Jerusalem begins the High Holidays this evening starting with Rosh Hashanah. Friday Sept 15th at sundown until Sunday Sept. 17th at sundown, 5784 (2024) Many people judge Israel for there ways. I believe that if people understand their ways, that they would see some great wisdom in the ways in which they live.
Rosh Hashanah is Israel’s head of the year. It give an opportunity to reflect backward and set intentions for moving forward. It is a time of self-reflection looking back on thoughts and deeds from the previous year and planing how to improve yourself and your actions seems like a pretty good way of doing things.
This holiday is observed with prayer services, candle lighting, festive foods, and meals, and gathering with loved one’s and communities. Which may sound like a Christmas celebration to us in America. But there are six most common and significant holiday traditions when Rosh Hashanah is celebrated.
Sounding the Shofar
Hearing the sound of the shofar, a ceremonial instrument made out of a ram’s horn, is the most important traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah.
The Shofar is one of the most ancient musical instruments, originally used for many purposes -most importantly bringing people together and announcing news. “Now it’s really tied to the time of the High Holidays. Hearing the sound of shofar is a mitzvah, which is a commandment not just a tradition.
Taslich
Taslich is a ceremony performed at a moving body of water, such as a sea, river, or creek. This ritual is about symbolically casting away sins, and people often throw bread crumbs into the water to symbolize casting off sins and letting the water wash them away.
Teshuvah (Repentance)
Teshuvah, literally translates to “return,” in the High Holidays it’s a overarching theme. It is related to the fact that we have to return to the people we have wronged. Going back to places, people, and thoughts, over everything we have done in the last year. Returning and asking for forgiveness, and making amends.
Apples and Honey
Dipping apples in honey is not only one of the most important traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah, but also the tastiest. All of the food that is related to the Jewish holiday is seasonal which makes them special.
Apples represent the roundness of the year, and honey is used to represent our wishes for sweetness in the coming year. Using these foods to represent two most important themes of this time of the year -the circle of the year and the sweetness that is hoped for in the coming year.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are another fruit in season at the time of Rosh Hashanah, and this theme turns up in food and symbolic decor. Pomegranates are said to have 613 seeds in them, the same number as mitzvot which are good deeds in the Bible.
Rosh Hashanah Greetings
Offering traditional holiday greetings is a customary and friendly way to greet Jewish people during Rosh Hashanah. “I’shana tovah” translates to “to a good year in English. Similar to happy new year,
I love the idea of looking back over the year at our mistakes and planning for a better year. And going back to the people we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness. Even if they don’t forgive you, it is righteous in God’s eyes.
From Pity to Praise 