DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010007

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:  145 lines

JEWISH HIGH HOLIDAYS: THE YEAR 5758 TONIGHT AT SUNDOWN MARKS THE BEGINNING OF ROSH HASHANA, THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.

Long before Christians were celebrating Christmas and Muslims were observing Ramadan, the Jewish people, while wandering in the desert, began a holiday season they consider the holiest of the year.

The festivities, known as the the Jewish High Holidays or the ``Days of Awe,'' begin at sundown tonight with Rosh Hashana and the commencement of the year 5758 of 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 Oct. 11, Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement.

While other cultures and religions have come and gone, holidays like these have helped Jewish communities around the world retain their cultural and religious bonds through 4,000 years of persecutions, pogroms and even holocaust.

During these 10 days, observant Jews are called to experience the gamut of human emotion. Tonight they begin to joyfully celebrate new life and the opportunity for rebirth and renewal. On Yom Kippur they will confront their own failures as they repent and seek peace.

Christians, for the most part, remain ignorant of this Jewish religious season. Perhaps it is because there is no major Christian holiday this time of year - Hanukkah, 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 a round 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.

With increasing tensions in the Mideast, the cradle of Judiasm, Jews around the world will be offering prayers for a peaceful year in Israel. Believers of all faiths join them.

L'shana tova! ********** L ong before Christians were celebrating Christmas and Muslims were observing Ramadan, the Jewish people, while wandering in the desert, began a holiday season they consider the holiest of the year.

The festivities, known as the the Jewish High Holidays or the ``Days of Awe,'' begin at sundown tonight with Rosh Hashana and the commencement of the year 5758 of 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 Oct. 11, Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement.

While other cultures and religions have come and gone, holidays like these have helped Jewish communities around the world retain their cultural and religious bonds through 4,000 years of persecutions, pogroms and even holocaust.

During these 10 days, observant Jews are called to experience the gamut of human emotion. Tonight they begin to joyfully celebrate new life and the opportunity for rebirth and renewal. On Yom Kippur they will confront their own failures as they repent and seek peace.

Christians, for the most part, remain ignorant of this Jewish religious season. Perhaps it is because there is no major Christian holiday this time of year - as there is with Hanukkah, 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 a round 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.

With increasing tensions in the Mideast, the cradle of Judiasm, Jews around the world will be offering prayers for a peaceful year in Israel. Believers of all faiths join them.

L'shana tova!

L ong before Christians were celebrating Christmas and Muslims were observing Ramadan, the Jewish people, while wandering in the desert, began a holiday season they consider the holiest of the year, according to Pilot religion writer Betsy Wright.

The festivities, known as the the Jewish High Holidays or the ``Days of Awe,'' begin at sundown tonight with Rosh Hashana and the commencement of the year 5758 of 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 Oct. 11, Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement.

While other cultures and religions have come and gone, holidays like these have helped Jewish communities around the world retain their cultural and religious bonds through 4,000 years of persecutions, pogroms and even holocaust.

During these 10 days, observant Jews are called to experience the gamut of human emotion. Tonight they begin to joyfully celebrate new life and the opportunity for rebirth and renewal. On Yom Kippur they will confront their own failures as they repent and seek peace.

Christians, for the most part, remain ignorant of this Jewish religious season. Perhaps it is because there is no major Christian holiday this time of year - as there is with Hanukkah, 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 a round 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.

With increasing tensions in the Mideast, the cradle of Judiasm, Jews around the world will be offering prayers for a peaceful year in Israel. Believers of all faiths join them.

L'shana tova!

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu