Rosh HaShanah
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Not Just One Rosh Hashana
I am studying Jewish holy days and became interested in Rosh Hashana. Can you please give me the Biblical reference to the celebration of this New Year? I would also be interested in viewing a Jewish religious and civil calendar…
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The Timing of the Day of Judgment
Why is Rosh HaShanah before Yom Kippur if on Yom Kippur we repent for last year’s sins… shouldn’t we do it before the New Year starts? Thank you for your insightful question. I would take this question even further and…
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Rosh Hashana, the Day of Blowing
Why is Rosh Hashana considered the new year? The Torah only says that Rosh Hashana is a day to blow the horn. What is the background of the Rosh Hashana customs. You’re correct that the Torah itself does not call…
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Habit and Change
I’ve been doing something that I now realize is wrong, but I’ve been doing it so long that it’s become habitual. It’s an uphill battle. I’m working to improve my performance, but I often seem to fall back into my…
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Prayer and Repentance
Whenever I do something I know is wrong, I feel horrible the next day. I was wondering if there are any prayers I can say or anything that the Torah provides that can make you feel better? Is there anything…
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Miscellaneous, Rosh HaShanah, The Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath), The Chumash (Five Books of Moses)
Holiday for the Binding of Isaac
There is a Muslim holiday, called “The Feast of Sacrifice”. To my understanding it’s a celebration of Abraham’s devotion to G_d, about him being so devoted he’d sacrifice his own son. My question is, why don’t Jewish people celebrate this…
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Selichot
What are Selichot? Selichot are liturgical poems created especially for the High Holiday season and for the fast days on the Jewish calendar. They were written by medieval Rabbis to convey the spirit of seriousness that we should have at…
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Nuts on Rosh Hashana
What is the custom about not eating nuts on Rosh Hashana? Is it just Rosh Hashana? No Nuts until Yom Kippur because the Hebrew word for nut is “egoz”, which has the Gematria* of “chayt” – “sin”. This serves as…