Rav-Elations!: Happy New Year(s)

By RABBI DAVID GERBER

There are four new years on the Jewish calendar. We have Rosh Hashanah (the first of Tishrei), the first of Nisan (when the Exodus began), the first of Elul, and Tu B’Shevat (the fifteenth of Shevat).

January 1st, however, isn’t one of them. Even though it is a secular observance, Jews are still welcome to celebrate the end of a year and the hopes for better days. Fun fact, in Israel, New Years Eve is simply known as Sylvester! 

Rabbi David Gerber is the senior rabbi of the URJ’s Congregation Gates of Prayer (Sha’arai Tefillah) in Metairie.