Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year (Sept 28-30)
Joy and Judgement
| The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) takes place in the month of Tishri (September and October on the Gregorian calendar) and commemorates the anniversary of Creation. It is on this day that G-d opens the Book of Life and observes his creatures, deciding their fate for the coming year. |
| | It is a time of restricted rejoicing because, even though it celebrates HaShem's kingship, the celebrations are muted in acknowledgement of the great judgement taking place.
As is customary in Jewish festivals, observance begins on nightfall the day before Rosh Hashanah. Celebrants prepare by bathing, receiving haircuts, donning special clothes and giving treats to children.
Certain types of work are forbidden, though there are some exceptions. Food preparation and the carrying, transferring or increasing of the fire are all permitted. Women of the household light commemorative candles before sunset of the first night and a half-hour before sunset on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, reciting blessings over them.
Though G-d opens the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah the judgement is not final. The book is 'sealed' on Yom Kippur, ten days later. The time between these two festivals is known as Shabbat Shuva (The Shabbat of Returning). This is a period for self-reflection in which to justify your existence to G-d. Rosh Hashanah is the only Jewish celebration that lasts for two days, signifying the importance of this date in the calendar.
Prayers play an important part in the proceedings. Intense and lengthy devotions on Rosh Hashanah vary from those normally uttered on Sabbath with even the familiar prayers containing subtle differences. Following the evening prayer people will wish each other a Good New Year. There are also specific greetings for each sex. A man is wished, "Leshana tova tikateiv v'techateim." A woman is bid, "Leshana tova tikateivi vetichatemi." . The Yiddish equivalent is a "gut yoar."
Following lunch on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the ritual of the Casting is performed. Crumbs of bread are tossed into water after the Torah verse, "And you will cast all their sins into the depth of the sea." The hems of the worshippers' garments are shaken alluding to the fact that sins are being cast away.
One of the essential elements of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is made from an animal's horn, preferably a ram. The cow's horn is not acceptable, nor is any animal horn that's a solid piece.
The horn is blown 100 times every day of Rosh Hashanah upon the command of HaShem with different meanings attached to the varying sounds. The Tekiah is one long 'blast' with a clear tone. The Skevarium is a 'broken' sighing sound of three short calls. The Teruah is the 'alarm' of a rapid series of nine or more quick short notes.
The command to blow the shofar comes from the Torah, but no explanation is attached. Rabbis have provided different reasons. It acts as a reminder for the soul to enter into repentance. It is also a warning to the Jewish people not to fall into temptation. It calls to mind the blasts blown by Moses when he ascended from Mount Sinai for the second time, after pleading with G-d for mercy for the Jews who had worshipped at the alter of a false God.
The shofar blower recites two blessings - the community must listen to the blessings and respond 'Amen' to both. It is forbidden to speak once the first blast is sounded until the last one is blown.
In 2002, Rosh Hashanah commences on September 7th and ends on the evening of September 8th. At this time of quiet contemplation, Jews the world over will take the opportunity to express to G-d the value they place in their lives while also reminding G-d how much He cares.
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YOM KIPPUR (Oct. 7-8) - Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur (
Hebrew:
יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים,
IPA: [ˈjom kiˈpur]), Also known as
Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the
Jews. Its central themes are
atonement and
repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of
fasting and intensive
prayer, often spending most of the day in
synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in
Judaism as the
High Holy Days (or sometimes "the Days of Awe").
Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the month of
Tishrei. According to Jewish tradition,
God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a book, the
Book of Life, on
Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God (
bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (
bein adam lechavero). The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt (
Vidui). At the end of Yom Kippur, one considers oneself absolved by God.
The Yom Kippur prayer service includes several unique aspects. One is the actual number of prayer services. Unlike a regular day, which has three prayer services (
Ma'ariv, the evening prayer;
Shacharit, the morning prayer; and
Mincha, the afternoon prayer), or a
Shabbat or
Yom Tov, which have four prayer services (
Ma'ariv;
Shacharit;
Musaf, the additional prayer; and
Mincha), Yom Kippur has five prayer services (
Ma'ariv;
Shacharit;
Musaf;
Mincha; and
Ne'ilah, the closing prayer). The prayer services also include a public confession of sins (
Vidui) and a unique prayer dedicated to the special Yom Kippur
avodah (service) of the
Kohen Gadol in the
Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
As one of the most culturally significant Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur is observed by many
secular Jews who may not observe other holidays. Many secular Jews attend synagogue on Yom Kippur—for many secular Jews the High Holy Days are the only recurring times of the year in which they attend synagogue,
[1]—causing synagogue attendance to soar.
Source: Wikipedia
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Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit 
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