Jewish new year begins, Yom Kippur starts sundown Sept. 25
Posted Sep 17, 2012 11:19 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
This is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.
The two-day holiday, which started Sunday at sundown, commemorates the creation of the world, which this year reached the age of 5773 according to the Jewish calendar.
It’s a holiday that begins what Jews call the High Holy Days, giving it a more solemn tone than the New Year that’s celebrated on Jan. 1.
The 10-day period of reflection will end sundown Sept. 25 with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when rabbis will lead their congregations in a prayer of apology for sins committed in the past year so there can be forgiveness and a fresh start.
In Israel, Rosh Hashanah is a time for festive meals, which traditionally include fish, wine and an apple dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet new year.
Observant Jews prepare for long hours in synagogues over the holiday. Highlights of the ritual include the sounding of the shofar, a trumpet made of a ram’s horn.
