My favorite thing about any holiday is family gatherings – just being together with parents, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles and cousins. Watching my children grow up and play with their cousins ​​brings me great joy because it is similar to my own childhood experience. At its core, Rosh Hashanah is traditionally a time of reflection and renewal and an opportunity to be together as a family and community. Over the last century, the way many families, including mine, celebrate this holiday has changed significantly, largely due to migration and changes in the structure of society. A hundred years ago, many Jewish families lived in close-knit communities, often in the same neighborhoods or towns. This closeness enabled large, intergenerational gatherings full of shared rituals and shared prayers.

Today, families are often spread across cities, states, or even countries, resulting in smaller, more intimate celebrations. As technology advances, virtual connections have become increasingly important. Many families are now turning to video calls to include distant relatives in their holiday traditions, bridging the physical gap. Despite the geographical distance, the essence of Rosh Hashanah – reflection, prayer and the hope for a sweet new year – remains intact, albeit adapted to modern realities.

I consider my family lucky that most of them emigrated together and there are still large family reunions. However, since we moved to Atlanta 30 years ago, our extended family is no longer a part of our vacations like it used to be.

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Rosh Hashanah will evolve with the times we live in, perhaps incorporating new traditions from new places, but the core of the holiday will remain the same. My hope and wish for my family and for all of you is that we continue to nurture these important family relationships and friendships. I also hope that we continue to come together as a community to invite others to our home who may not have family and friends nearby to celebrate with. From my family to yours, L’Shana Tova!

Ilyssa Klein is an account manager for the Atlanta Jewish Times.