Rosh Hashana is one of the most important Jewish holidays. The new year 5784 has begun. A small picnic took place in the courtyard of the Panevėžys Jewish Community on September 17 with apples and honey and challa bread, and warm wishes were expressed for Jews around the world.

This year for the first time this century Lithuanian Jewish scouts from Vilnius visited the Panevėžys Jewish Community. They were returning from the Žalioji Forest where they had camped for two days with scouts from Panevėžys. The Panevėžys Jewish Community treated them to a tour of the town including stories about the Jews of Panevėžys and the Holocaust.

After a brief rest at the Community, the scouts joined Community members for a holiday meal including the traditional dishes which according to custom should be sampled in greeting the Jewish New Year.

Following prayer service and the lighting of candles, the shofar horn was sounded. Besides apples and honey and challa bread, participants also ate pomegranates and wished one another a happy New Year.

Panevėžys Jewish Community chairman Gennady Kofman delivered holiday greetings sent by Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and friends from other countries. The scouts were given official Panevėžys Jewish Community pins and all the young people present were given small gifts to remember the holiday celebration. The Jewish scouts from Vilnius then returned home.