Temple Beth Israel celebrates Rosh Hashanah after Hurricane Helene

Sticking to Jewish tradition, Temple Beth Israel wished Longboat Key “a sweet year” when it needed it the most. 

The temple offered community and normalcy by holding a Rosh Hashanah service on Oct. 2 after Hurricane Helene found many Longboaters' homes in disarray. 

Celebrating “Rosh Hashanah,” or the Jewish New Year, Temple members dipped apples in honey to keep the tradition for a “sweet year” and luck as they navigate the aftermath of the hurricane and Jewish year 5785. 

“I am absolutely exhausted after cleaning sand off my porch from the hurricane, but I am still here,” said member Barbara Pressman. “But, I am glad we could still have this service. This is when we usually all come back, so it's good that we still could celebrate the high holidays after what Helene put us through. I think everyone needed this sense of community the most right now.”

Due to the curfew of 7 p.m. on the island, executive director Isaac Azerad originally reached out to the Longboat Key Police Department for a police escort off the island after the service. After other organizations heard about this arrangement, the curfew was extended until midnight. 

With many members losing some of their belongings, Azerad encouraged people to come by enforcing casual attire so people didn’t worry about dressing up when they couldn’t. Thanks to this, around 60 people attended, which surprised Azerad and Rabbi Stephen Sniderman. 

Like Pressman, people expressed their need for community by excitedly embracing each other and catching up about life happenings before the service started. Through kisses and hugs, the service ended with members wishing loved ones and friends a happy new year, showing the love and support they have for their fellow congregants. 

To finish its Jewish New Year celebration, Temple members continued mingling at a luncheon after their morning Rosh Hashanah service on Oct. 3 at Michael’s On East.

“Yes, we've had a visit from Helene,” said Sniderman during the service on Oct. 2. “It's been challenging and devastating for many people in our community. I know people who have lost their homes and lost their vehicles, and some of them are in despair. And some of them said, ‘Thank God I'm alive, and I'm going to get through this.’Just like the people of Israel are still here, we are still persisting, and we don’t want to allow anyone to give up. This is not an option. Let's make the best of it.