What are the Jewish High Holy Days about? We begin our "High Holidays" with the observation of "Rosh ha Shana".
This is the Jewish New Year.
According to the Jewish religion, Rosh Ha Shana celebrates the birth of the world.
Children are taught that on Rosh Ha Shana, God opens the book of life.
We then have 10 days until Yom Kippur to atone for our sins and to right our wrongs.
The 10 days between Rosh Ha Shana and Yom Kippur are sometimes called the "Days Of Awe".
During these ten days, we have a chance to influence how our lives will be during the coming year.
On the tenth day which is Yom Kippur, God seals the book of life and our fate for the coming year is now set.
During the days between Rosh Ha Shana and Yom Kippur, Jews are supposed to atone for any misbehaviors of the previous year.
The Jewish religion does not use the word sin.
There is a Hebrew word "het" which is sometimes translated that way, but the true meaning is "missing the mark".
The idea is that we do not always behave the way we wish we were.
The High Holy Days are our chance to think about our actions and plan for a better year ahead.
Many Jewish People call Yom Kippur "The Day of Atonement".
During this somber holiday, Jews are supposed to fast from sunset the evening before until sunset the day of Yom Kippur.
During the Yom Kippur Services, we say a prayer which is called the "Al-Het".
During this prayer we list some of the many ways we may have strayed or missed the mark in the previous year.
Of course the prayer books were written thousands of years ago so some of the sins, such as coveting your neighbors flock, don't really apply today.
However this prayer is a time to look into ourselves and evaluate our thoughts and actions of the year before and to plan for improvement in the year to come.
We ask for forgiveness from God and pray for a good year ahead.
One interesting thing about the Jewish religion is that we cannot automatically make peace with other people by praying during the holidays or asking for forgiveness.
We must directly ask forgiveness of the person who we hurt in the past.
God can forgive our sins against God, but only the person you harmed can forgive you for your transgressions toward them.
This is the Jewish New Year.
According to the Jewish religion, Rosh Ha Shana celebrates the birth of the world.
Children are taught that on Rosh Ha Shana, God opens the book of life.
We then have 10 days until Yom Kippur to atone for our sins and to right our wrongs.
The 10 days between Rosh Ha Shana and Yom Kippur are sometimes called the "Days Of Awe".
During these ten days, we have a chance to influence how our lives will be during the coming year.
On the tenth day which is Yom Kippur, God seals the book of life and our fate for the coming year is now set.
During the days between Rosh Ha Shana and Yom Kippur, Jews are supposed to atone for any misbehaviors of the previous year.
The Jewish religion does not use the word sin.
There is a Hebrew word "het" which is sometimes translated that way, but the true meaning is "missing the mark".
The idea is that we do not always behave the way we wish we were.
The High Holy Days are our chance to think about our actions and plan for a better year ahead.
Many Jewish People call Yom Kippur "The Day of Atonement".
During this somber holiday, Jews are supposed to fast from sunset the evening before until sunset the day of Yom Kippur.
During the Yom Kippur Services, we say a prayer which is called the "Al-Het".
During this prayer we list some of the many ways we may have strayed or missed the mark in the previous year.
Of course the prayer books were written thousands of years ago so some of the sins, such as coveting your neighbors flock, don't really apply today.
However this prayer is a time to look into ourselves and evaluate our thoughts and actions of the year before and to plan for improvement in the year to come.
We ask for forgiveness from God and pray for a good year ahead.
One interesting thing about the Jewish religion is that we cannot automatically make peace with other people by praying during the holidays or asking for forgiveness.
We must directly ask forgiveness of the person who we hurt in the past.
God can forgive our sins against God, but only the person you harmed can forgive you for your transgressions toward them.