By Stephanie Spear Special to the Herald Friday s sunset began Rosh Hashana, ushering in the Jewish New Year. Natanya Mallin,14, daughter of David and Gail Mallin, Durango, and Chelsea Phillips,13, daughter of Greg and Jan Phillips, Durango, carry a Torah Friday. Members of the San Juan Hebrew Congregation marked the beginning of the High Holidays with a 7 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashana service at Fort Lewis College.
Jewish holidays begin at sundown.
Leading Friday night s service was guest rabbinical student Jane Berman, who will also conduct today s services at 10 a.m. in the DoubleTree Hotel ballroom and 4 p.m. at the Rotary Park Gazebo. The time between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, also called the Day of Atonement, is a time to reflect on the past year, identify wrongs one has committed against others and ask for forgiveness, said Berman. She is a second-year student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia and was invited by the local congregation. They are supposed to be days that are transformative. Being confronted on this one day is powerful.