Celebrating Rosh Hashanah 2012

World News | admin | September 18, 2012 at 9:02 pm

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah 2012: The two day Jewish holiday celebrating the Jewish New Year will begin on September 16^th evening and last up till the September 18^th night. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on Hebrew date 1^st Tishrei 5773 this time around. The name of the famous Jewish holiday originally means ‘head of the year’; this holiday marks the beginning of New Year for people, legal contracts and animals. Rosh Hashanah is one of the four Jewish New Year eves.

The Jewish oral tradition states that the Rosh Hashanah holiday marks the completion of the creation of the world, and the beginning of the Jewish High Holy days. The holiday also symbolizes the beginning of the ‘days of awe’, which are known as Yamim Noraim. Ten days after the Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Kipper or the ‘day of atonement’ comes.

The ushering of the Hebrew year 5773 began at the sunset on Sunday, marked by the blowing of a ram’s horn known as a shofar. The ten days following this day will be spent in contemplation and repentance. Finally, the Day of Atonement will follow which is the most solemn day for the entire Hebrew community.

The period of the High Holy Days are important to the Jews because they believe that God makes a record of their fate in the Book of Life during these ten holy days. Special services for the Rosh Hashanah are held at synagogues all over the world. The Jews pray at the services and then perform a liturgy of the mahzor, which is their special prayer book. Special celebration foods for the Rosh Hashanah holiday are raisins, apples, honey, pomegranate and honey cake; particularly sweet foods.

President Barack Obama commenced the Rosh Hashanah celebrations in the United States with a message of peace and reconciliation. This is a difficult time for the Americans since there is great religious tension brewing in the country.