By Alaina Denean Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

Temple Mishkan Israel will soon celebrate the Jewish New Year and the High Holy Days.

The 10-day period will begin with the first service on Sunday, Oct. 2 and end on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

“Every year in September or October, we begin our High Holy Days,” said acting rabbi Steve Grossman.

“During that period, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the first day, we are supposed to be introspective, think about our behavior for the past year and then by the time the 10th day rolls around, we should begin immediately repenting for what we did that was wrong, asking God for forgiveness, but also asking people for forgiveness.”

Grossman said throughout the years, the amount of Jewish people in Selma has dwindled, but there is still support for the temple in the community.

“It is so wonderful that in this city, the non-Jewish community comes out and worships with us. It’s not unusual for us to have 40 or 50 people,” Grossman said. “It is so exhilarating for me. I feel so blessed that the people of this community provide this kind of moral support to Temple Mishkan Israel.”

The Rosh Hashanah services will be held Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. followed by a special Shabbat Shuvah service on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

“This year, we’re also going to have a service on the Friday night between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and that’s very unusual,” Grossman said.

“People will be looking forward to it as something extra and something special to enjoy.”

There will be a Yom Kippur Eve service Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. followed by the Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, service Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m.

“The Day of Atonement day is a fast day. It’s 24 hours of no eating and no drinking,” Grossman said.

“The point of fasting is to focus. For that one day, you’re not supposed to be thinking about the World Series, Alabama football or Auburn football … you’re not even supposed to read a book other than a religious book. It’s supposed to be 24 hours introspection becoming aware of your deeds and your misdeeds and what you need to do to improve yourself as a human being so that you’ll be worthy of another year of God’s blessings.”

Grossman said the 10 days is a special time for the Jewish community to reflect but also to pray for the community.

“We don’t say I have sinned, we say we have sinned,” Grossman said.

“It’s all in the name of the community, the family and the congregation. … We don’t just pray for ourselves, we pray for the community.”