So, there has definitely been a hiatus in my blogging; this can really be due in part to two main factors, one- my job is absolutely crazy during the summer time as I run summer camps for kids with disabilities, and two- there have not been any of the more significant holidays. For the Catholic Church, we just celebrated the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, so there has not been as much to write about. Aaron and I have continued to incorporate the Sabbath practices as much as possible as we are still living separately, and we have continued our daily prayer, but no major feast days have come about lately.
However, all of this is about to change! The most holy of Jewish Holidays are about to be upon us. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The two really go hand in hand and are the celebration of the religious new year. I have always been a girl who loves New Years Eve, so I was very excited to learn about the Jewish New Year, why it originated, and how it is celebrated. The principles that it teaches are not only important to the Jewish faith, but are a beautiful reminder and celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation that the Catholic Church teaches. It is a time to focus on an examination of conscience and look at your life to see if you are giving God glory with your life every day. I am first going to focus on Rosh Hashanah as they are celebrated in very different ways.
Holiday: Rosh Hashanah- September 4, 2013- September 6, 2013
Celebration: A festive holiday beginning the calendar year with repentance from sin and the hope of renewal, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the Jewish New Year. It is celebrated during the first two days of the Hebrew month of Tishri (the seventh new moon of the year). It marks the beginning of a 10 day period of prayer, self examination, and repentance which culminates of the feast day of Yom Kippur. These 10 days are typically referred to as the "days of awe" or "high holy days" and also celebrate the creation of the universe.
According to tradition, on Rosh Hashanah, the destiny of the righteous is determined as their names are written in the Book of Life and the destiny of the wicked is determined as their names are written in the Book of Death. Most however, will not be written in either book, but have 10 days to repent before their fate is sealed on Yom Kippur. This is why before, during, and the days following Rosh Hashanah, people reflect on the past year and their actions. They right wrongs and seek forgiveness for the things that might have damaged their relationship with God.
Historical background: The origins of Rosh HaShanah are found in the Bible.The Book of Leviticus (23:24-25) declares: “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of rest, a memorial proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar, a holy convocation.” Although this day eventually became Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, it was not originally known as such.
In ancient times, there were four “new years” in the Jewish calendar. Each had a distinct significance:
The first of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the New Year of Kings, was the date used to calculate the number of years a given king had reigned.
The first of the Hebrew month of Elul was the new year for tithing of cattle, a time when one of every 10 cattle was marked and offered as a sacrifice to God.
The first of the Hebrew month of Tishrei was the agricultural new year, or the New Year of the Years.
The 15th of the Hebrew month of Sh’vat, known as Tu BiSh’vat, was the New Year of the Trees.
Although the Torah refers to Nisan as the first month of the Jewish year, the first day of the month of Tishreiemerged as what we now know as Rosh HaShanah.
The Babylonians, among whom the Jews lived, marked a “Day of Judgment” each year. They believed that, on that day, a convocation of their deities assembled in the temple of the god Marduk. These gods, they held, renewed the world and judged each human being, inscribing the fate of every individual on the tablet of destiny. The legend was a powerful one, and Jews most likely borrowed elements from it in shaping Rosh HaShanah. The meeting of many deities evolved into a belief that the one God judged every Jew on that day, immediately inscribing the completely righteous in the Book of Life and consigning the completely wicked to a sad fate. Those “in between,” however, had ten days, concluding on Yom Kippur, in which to repent before the Book of Life was sealed for the New Year.
In addition to the biblical “holy convocation” and the transformed Babylonian “Day of Judgment,” the first of Tishrei also was associated with the anniversary of the creation of the world, Yom Harat Olam. For these three compelling reasons, the first day of the seventh month ultimately became the “official” Jewish New Year.
It was not until about the second century C.E. that the holiday acquired the name Rosh HaShanah, which first appeared in the Mishnah [glossary?]. Before then, however, the day had many other designations. The oldest name, found in the Torah (Numbers 29:1) is Yom T’ruah (Day of Sounding the Shofar). Two other names, undoubtedly reflecting Babylonian influence, were Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom HaDin (Day of Judgment). While those terms are still preserved in the liturgy and rabbinic literature, Jews all over the world today usually refer to Rosh HaShanah as the Jewish New Year.
Biblical basis:
The first of the Hebrew month of Elul was the new year for tithing of cattle, a time when one of every 10 cattle was marked and offered as a sacrifice to God.
The first of the Hebrew month of Tishrei was the agricultural new year, or the New Year of the Years.
The 15th of the Hebrew month of Sh’vat, known as Tu BiSh’vat, was the New Year of the Trees.
Although the Torah refers to Nisan as the first month of the Jewish year, the first day of the month of Tishreiemerged as what we now know as Rosh HaShanah.
