Dani Shae Thompson
Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS — On Wednesday, farmer Emilie Schwartz had a lot on her to do list.

Let the chickens out of the coop, milk the goats, gather the eggs and wash them – it all had to get done.

Schwartz works for the Pearlstone Center, a Jewish retreat center in Reisterstown, Maryland, where she is the animal manager of the center’s educational and sustainability-focused farm.

But Thursday, Schwartz is taking the day (and the next day) off for Rosh Hashana.

Rosh Hashana is a celebration of the Jewish new year, and runs from sundown on Wednesday until nightfall on Friday.

However, this year, 5775 by the Jewish calendar’s mark, is more special than others.

This year, the seventh in a seven-year cycle, is called the “shmita”