On this thursday is Rosh Hashanna:
– this is the jewish new year, we are entering the year 5778. It comemorates when adam and eve were created.
– If you see someone jewish, or have jewish friends and family, say “L’Shana Tova (Le-Sha-Nah-Toe-Vah). It’s a greeting and a wish for a happy new year!
– We dip apples in honey to remind us of the sweetness of life and to bring sweetness into ourselves for a new year
-We eat a circular challah to symbolize the cycles of time, the challah often has raisins in it to add extra sweetness
-This is a happy holiday, full of joy
Beginning on Friday, September 30th is Yom Kippur:
– This is the jewish day of atonement, when we think about our wrongdoings of the past year and think about how we can commit to doing better in the next year.
– Many Jewish people fast, abstaining from food and water from sundown to sundown. The fast is roughly 25 hours. HOWEVER, if you need to eat, you may. There are lots of reasons that people may not fast, like recovering from an eating disorder, a medical condition like diabetes, or having to take medication with food. The elderly, children, and pregnant people should not fast.
– This is a solemn holiday, many people spend all day in synagogue in deep prayer.
– On Yom Kippur, wish someone a peaceful or meaningful fast. Some people may take offense to the concept of having an “easy” or “enjoyable” fast because Yom Kippur is not about ease or comfort.
– There is a breaking of the fast at sundown, this is usually a joyous event
Together, these make up the High Holy Days, the most important week in Judaism.
please reblog to educate and spread awareness
Other pro-tips:
1. Jewish holidays begin at sun down the night before and end at sun down the night of. So, for example, Rosh Hashanah starts wednesday night and ends Friday night. However, Friday night starts the Sabbath (Shabbat) which ends Saturday night.
2. If you’re not comfy with Hebrew, happy new year or happy holiday will do just fine.
3. Some people celebrate one day of Rosh Hashanah, some two. Don’t judge either practice.
4. Side note: Rosh Hashanah is a lunar new year. Most East Asian countries and predominantly Muslim countries have them. They all fall at different times. Don’t call Chinese New Year “Lunar New Year.” I don’t know who started that, but it’s offensive to like eighty five other cultures, seriously.
5. I have never been offended by having someone wish me an easy fast, in fact, that is common practice in the Jewish circles I have always run in, but I guess it doesn’t hurt not to. I just wouldn’t worry if you’ve done it before.
6. Jewish holy days and holidays don’t work like Christian ones, for one thing, there’s too many of them, but for purposes of comprehension, imagine this is Thanksgiving and Christmas, rolled into the space of ten days and far far less secular. These are two of the most important holy days of the year, followed by Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah, which all hold their own import. The season is about a month. To give you some idea of the import of these holidays: I am very close with my family, I go home for Rosh Hashanah rather than thanksgiving every year.
7. This is a big one: if you have Jewish co-workers who are taking off for these holy days, for the love of everything holy and true, do NOT act like they are taking a vacation. They are taking leave time for holy days that, while meaningful, are emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausting. Be kind.
Great information for the upcoming High Holy Days. I hope all my Jewish friends and readers have bright, sweet, and satisfying holidays!
Thoughtfulfangirling 