Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

The ten day period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance in the Jewish faith.

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, two of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar are celebrated in September this year.  Rosh Hashana means first of the year; commonly known as the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashana is celebrated this year from sundown on September 6th to sundown on September 8th.  During this time the books of Life and Death are opened; waiting for names to be inscribed for the coming year. God writes our names in the books, who will live or die, who will have a good year or a bad year. The final decision of which book your name will be placed in does not occur until Yom Kippur; giving one ten days to change the accounting of your future.  Essentially, for the ten day period your fate hangs in the balance between the two books.  During the ten day period, one should engage in introspection as to how to live a better life.  The customary greeting for this period is L'Shana Tova meaning for a good year.

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement; the most important holiday of the Jewish faith. This is the day to atone for the sins of the past year.  Yom Kippur takes place on September 15th from sundown to sundown on September 16th.  During Yom Kippur, one asks for forgiveness and apologizes to those wronged by word or deed.

For more information on these holiday, see www.aish.com, a Jewish website.