Shana Tova Umetukah

I have met many Jewish friends & colleagues during my years in New York {BYU did not exactly have a large Jewish population, nor did Spokane for that matter- although I do remember our neighbors having a Menorah in their window}. I have a deep respect for anyone who devoutly follows a religion or faith-based system, & it has been interesting to learn more about the Jewish faith over the last few years. I appreciate the fact that most of my Jewish friends are at home today, celebrating & worshipping with their families. I thought that this explanation of Rosh HaShanah was so beautiful. It sounds like a holiday I would like to recognize each year, in part. I suppose we are able to do someting similar every Sunday in church as we take the sacrament, but this sounds nice too.

Rosh HaShanah is the day on which G-d created Man, Adam, G-d’s final and most precious creation. Each Rosh HaShanah, the birthday of Mankind, we proclaim G-d as our one and true King. We then reaffirm our desire to serve him every moment of our lives.

Explanation of the holiday: Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri (the seventh month of the Jewish year, during which many important holidays occur). In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American's version: late night partying & a daytime football game.

There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year & the American one: Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the New Year.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. There is a special prayer book called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

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So- to all, Shana Tova Umetukah, a good and sweet year!