Chabad of Greater St. Louis welcomes the community to a brief 30-minute Rosh Hashanah service focused on the primary observances of the holiday. The “Community Tashlich and Shofar Service” will take place from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 on the parking area of the Morris and Ann Lazaroff Chabad Center, 8124 Delmar Blvd. in University City.

Rabbi Yosef Landa, regional director of Chabad, said the service is particularly aimed at “those who would otherwise not participate in formal Rosh Hashanah synagogue services,” allowing Jews to observe the mitzvah of sounding the shofar and participating in Tashlich. At this time, a prayer is recited near a body of water, along with expressions of “hope that G-d cast our indiscretions into the depths of the sea, and that we be granted a good and sweet new year filled with G-d’s abundant and manifest blessings,” added Landa.

This local initiative comes as world Jewry marks 50 years since the late leader of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, z’’l, initiated the worldwide Mitzvah Campaigns, which took Jewish observance to the streets.

“The Rebbe insisted that Judaism be made accessible to all Jews,” Landa said, which for the High Holidays could mean shorter, more user-friendly, nonjudgmental or affordable services, no expectations of membership or affiliation. 

“Our goal is to lower the barriers of entry and to encourage every Jewish person to actively participate in the observances of Rosh Hashanah.” 

For more information, contact Chabad at 314-495-3515 or visit www.ShowMeChabad.com.