The Jewish New Year

My dear Friends

Last Wednesday evening, Thursday and Friday was the Jewish New year, known as Rosh Hashanah. I celebrated it by saying some prayers , lighting the festival candles, drinking some kosher wine and eating apples and honey. This is a tradition to ensure you have a sweet New Year.

Rosh Hashanah is a penitential time, when the Jewish people ask for the forgiveness of their sins. It leads into the ten days of Penitence and then into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.Yom Kipppur is a fast day, with strictly no food and no water.People spend all day in the Synagogue, fasting and praying.White is traditionally worn, as a sign of purity.There is a great feeling of grace working. There are several services, culminating in the Neilah service-Closure-the closing of the gates of repentance.

One tradition on Rosh Hashanah is to throw your sins in the river, in a symbolic gesture. The ceremony is called Tashlich and I always remember enjoying this as a child, when we would celebrate Rosh Hashanah in a Jewish hotel by the seaside.

Shana tova!
Happy New Year!
Sister Gila