The High Holy Days, the collective name for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, are a time of choices for the Jewish people. It is written in Deuteronomy 30:19, “Life and death have I given thee, the blessing and the curse, and ye shall choose life.”
Of course that is the judgment we are hoping for when we send out traditional greetings: “May you be inscribed for a good year!”
We are celebrating the creation of the world, and the promise of continued creativity and life. Our tradition teaches us that we are each responsible for helping to complete the creation of a peaceful world. We are required to hold ourselves accountable for tasks we completed and tasks we left unfinished.
The poignant sounds of the shofar, the ram’s horn, have been interpreted as an expression of our life work being judged. The Tekiah (a long, even note) depicts our confidence at having our good deeds rewarded. The Teruah (9 wavering notes) masks the uncertainty of our future. The Shevarim (3 broken notes) are like the sighs of one who despairs his missed opportunities.
The Hebrew month of Elul, which precedes the High Holy Days, is seen as a period of preparation. During the month it is customary to visit relatives’ graves, to remember the sanctity of their lives.
Slihot – penitential prayers – are recited from the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah at midnight, for at least four days. Rosh Hashanah is also known as Yom Hadin (Day of Judgment); Yom Hazikaron (Day of Memorial) and Yom Teruah (Day of Shofar sounding.)
This is the time to ask forgiveness of anyone we may have hurt during the year for we cannot ask pardon from the Creator until we have reconciled with our fellow man.
There are many rituals associated with Rosh Hashanah. One is eating slices of apple dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah eve to symbolize our wish for a sweet New Year.
On the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to go to a stream or beach and throw breadcrumbs into the water, as we recite from the prophet Micah. This ceremony is called “ Tashlich” and symbolizes throwing away our sins.
There was once an itinerant shoemaker, who passed the house of the 18th century Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdiczev. He cried out “Anything to mend?” The rabbi wept on hearing these words, saying: “Alas for my soul. The Day of Judgment is almost at hand, and I have not yet mended myself.”
Rosh Hashanah is known as the birthday of the world. One explanation is that Bereshit, the first word in the Torah, which means “In the beginning” can have the letters turned around to read: “ Alef be’Tishri,” the Hebrew date on which we believe God began to create heaven and earth.
These days of awe are significant for Jews everywhere, and particularly so in Israel.
We now enter a “shmita” year (a Sabbatical year). It is a year of rest for the soil in Israel. “Shmita” literally means renunciation, when we renounce the right to work the land and let it lie fallow. We also renounce the right to collect debts: “At the end of every seven years, thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he lent unto his neighbor.” (Deut.15: 1-2)
As we wish each other a “happy New Year,” we know that we share a common destiny and what will be good for one will be good for all. We wish for health, happiness and prosperity, but most of all, may we be blessed with peace!
The writer is the author of 14 books. Her latest novel is Searching for Sarah.