In the beginning, the elohim created skies and earth.
Welcome back and Happy New Year for my Jewish brothers and sisters.
The proper greeting is L'shana Tova. So wish your friends, "for a good year" in Hebrew.
Incidentally, "L'shana Tova" are the first Hebrew words I ever spoke. As a young Baptist boy growing up in Tennessee, I rarely had occasion to speak Hebrew.
It is the year 5774 of the Jewish calendar, the first day of the seventh month called Tishri.
Today, in synagogues across the world, the shofar will sound 100 notes to celebrate Rosh Hashana.
My birthday falls in the year 5717.
The record of this holiday is found in Leviticus 23: 24-25.
Devout Jewish people do not work today. It is a two day holiday so some will not work tomorrow either.
For ten days, Jewish people observe the Days of Awe wherein they look within themselves to recall and repent of their sins. At the end of the Days of Awe is Yom Kippur, the day of forgiveness of sins.
Traditionally, Jewish people dip apples in honey to signify a wish for a new year full of sweetness.
They also observe Tashlikh, or casting off, whereby they walk to a river and empty their pockets to signify the casting off of sins. Traditionally, bread is kept in the pockets for this ritual.
They take ten days to prepare for Yom Kippur, which is the time of forgiveness for sins past. It is what the New Year is for most of us Americans, including Jewish Americans, on January 1st without the whiskey and the football.
It is a day to resolve to be a better person in the coming year.
Who could ask for a better way to serve God?
And if I were Jewish, I would heartily welcome the opportunity to reflect twice a year on being a better person.
Indeed, like many Jewish people I try to be a better person every day...when possible.
Go to jewfaq.org/holiday2html and read Judaism 101 for more information about this holiday.
Blessings and L'shana Tova...
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