The Jewish Student Union (JSU) hosted a Rosh Hashanah celebration on September 25, 2025, where students celebrated the Jewish New Year at East with their friends and classmates. Besides East students, advisor Mrs. Laurie Grossman and Asaf Mizrachi, the Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia and Cherry Hill for the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY), were also in attendance.

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish high holiday season, marking the start of the Jewish New Year. Following Rosh Hashanah, we experience the Days of Awe, the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to reflect on the past year and repent for sins committed, followed by Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

The party included different cultural foods, including the symbolic Rosh Hashanah apples and honey, donuts, and honey cake, all sweet foods to represent ringing in a sweet new year. At the meeting, Mizrachi led the discussion of Rosh Hashanah, giving out apples to those who answered Rosh Hashanah trivia correctly. He also mentioned the clear need for JSU to establish a mission statement, and together the group came up with keywords and phrases that should be included in it.

“I think the Rosh Hashanah party went really well,” said Josh Resnick (‘26), president of the East Jewish Student Union. “Asaf, our advisor, had a really interactive discussion about the importance of the holiday. [I’m really happy] JSU events help the Jewish community at East. It provides a safe space for people to show their Judaism.”

Many East students shared various traditions about how their families celebrate the holiday, but each family’s unique customs all center around the same common idea: Rosh Hashanah is a time to enjoy the company of family, reflect on the past year, and strive to grow from mistakes in the upcoming year.
In the Cherry Hill School District, students are allowed days off for both days of Rosh Hashanah as well as Yom Kippur, allowing Jewish students to openly practice their religion, attend synagogue, and spend time with family without worrying about missing school.