Supporting Israeli Believers In Yeshua
(Jesus)
Happy New Year! (Jewish Style)
Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה ), literally means "head of the year." It is the Jewish New Year and begins the annual High Holidays or "Days of Awe." Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for ten days before Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar (September 28, 2011). It is described in the Torah as a day of happily blowing the Shofar (very loudly)!
It is believed the names of the righteous (those having lived a good life the previous year) are inscribed in the book of life," when God evaluates their deeds. All are allowed ten days (until Yom Kippur), to repent and become righteous; and the wicked are believed to be "blotted out of the book of the living.”
As Messianic Jewish believers in the Messiah, we enjoy our traditions and identify with our people, however, we do not need 10 days to remember and repent of sins committed over the past year. We know that our Atonement has already come. . . His name is Yeshua!
Rosh Hashanah marks the start of a new year in the Hebrew calendar, is considered the new year for people and legal contracts, as well. The day is also the new year for calculating calendar years and sabbatical and jubilee years. Many say Rosh Hashanah represents (figuratively or literally) the creation of the World.
Following Rosh Hashanah are Yom Kippur, and the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) and is referred to as "the time of our joy." Enjoy apples dipped in honey and delicious Honey cake!