STAR-BULLETIN / 2005 Mendy Goldstein, visiting the Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew School here from Brooklyn two years ago, blows a ram's horn called a shofar in preparation for the Jewish New Year.

Welcome, New Year 5768

The music of the High Holy Days reaches deep into the Jewish spirit

Hebrew prayers and songs for Jewish High Holy Days services are memorized by youngsters and become more meaningful the older a person grows, said the music leader of Temple Emanu-El.

"The liturgy has taken on a deeper meaning for me year by year," said Ken Aronowitz, cantorial soloist at the Nuuanu synagogue for the past eight years.

"The whole holy days are about taking stock, thinking of ways we missed the mark in the past year and how we can do better in the next year."

In the New Year's Day service, a passage begins, "B'Rosh Hashana ... about one's actions having a bearing on the experiences of the year to come. It's about turning yourself more toward God and having God take us back," said Aronowitz.

"There are heavy topics in there, about who will live during the next year. It hits home for me every passing year: Not everyone will be here next time we sing this."

The Days of Awe end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Through the ages, Jews found the prayer sung on Yom Kippur Eve so meaningful that the service is now called "Kol Nidre" for the opening line, which translates, "Let all our vows and oaths."

"It was written over a period of history when Jews were forced to renounce their belief to save their lives," said Aronowitz. "It basically voids the vows. It says, 'Should we be unable to fulfill, let us be absolved.'

"Rabbis wanted to edit it out, but the people wanted it. Just the melody is so woven into people's consciousness and expectation. It is very haunting; it tugs at the heartstrings."

Another passage where everyone chimes in with the choir begins, "Avinu malkeinu," which addresses God as our father, our king. "It is a wonderful moment," said the cantor.

Even the least observant Jew is likely to attend services at this time of the year. Aronowitz said he hopes the experience of being part of a community strikes a chord and that "people see it as a time to think about taking a more participatory part."

Members of Christian choirs and community choral groups join the temple choir for the experience of singing the special, poignant music. At the Reform temple, the music of contemporary composers will be sung as well as the classic music.

"I tell the choir it's not supposed to be a concert. It's much more than that.

"For the people, there is a listening component and the more participatory moments."