This Week: 'Shanah Tovah' Means Happy New Year

Sundown Wednesday marks the beginning of one of the high holy days on the Jewish calendar—Rosh Hashanah, the start of a new year, 5773.

The day is believed to be the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. Rosh Hashanah customs include sounding the shofar (a hollowed-out ram's horn) and eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey to evoke a "sweet new year." The common greeting on Rosh Hashanah is "Shanah Tovah,” which, in Hebrew, means "[have a] good year."

Click here for more on Rosh Hashanah.

In Bethlehem, it also means no public school on Friday as all Bethlehem Area School District buildings are closed for the holiday.

Despite a particularly short three-day week of school, the second week of the academic year is busy in terms of open houses for parent visits.

Lincoln Elementary School has open house on Tuesday.

Clearview Elementary has open house on Tuesday for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, and on Wednesday for SPARK, Kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grades.

There are also open houses at James Buchanan and Miller Heights elementary and Broughal Middle School on Wednesday.

On Thursday, there are open houses at Nitschmann Middle School and Marvine, Fountain Hill, Thomas Jefferson and Farmersville elementary schools.

Here’s what else is happening in Bethlehem this week:

• Bethlehem City Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall.

• Bethlehem Township Commissioners meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the township building. Click here for the agenda.

• Rockers Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington visit the Sands Bethlehem Event Center at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Bennington, formerly of Linkin Park, became the lead singer this year after long time lead singer Scott Weiland got kicked out of the band. General admission tickets are $40.50 or four for $120. Reserved seats are $75. Luxury seats are $95.

• Get into shape with free Zumba classes at the South Side Branch of the Bethlehem Area Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Certified Zumba instructor leads the way and welcomes all level of students to the class, which involves dancing to salsa, merengue and hip hop music.

• Mark Gamsjager and the Lustre Kings play rockabilly and roots rock n’ roll with fervor, commitment and flair. Gamsjager brings his Gretsch and his band to the Levitt Pavilion Steelstacks for a free show at 7 p.m. Thursday.