Rabbi Explains Rosh Hashanah to Pace Students

On Aug. 28, Rabbi Philip Kranz spoke to Upper School students and eighth graders about Rosh Hashanah, the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, which begins at sundown on Sept. 4. Pace will be closed on Sept. 5 in observance of the holiday, but not all students know what the holiday means to Pace’s Jewish community.

Rabbi Kranz explained that Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year: “We believe that, as human beings, we set high standards for ourselves but often fail,” he said. “So in Judaism, we take 10 days once a year to reflect and try to get back on track. We look at ourselves and who we really are, and it can be a tough process.”

Rabbi Kranz served as Temple Sinai’s Senior Rabbi from 1980 until his retirement in 2006 when he became Rabbi Emeritus. He remains active at Temple Sinai, teaching, writing and overseeing collection building in the Rabbi Philip N. Kranz Learning Center. Kranz also was influential in authoring the Pace Academy Lower School Holiday Program and spoke at Pace’s 2013 Baccalaureate service.