Rosh haShanah HOW CAN WE MARK AN ANNUAL NEW BEGINNING CONNECTED WITH SELF REFLECTION ? Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur, along with the 10 days in between them, are the High Holy Days of Judaism. Rosh haShanah , the Jewish New Year, is spoken of in the Torah: 23 God spoke to Moses, saying: 24 Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts. 25 You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall bring an offering by fire to Adonai. (Leviticus 23) Rosh haShanah is the beginning of the new calendar year at which time we proclaim God Ruler of all the world and begin our process of repentance. We speak metaphorically of God opening the Book of Life and recording all of our deeds therein. Each of its assoerted names teaches us something about its message: • d¨p¨ûŸ ©d W`Ÿx - Rosh haShanah • oi ¦C©d mFi - Yom haDin New Year Day of Judgement • d−¨rEx §Y mFi - Yom Teru’ah • oFx¨M¦G©d mFi - Yom haZikaron Day of Blasting Day of Remembrance It is celebrated in synagogues with a special prayer book that includes these special prayers: • epixkef Zochreinu - Remember • okae U’vchen - And Therefore Us for Life Proclaim God Sovereign • swez dpzpe Unetaneh Tokef • epikln epia` Avinu Malkeinu - Let us Proclaim The Power - Our Father Our King Hear of This Day our Prayer • xtey The Sounding of the Shofar In synagogue, the Torah is read to remind us of these stories: • Genesis 21 - The Expulsion of Hagar and Ishma’el • Genesis 22 - The Binding of Isaac • Genesis 1 - The Creation of The World September 2016 While Rosh haShanah is technically 2 days long, many members of the Jewish community only celebrate 1 day. The season is marked with these ritual items and activities: • xtey Shofar - the ram’s horn • jilyz Tashlich - symbolically casting instrument reminiscent of Abraham our sins (represented by bread • White Kittel - Simple White Garment to crumbs) into running water stand blameless before God • Torah scrolls are adorned in white • Full prostration before God during mantles Aleinu Prayer • It is customary to give tzedakah (charity) • People often send greeting cards to one another People often eat special foods at Rosh haShanah: • Apples and Honey - for a sweet new • Honey Cake - for a sweet year year • Pomegranate to represent all the • Round Challah (often with raisins and commandments (through the many honey) (Round represents God’s seeds) Jews can do crown and the cycle of the year.) • Fish Heads to represent the ‘head’ of • Tayglach - Sweet baked flour balls the year drenched in honey White is the color of choice to symbolize a fresh beginning. People greet each other with these words: • eaizkz daeh dpyl - • daeh dpyl - l’Shanah tovah l’Shanah tovah tikateivu Happy New Year May you be inscribed for good year • x`i hb - A Gut Yor • dwezne daeh dpy - A Good Year (Yiddish) Shanah tovah u’metukah • shpei hb - Gut Yontiff A good and sweet year A Good Holy Day (Yiddish) September 2016.