Shana Tovah - Happy 5782

 

  

                                       L'SHANA TOVAH 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 5782

We'll be observing this commanded feast tonight at our synagogue. This holiday is called Rosh Hashanah - and  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. Here 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.

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 Adonai. 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.  We remember, with grateful hearts, that without Yeshua's shed blood we would not have forgiveness.  His sacrifice gave us that gift. 

You can learn more about the Feast of Trumpets HERE
 

After the service, we eat lots of apples dipped in honey, and wish each other a sweet year ahead.

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 ponder 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 God's command.  The observance of Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Awe are also commanded by Adonai.