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Laurel Room of the Mountainlair.

Once a month on Saturday, services are held at Gurevitz's home, he said.

Services include signing, story telling and discussions of the religion, he said.

A second day of Rosh Hashanah service will be held today at 10:30 a.m. in the Laurel Room of the Mountainlair.