The Babylonians, among whom the Jews lived, marked a “Day of Judgment” each year. They believed that, on that day, a convocation of their deities assembled in the temple of the god Marduk. These gods, they held, renewed the world and judged each human being, inscribing the fate of every individual on the tablet of destiny. The legend was a powerful one, and Jews most likely borrowed elements from it in shaping Rosh HaShanah. The meeting of many deities evolved into a belief that the one God judged every Jew on that day, immediately inscribing the completely righteous in the Book of Life and consigning the completely wicked to a sad fate. Those “in between,” however, had ten days, concluding on Yom Kippur, in which to repent before the Book of Life was sealed for the New Year.
In addition to the biblical “holy convocation” and the transformed Babylonian “Day of Judgment,” the first of Tishrei also was associated with the anniversary of the creation of the world, Yom Harat Olam. For these three compelling reasons, the first day of the seventh month ultimately became the “official” Jewish New Year.
It was not until about the second century C.E. that the holiday acquired the name Rosh HaShanah, which first appeared in the Mishnah [glossary?]. Before then, however, the day had many other designations. The oldest name, found in the Torah (Numbers 29:1) is Yom T’ruah (Day of Sounding the Shofar). Two other names, undoubtedly reflecting Babylonian influence, were Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom HaDin (Day of Judgment). While those terms are still preserved in the liturgy and rabbinic literature, Jews all over the world today usually refer to Rosh HaShanah as the Jewish New Year.
Biblical basis:
Leviticus 23:23-25
The Feast of Trumpets
23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.”
Numbers 29:1-6
Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets
29 “On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets, 2 and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; 3 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah[a] for the bull, two tenths for the ram, 4 and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; 5 with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its grain offering, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offering, according to the rule for them, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.
The Feast of Trumpets
23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.”
Numbers 29:1-6
Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets
29 “On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets, 2 and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; 3 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah[a] for the bull, two tenths for the ram, 4 and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; 5 with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its grain offering, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offering, according to the rule for them, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.
Micah 7:18-20
God's Steadfast Love and Compassion
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
19 He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from the days of old.
Psalm 130
My Soul Waits for the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
God's Steadfast Love and Compassion
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
19 He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from the days of old.
Psalm 130
My Soul Waits for the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
Psalm 118:5-9
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Jesus and Rosh Hashanah:
There are many things a Christian can learn and gain from the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah. It is true that because Jesus is seen as the King, Creator, and Redeemer of all, Christians should celebrate this all of the time, not just on a specified holiday. However, Rosh Hashanah is a sanctified reminder of God's creative authority in our lives and our commitment to make our lives holy and pleasing to Him. The celebration reminds us to always be ready for the appearance of Jesus. Since we do not know when He will return, we are commanded to watch and be ready for it.We should therefore be in a constant state of repentance as we seek to humble ourselves to walk with God. Rosh Hashanah is a great way to focus in on the areas of our life that need humbling. Jesus' first message was repent and believe in the Gospel. We are called to remember and practice the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the days of awe can be a beautiful time focused on examination of conscience and realigning our priorities and actions to closer follow God's will for our life.
Ways to Celebrate:
-Craft ideas for kids and youth:
**Make an apple banner to emphasize the sweetness of the Holiday
**Send out homemade New Years cards to friends and family
**Make caramel apples to enjoy for dessert during your holiday meal! Be sure to add some honey in there!
-Fun family ideas:
**Eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
Psalm 118:5-9
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Jesus and Rosh Hashanah:
There are many things a Christian can learn and gain from the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah. It is true that because Jesus is seen as the King, Creator, and Redeemer of all, Christians should celebrate this all of the time, not just on a specified holiday. However, Rosh Hashanah is a sanctified reminder of God's creative authority in our lives and our commitment to make our lives holy and pleasing to Him. The celebration reminds us to always be ready for the appearance of Jesus. Since we do not know when He will return, we are commanded to watch and be ready for it.We should therefore be in a constant state of repentance as we seek to humble ourselves to walk with God. Rosh Hashanah is a great way to focus in on the areas of our life that need humbling. Jesus' first message was repent and believe in the Gospel. We are called to remember and practice the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the days of awe can be a beautiful time focused on examination of conscience and realigning our priorities and actions to closer follow God's will for our life.
-Craft ideas for kids and youth:
**Make an apple banner to emphasize the sweetness of the Holiday
**Send out homemade New Years cards to friends and family
-Fun family ideas:
**Eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year
**Eating round challah rolls sweetened with raisins are shaped like crowns to symbolize the kingship of God and as a reminder of the crown of righteousness that comes to those who obey the Lord.
**Many people wear white to symbolize God turning our scarlet sins to white and beginning fresh and pure.
-Religious traditions:
**The family can participate in a cermony called Tashlikh ("casting off"). Families walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and cast off bread crumbs, symbolically casting off our sins. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. Tashlikh is normally observed on the afternoon of the first day.
**The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance.
-Religious traditions:
**The family can participate in a cermony called Tashlikh ("casting off"). Families walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and cast off bread crumbs, symbolically casting off our sins. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. Tashlikh is normally observed on the afternoon of the first day.
