The Ten Days of Awe

 

We celebrated Rosh Hashanah at the synagogue on Friday evening with greetings of "Shanah Tovah", lots of apples and honey, and shofar blowing! Thus, we began the new year 5784 and the Days of Awe (or Ten Days of Repentance) in preparation for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  We enjoyed a meal together and then held our traditional service.    

 

A round, sweet challah is a tradition on Rosh Hashanah

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The blowing of the shofar is an urgent call to awaken from spiritual slumber .  It's a special time for self-examination, repentance, and asking for forgiveness from God and others.  It's a time to prepare for 5784 - the new year ahead.  The shofar has a beautiful sound.  I want you to hear it, so here is a link for you to hear and understand the blowing of the shofar: 

https://youtu.be/grZDPCKORGg?si=W6y1BnQ4DW8hcCLg

“Blow the shofar in Tziyon!
Sound an alarm on my holy mountain!”
Let all living in the land tremble,
for the Day of Adonai is coming! It’s upon us! 

Joel 2:1 CJB 

 

 

 Entering into the Hebrew year 5784, we pray for God to reveal any sins we have allowed to creep in to our lives.  We also examine ourselves to see if we have any resentments against others or if we have hurt anyone.  If so, we do our best to make peace with them. This is not always easy to do.  If we are afraid to approach someone, we ask Him to make us willing to take the action needed to make peace.  If unable to meet in person, a phone call or a letter can be used.  It's a humbling experience to admit wrong, but it's also healing.  The important thing is to JUST DO IT ! 

 

These ten days are an opportunity be still, to truly seek God, and to allow Him to move in us so we will be blessed and useful for His kingdom in the year ahead.  

 

Seek Adonai while he is available,
call on him while he is still nearby.

Isaiah 55:6 CJB

 

Shavuah Tov, Gail-Friends!  

 May your 5784 be as sweet as apples and honey.