THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 43 lines
Teachers and students who are starting the school year and those who simply love the change of seasons know that September always seems more of a new beginning than Jan. 1.
For millions of Jews worldwide, this is New Year's. Tonight marks the eve of the new Jewish year - Rosh Hashana.
At sundown, Jews will celebrate the eve of the year 5757 on the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashana is a time of introspection and planning that lasts through the Ten Days of Penitence. The High Holidays end on Sept. 23, Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement.
Christians, for the most part, remain ignorant of the High Holidays. Perhaps it is because these holidays have no Christian counterparts - unlike Hannakuh which falls near Christmas and Passover at Eastertime.
Around Hampton Roads, which is home to about 20,000 Jews, special services will be held in temples and synagogues tonight and tomorrow. Families will gather for meals, dipping challah (bread) in honey - to symbolize their wishes for a sweet year.
The meaning of Rosh Hashana is symbolized by another ancient tradition, the blowing of the shofar in synagogues. The shofar is an instrument fashioned from the horn of an animal, usually a ram.
The low-pitched wail of the shofar is a prayer without words: a plea to God for a good year to come.
The blowing of the horn commemorates a biblical event recognized by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike - the Old Testament account of the realization by Abraham that God does not require human sacrifice.
Just as Abraham was about to plunge a knife into his beloved son, Isaac, he saw a ram nearby with its horns tangled in the brush. Abraham interpreted this as a sign from God that he should kill the ram and spare his son, hence the blowing of the ram's horn.
Jewish tradition teaches that during this time of year God examines the deeds of the faithful and decrees what is in store for them in the coming year. On Rosh Hashana Jews search their souls, examine their shortcomings and pray to God, who always forgives.
L'shana tova! by CNB