THE JEWISH HIGH HOLY DAYS
Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year, which marks the beginning of a 10-day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance, known as the High Holy Days. The first night of Rosh HaShanah began TONIGHT, September 13th.
The origin of Rosh HaShanah is from the Bible book of Leviticus (23:24-25) which says “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of rest, a memorial proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar, a holy convocation.”
Then, 10 days from now, (Sep 22 – 23), Jews will observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" and is a serious observance of fasting, prayer and repentance.
In three separate passages in the Torah of the Old Testament, the Jewish people are told, "the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: You shall practice self-denial."(Leviticus 23:27). The Yom Kippur fast is intended to help a person focus on their own spiritual needs and spiritual hunger through prayer and repentance. It is a time to rededicate oneself to reconciliation - with both God and with other human beings – by both asking forgiveness and offering forgiveness to others.
Jesus repeated this Old Testament teaching in the Lord’s Prayer when he commanded us to pray “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
I wish all my Jewish friends “Happy New Year!” as they observe Rosh Hashanah!
The origin of Rosh HaShanah is from the Bible book of Leviticus (23:24-25) which says “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of rest, a memorial proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar, a holy convocation.”
Then, 10 days from now, (Sep 22 – 23), Jews will observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" and is a serious observance of fasting, prayer and repentance.
In three separate passages in the Torah of the Old Testament, the Jewish people are told, "the tenth day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: You shall practice self-denial."(Leviticus 23:27). The Yom Kippur fast is intended to help a person focus on their own spiritual needs and spiritual hunger through prayer and repentance. It is a time to rededicate oneself to reconciliation - with both God and with other human beings – by both asking forgiveness and offering forgiveness to others.
Jesus repeated this Old Testament teaching in the Lord’s Prayer when he commanded us to pray “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
I wish all my Jewish friends “Happy New Year!” as they observe Rosh Hashanah!
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