The Jewish High Holy Days

— from Julie Gottman —

This Wednesday, Sept. 24th at sunset, the Jewish people gather in homes and synagogues world-wide to celebrate the high holy days, called Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur. Eight days separates the two holidays and are filled with deep reflection, action, and ultimately, a return to God.

Jews began recording their history much earlier than most people. This month Rosh Hashonah celebrates the beginning of the year 5775. Rosh Hashonah is celebrated with prayer, song, and of course as with every Jewish holiday, good food. The traditional braided bread of Challah is sweetened with raisins and fresh apple slices are dipped in honey to honor the joy of life.

Throughout the next eight days, an important Jewish principle is lived. Jews believe that asking God for forgiveness is not enough. To truly earn Teshuvah, or a return to God, Jews must first take a moral reading of their last year. They ask themselves, “Is there anyone I knowingly or unknowingly may have hurt, offended, angered or betrayed in this last year?” Inevitably, there are many. Each person must be approached and the moral breach must be openly discussed. Afterwards, the supplicant asks the person he or she has offended for forgiveness. It is the face-to-face interaction of taking responsibility for moral indiscretions that is cleansing. Rosh Hashonah closes with the tradition of Selichot in which people infuse cubes of bread with the personal flaws they wish to change in themselves and throw the pieces into water, thus purifying themselves.

This is also a time for giving additional charity and doing good works. The tradition began thousands of years ago when Jews annually set aside a portion of their fields and produce for the poor, and every 7 years forgave outstanding debts that hadn’t been paid so that the poor could thrive.

The high holy days close with the celebration of Yom Kippur. A 24 hour fast begins. Prayers last all day. With hearts cleansed by honest reflection, open discussions with others, pleas for forgiveness, gifts of charity and other good deeds, Jews now face their God and together, pray for ultimate forgiveness and Teshuvah. They re-affirm their covenant to live by the laws of Torah, the Jewish holy scriptures that include the five books of Moses, and go forth into the new year cleansed and renewed.

And together afterwards, of course, they eat.