ROSH HASHANA BEGINS JEWISH CELEBRATION OF NEW YEAR, DAYS OF AWE.Byline: Holly Andres Daily News Staff Writer Valley Jews began celebrating Rosh Hashana - the new year of 5758 - at sundown Wednesday. The holiday is celebrated for one day by Reform Jews Noun 1. Reform Jew - liberal Jew who tries to adapt all aspects of Judaism to modern circumstances Reform Judaism - the most liberal Jews; Jews who do not follow the Talmud strictly but try to adapt all of the historical forms of Judaism to the modern world and for two days by Orthodox and Conservative congregations. Rosh Hashana is the start of a 10-day period known as the High Holy Days or Days of Awe. Jews begin a period of retrospection of their lives during the past year and contemplate how they can change their actions for the better in the coming year. It is also a time to ask for forgiveness for any wrongs they have done to other people. In temples throughout the Valley, a shofar, or ram's horn ram's horn n. Judaism A shofar. Noun 1. ram's horn - annual of southern United States to Mexico having large whitish or yellowish flowers mottled with purple and a long curving beak , is blown during morning services to announce the beginning of the new year. Families celebrate at home by eating sweet foods and food in round shapes. Traditionally, apple slices are dipped in honey, which symbolizes the hope for a sweet year. Challah, or egg bread, is made with raisins to emphasize sweetness and is twisted into a round shape. The round shape of the challah and other foods is a reminder that one year is ending but a new year is beginning. ``It is the hope of Jews all over the world that this new year may bring peace and unity, not only to the Jewish people but for all people,'' said Rabbi E. Robert Kraus Robert Kraus (1925 – August 7 2001) was an American children's author, cartoonist and publisher. He drew more than 400 cartoons and 21 magazine covers for The New Yorker. of Temple Beth Torah of Granada Hills. A customary afternoon tradition of Rosh Hashana is called the taschlich service. Jews gather at the shore of a lake or ocean and symbolically throw their sins away by tossing bread crumbs into the water. Yom Kippur Yom Kippur [Heb.,=day of atonement], in Judaism, the most sacred holy day, falling on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishri (usually late September or early October). It is a day of fasting and prayer for forgiveness for sins committed during the year. , the Day of Atonement Day of Atonement n. See Yom Kippur. [Translation of Hebrew yôm kippûr.] Day of Atonement Noun same as Yom Kippur Noun 1. , will begin this year at sundown Oct. 10. Jews abstain from abstain from verb refrain from, avoid, decline, give up, stop, refuse, cease, do without, shun, renounce, eschew, leave off, keep from, forgo, withhold from, forbear, desist from, deny yourself, kick ( water and food for a 24-hour fast. The shofar is blown again at the conclusion of the afternoon service of Yom Kippur to end the High Holy Days. |
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