L'SHANA TOVAH
HAPPY NEW YEAR, 5775
The High Holy Days are a busy time for us at Ma'gen Da'vid Synagogue, so I am glad to back to my regular postings.
We held our Rosh Hashanah service on Wednesday evening, September 24. This holiday is also called Feast of Trumpets because the blowing of the shofar is the focus. We also make the challah round on this holiday as a reminder that the time has come around once again for us to refocus our lives on ADONAI. The cycle begins and we rejoice.
During the service at our synagogue, there are 100 notes blown on the shofar. Below is a video so that you can hear how it sounds. The chanting by the rabbi tells the musician how many times to blow the shofar. I'm sorry my video of the event at our synagogue did not turn out because Jeff, our musician, is very talented and did a great job. Thank you to Youtube (and Temple Shalom) for this:
That last note is very long. I am amazed at how long the one in the video continued, because blowing the shofar is not easy, and blowing it for 100 notes is even harder. To have the breath to end like that is great.
The shofar blasts are a call to repentance and prayer and a reminder to be in awe of our Holy G-d. Thus, the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as The Ten Days of Awe.
For the ten days, we take time to reflect on our lives and ask G-d to reveal any hidden sins. We also ask Him to show us if any relationships need to be mended. If so, we go to that person and ask forgiveness. It is a solemn time of humbling ourselves before Him. You can learn more about the Feast of Trumpets HERE
After the service, we ate lots of apples dipped in honey, and wished each other a sweet year ahead.
I love this song about Rosh Hashanah, by MiYah. You can visit her website and hear more of her music HERE
One of the things that awes me about the High Holy Days is that all Jews come aside to observe this holiday. In some towns, all businesses close down for the entire ten days. I saw this quote and it caused me to think and I hope you, my Gail-Friends, will consider it, too:
“Since the days of Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon him for ten days, that the Spirit’s power might be manifested? We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power” –J. Hudson Taylor
Did you know that Pentecost is actually the Jewish holiday of Shavuot? The Jews were in Jerusalem that day to obey G-d's command. The observance of Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Awe are also commanded by Adonai.
My next post will be about our observance of Yom Kippur, and I hope you will come back by for that.
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I'm linking up today with:
Modest Mom Monday Link-up
Meet-Up Monday
A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday
Wake Up Wednesday
Jenny Marie's Wordless Wednesday
Favorite Things
Hearts for Home
Fab Creative Friday
Friendship Friday
Freedom Friday
Great quote by Taylor.
ReplyDeleteThanks as always for the wonderful info.
Thank you for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
GiGi