On September 22-24 …
Celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year
Jewish Americans are celebrating Rosh Hashana, which is also known as the Jewish New Year. It begins on the first day of Tishrei (or Tishri), which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar, and may last for two days. The celebration begins at sundown on the previous day. It is sometimes called the Day of Remembrance.
Many celebrate the event for two days, while others celebrate the event for one day. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet foods. A popular treat is eating challah bread and apples dipped in honey.
It's the time of judgment and remembrance, during which God reviews and judges a Jewish person's deeds in the past year, and also a time of prayer and penitence. By tradition, debts from the past year are settled before Rosh Hashanah.
Before the event, reverent Jewish people in the United States may decide to seek forgiveness from friends and family they may have offended during the year just ending.
