THE Far North's small Jewish community will have full spiritual guidance to celebrate the Jewish New Year in Cairns today with a visit by Rabbi Dov Oliver.
The Melbourne based rabbi travels often in his role of outreach work with far-flung Jewish communities who live away from the major cities .
Although there is no synogogue in Cairns a temporary venue has been organised. Despite the tropical location the traditional ram's horn, (shofar) all lm in length, will be blown by the rabbi to welcome in the Hebrew Year of 5768.
The Hebrew calendar is lunar not solar.
Rabbi Oliver said he expected many of the 200 Jewish residents in the Cairns region to attend what is known as the High Holiday today and Thursday, in Hebrew rosh hashana.
The ram's horn tradition began centuries ago in what believers say was the sacrifice of a ram, instead of the prophet Abraham's son, in God's test of faith on Abraham in the Bible's Old Testament story. "The ram is a symbol of God's mercy." said Rabbi Oliver.
To help make it "a sweet new year" honey is on the menu to dip apples into.
The new year will be followed by the most important day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, on September 22 which will be marked by a 25-hour fast and day of prayer.
Residents, Israeli backpackers and other visiting Jews are welcome to attend.
For details phone 0425 730 412.