As Americans prepare for what is to come after last week’s terrorist attacks, the Jewish community prepares for the new year.

The grim circumstances surrounding the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, have left Jews with much to think about during this time of thought and repentance.

Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah as the day the world was created.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the high holidays for the Jewish religion.

Michael Krashin, senior in materials engineering from Overland Park, Kan., said the two holidays are the most important in the Jewish calendar year.

Krashin said he has not regularly attended Saturday services, because Ames does not have as large of a Jewish community as the Kansas City area.

“The attendance for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur was five or six times greater than regular Saturday services,” Krashin said. “There was probably 600 to 700 people at those services back in Kansas City.”

In extreme orthodox community, Jews spend all day in synagogue.

“It’s hard to be Jewish and get to synagogue during the day,” he said. “School doesn’t shut down for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur like it does for Christmas.”

Rosh Hashanah, or the day of judgment, marks the beginning of the Days of Awe.

This 10-day period ends with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

This time in the calendar is considered to be the most important time of the year for the Jewish community.

With last week’s tragedy, it’s an even more sacred time for community prayer.

Babak Cohanim, treasurer of ISU Hillel, said Rosh Hashanah is a day that should be spent with family and at synagogue. Because the holiday fell in the middle of the week, Cohanim said he returned home this past weekend to celebrate early with his family.

“I usually spend the holiday with my family at synagogue, but since I’m at school and have to attend classes, it’s hard for me to do that,” said Cohanim, senior in aerospace engineering.

Conahim said the ISU Hillel is not responsible for hosting any celebrations, but it plays an important role in informing ISU students of the services the Ames synagogue is having.

The Ames Jewish Congregation held services beginning Monday night, continuing throughout the day Tuesday and ending with a second morning service this morning at 10 a.m.