New Chapters – Rosh Hashanah

“Shana Tova”

Have a good year!

Rosh Hashanah marks the New Year in the Jewish calendar and takes place either in September or October depending on the year. This is a time for new chapters in a individual’s life, a time of reflection, a time to turn away from all the mistakes you have made the previous year and focus on the year ahead. This is a time to move forward and be the best version of you that you can be.

It’s said that God looks at us and explores our lives whether our names will be written in the Book of Life during this time.

It’s a one-to-two-day celebration filled with many special rituals that will often take place at the synagogue, at home and outside.

Charity is often taken into high account this time of the year, a time for giving to those in need.

Some of these rituals include prayer, blowing of horns, throwing bread into the water and a time of delicious food.

Some of the meals includes apples dipped in honey, round buns, honey cake, honey carrots, and even trying out new fruits. This symbolizes a sweet start to the year.

At the synagogue you will hear readings from The Mahzor or holiday reading book. This is an opportunity to connect through prayer, stories and music. You will hear stories of Moses, Isaac and much more.  Also, this is often a time in which a variety of different horns will be blown and people will sing.

Lastly one of the common rituals is the tossing of bread into the water symbolizing the casting away of old habits and mistakes that one has made over the year.

This whole time a person should take inventory of their lives, return back to realigning their lives spiritually.

After the celebration of the New Year, seven days later it ends with Yom Kippur, a greater time of self reflection. This day is considered the Sabbath of Sabbaths and is the holiest day of the year.

 

Yom Kippur is a day of fasting and resting for 24 hours, it’s a day of atonement. In Israel on Yom Kippur highways are often shut down. No work shall be done on this day. It’s important to ask forgiveness from friends, family and to God the day prior to Yom Kippur. You are also not permitted to bath on Yom Kippur.

Whether you attend a service at a synagogue, decide to take a walk by yourself and reflect or just stay at hom

e and fast during this time, its all about seeing ourselves as imperfect and how we can better ourselves in the days ahead. Time to right our wrongs and as mentioned be the best versions of ourselves.

When Yom Kippur comes to an end, it’s concluded with a large meal called break the fast. This is not breakfast as it’s served at night. This is the time when the fast from Yom Kippur ends and people are allowed to resume eating.

 

At 3 Arches USA we understand the importance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, carrying many Judaica items and products that help in the celebration of this very important time.

 

To have a look at our product line up please click on the link provided. https://3archesusa.com/product-category/judaica/

 

Wishing you a “Shana Tova”

 

 

 

 

Sources Cited

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AuMXq5sHDw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFNHtqrEGPw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqBzg8wCUg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByqjDhgJiNw

https://www.jewishillini.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3673924/jewish/Jewish-Holidays-2021-2026.htm