On October 3, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, was celebrated with great reverence and joy at the Jewish Heritage Centre in Minsk (which was brought to life in 2023 thanks to the efforts of The Together Plan) and is now part of the Jewish Religious Union in the Republic of Belarus. The event adhered to the sacred traditions of Orthodox Judaism, and the highlight was the beautiful simanim (signs) seder, led by Chief Rabbi Mordechai Reichinstein. Originally a Sephardi custom, the simanim seder has been embraced by many Ashkenazi families in Israel and was celebrated with blessings and sweet wishes for the coming year.
The traditional foods shared at the seder each carried a special meaning:
- Round Challah symbolised the unending cycle of life.
- Apples dipped in honey wished for “a good and sweet new year.”
- Pomegranates represented hopes that “we will be similarly full of merits in the coming year.”
- Carrots signified “increased merits.”
- Beets symbolised the removal of enemies.
- Dates conveyed wishes for enemies to perish.
- Fish stood for fertility, as a wish to “be fruitful and multiply.”
- The head of a sheep or fish to remind participants of the wish to “be as the head and not as the tail.”
The celebration was graced by many honoured guests, including Ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria, as well as dignitaries from Switzerland, members of the Rotary Club, and former prisoners of the Minsk Ghetto. The gathering was not only a heartfelt celebration but also an opportunity to foster connections for future collaborative projects.
The observance of Rosh Hashanah prohibits the use of technology, and no photos were taken, but the warmth of the celebration and the deep emotions shared created lasting memories for everyone in attendance. But we did take photos of the room being set up before the start of Rosh Hashanah which we are sharing with you in this article!
Simultaneously, the 15 Jewish communities that are part of the Jewish Religious Union across Belarus also celebrated Rosh Hashanah in their own vibrant and meaningful ways. The Jewish Heritage Youth Clubs held special lectures and activities in honour of the holiday. In Minsk, Rabbi Michoel Volokhov led a lecture titled “What do we know about the autumn Jewish holidays?” followed by an engaging discussion. In Gomel, Youth Club coordinator Ilya Kutikov organised a quiz game to teach the younger members about the history of Rosh Hashanah. Meanwhile, the Polotsk Sunday School brought the holiday to life with a theatrical play performed by children in costumes, delighting the community.
The celebrations were a powerful reminder of the unity and spirit of the Jewish community in Belarus, and how traditions continue to thrive, bringing people together year after year.
David Ward, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Belarus: “I came to Belarus just a week ago, and immediately received an invitation from the Jewish Religious Union to celebrate the Jewish New Year together. I am amazed at how active and friendly the Jewish community is here and I am happy to be a guest at this celebration. I am very proud to know that a British charity is reviving and supporting Jewish life in Belarus through projects such as the Making History Together exhibition, which the British Embassy has also been involved in.
I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope that it will be fruitful and as sweet as the apples dipped in honey that we have eaten today.”
Frida Reizman, former prisoner of the Minsk Ghetto: “In hard times like today, it is very important to get together on good occasions, in such friendly and warm company. I know from my personal experience how valuable the support of family, friends and members of the community is. And I am grateful to be here with you to celebrate one of the most important Jewish holidays, Rosh HaShanah. My wish for you is that you will never know the troubles and horrors that I have experienced, and that all wars in this world will cease forever.”
Vladimir Melnitsky, historian and Coordinator of the Minsk Jewish Heritage Club: “This is the first time such an event has been held at the Jewish Heritage Centre and already at such a high level. Thanks to Rabbi Mordechai Reichinstein, everything went according to all the canons of orthodox Judaism, we celebrated Rosh HaShanah in the same way as the Jews did thousands of years ago. It is really great to see so many foreign guests who are interested in attending the traditional celebration of the Jewish New Year. And I think it’s a good way to popularise our heritage and show how rich it is.”
We are delighted and excited to see how our efforts are making a real and powerful difference to the lives of people in Belarus – helping to revive community and empower individuals. If you would like to support our work so that we can continue to bring communities together and put Jewish Belarus back on the world map please consider making a donation to our 2024 high holy day appeal or becoming a regular donor. Your support is greatly appreciated. We can’t do this alone. Click here to make a donation.