**The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance.
**Follow the link for the appropriate prayers to say on Rosh Hashanah
**Familes can use the days of awe to practice an examination of conscience and focus on a different area each day...the final day could be spent going to confession or adoration to ask for forgiveness.
FIRST COMMANDMENT
"I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me." (Ex 20:2,3)
- Did I doubt or deny that God exists?
- Did I refuse to believe what God has revealed to us?
- Did I believe in fortune telling, horoscopes, dreams, the occult, good-luck charms, tarot cards, palmistry, Ouija boards, seances, reincarnation?
- Did I deny that I was Catholic?
- Did I leave the Catholic Faith?
- Did I give time to God each day in prayer?
- Did I love God with my whole heart?
- Did I despair of or presume on God's mercy?
- Did I have false gods in my life that I gave greater attention to than God, like money, profession, drugs, TV, fame, pleasure, property, etc.?
SECOND COMMANDMENT
"You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain." (Ex 20:7)
- Did I blaspheme or insult God?
- Did I take God's name carelessly or uselessly?
- Did I curse, or break an oath or vow?
- Did I get angry with God?
THIRD COMMANDMENT
"Remember that you keep holy the Sabbath Day." (Ex 20:8)
- Did I miss Mass Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation through my own fault?
- Did I come to Mass on time? Leave early?
- Did I do work on Sunday that was not necessary?
- Did I set aside Sunday as a day of rest and a family day?
- Did I show reverence in the presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament?
FOURTH COMMANDMENT
"Honor your father and your mother." (Ex 20:12)
- Did I disobey or disrespect my parents or legitimate superiors?
- Did I neglect my duties to my husband, wife, children or parents?
- Did I neglect to give good religious example to my family?
- Did I fail to actively take an interest in the religious education and formation of my children?
- Did I fail to educate myself on the true teachings of the Church?
- Did I give scandal by what I said or did, especially to the young?
- Did I cause anyone to leave the faith?
- Did I cause tension and fights in my family?
- Did I care for my aged and infirm relatives?
- Did I give a full day's work for a full day's pay?
- Did I give a fair wage to my employees?
FIFTH COMMANDMENT
"You shall not kill." (Ex 20:13)
- Did I kill or physically injure anyone?
- Did I have an abortion, or advise someone else to have an abortion? (One who procures an abortion is automatically excommunicated, as is anyone who is involved in an abortion, Canon 1398. The excommunication will be lifted in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.)
- Did I use or cause my spouse to use birth control pills (whether or not realizing that birth control pills do abort the fetus if and when conceived)?
- Did I attempt suicide?
- Did I take part in or approve of "mercy killing" (euthanasia)?
- Did I get angry, impatient, envious, unkind, proud, revengeful, jealous, hateful toward another, lazy?
- Did I give bad example by drug abuse, drinking alcohol to excess, fighting, quarreling?
- Did I abuse my children?
SIXTH COMMANDMENT
"You shall not commit adultery." (Ex 20:14) "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife." (Ex 20:17)
- Did I willfully entertain impure thoughts or desires?
- Did I use impure or suggestive words? Tell impure stories? Listen to them?
- Did I deliberately look at impure TV, videos, plays, pictures or movies? Or deliberately read impure materials?
- Did I commit impure acts by myself (masturbation)?
- Did I commit impure acts with another - fornication (premarital sex), adultery (sex with a married person)?
- Did I practice artificial birth control (by pills, device, withdrawal)?
- Did I marry or advise anyone to marry outside the Church?
- Did I avoid the occasions of impurity?
- Did I try to control my thoughts?
- Did I engage in homosexual activity?
- Did I respect all members of the opposite sex, or have I thought of other people as objects?
- Did I or my spouse have sterilization done?
- Did I abuse my marriage rights?
SEVENTH & TENTH COMMANDMENTS
"You shall not steal." (Ex 20:15) "You shall not covet your neighbor's goods." (Ex 20:17)
- Did I steal, cheat, help or encourage others to steal or keep stolen goods? Have I made restitution for stolen goods?
- Did I fulfill my contracts; give or accept bribes; pay my bills; rashly gamble or speculate; deprive my family of the necessities of life?
- Did I waste time at work, school or at home?
- Did I envy other people's families or possessions?
- Did I make material possessions the purpose of my life?
EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Ex 20:16)
- Did I lie?
- Did I deliberately deceive others, or injure others by lies?
- Did I commit perjury?
- Did I gossip or reveal others' faults or sins?
- Did I fail to keep secret what should be confidential?
How We Celebrated:
It was a little challenging to celebrate while on our honeymoon, but we did our best! On the night of Rosh Hashanah, we ate a beautiful meal which started with biscuits dipped in honey butter to usher in the sweetness of the new year. The restaurant was a farm to table, so the meal itself was very natural and cleansing and of the earth which we felt was appropriate. Aaron said the proper blessing over the bread and wine too! The following days we used the above guide for the examination of conscience and focused on one thing each day in preparation for the day of atonement ten days later. We will definitely have caramel apples present in future celebrations though!!
