Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur
It is sunset. The rabbi blows the shofar – a trumpet made from a ram’s horn. The notes of the shofar ringing out through the synagogue tell the people that Rosh Ha-Shanah has begun.
Rosh Ha-Shanah means “beginning of the year”. It is the Jewish New Year celebration, an important religious holiday.
During the next 10 days, Jews pray and express their sorrow for any wrongs they have done during the year. Rosh Ha-Shanah falls on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri and lasts 1 or 2 days. It can come anywhere between September 5 and October 5. The tenth day following Rosh Ha-Shanah is called Yom Kippur, which means “Day of Atonement”. Atonement means making up for anything bad you may have done.
Yom Kippur is the most important and holiest day of the Jewish year. Like all Jewish holy days, it begins at sunset. Most people go to a service at a synagogue in the evening and again the following day.
During Yom Kippur, many Jews do not eat or drink anything. At sunset, a blast on the shofar signals the end of Yom Kippur.
Picture Credit : Google