By Josh Resnek
The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana began Saturday evening at sunset.
It is the Jewish New Year – a holiday celebrated by Jews all over the world for about 3,000 years.
At the onset of the New Year, according to Jewish law, a ten day period of penitence begins at the same time God opens the Book of Life.
During this ten day period of penitence, Jews need to look back at the past year and try to make things right for wrongdoing they might have done. In other words, this is a period of repentance for Jews. It is a time to let God know that you are sorry for whatever wrongs you have committed. The full array of wrongs runs the gamut from breaking any of the Ten Commandments, to committing crimes, to harboring hatred for a neighbor, to mistreating family members and friends, and even those you do not know.
Repenting is different from apologizing.
Repenting means you’ve straightened yourself out and made yourself proper in the eyes of God for the coming year.
You must prove to him you are worthy of another year of life.
Continue reading “What’s the deal with the Jewish holiday during the next ten days?”