Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
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Days of Awe: Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
by Eric A. Kimmel
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History
History of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah, meaning "head of the year," is the Jewish holiday marking the start of the new year. It begins a ten-day period of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur. These two High Holidays are the most solemn days of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in the Hebrew month of Tishri (September or October), on the first day by Reform Jews or on the first two days by Orthodox and Conservative Jews. It is a time of remembrance of the creation of the world, of God's covenant with Israel, and of an individual's deeds in the preceding 12 months. It is also a day of looking forward, of recognizing that God's creation is ongoing and that he will triumph over evil, and that the good deeds of past generations will benefit their descendants. As a day of hope it also provides an opportunity to repent misdeeds so that, by Yom Kippur, God may decide mercifully to spare penitents from retribution in the new year and so inscribe their adjusted fate in the Book of Life. The distinctive ritual of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, or ram's horn, five times in the morning synagogue service as a symbol of spiritual awakening, a call for repentance. On the afternoon of the first day, devout Orthodox Jews observe a special ceremony, tashlik. They gather at a river to pray for forgiveness of their sins, which are symbolically cast into the waters. Another holiday custom is the eating of apples and challah (white bread) dipped in honey to ensure a happy and sweet new year.
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Updated: January 08, 2008
