Shanah Tovah!

Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends and family who are breaking their fast this evening on the 26th of September 2012. Known as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Rosh Hashanah (New Year) precedes Yom Kippur which is described as "the day of judgment", a day of atonement and repentance. Traditionally one observes this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting, prayer, and self reflection. According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, and on Yom Kippur your fate is "sealed". During the Days of Awe, a Jewish person tries to amend his or her behavior, seeking forgiveness for wrongs done against God (bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (bein adam lechavero). Yom Kippur is a day of public and private petitions and confessions of guilt and hopefully one gets forgiven by God. Good luck everyone! and to those who offended me I hope you come to atone for your deeds as I hope to have done the same.

Rosh Hashanah meals are meatless (after a day of fasting wouldn't you eat almost anything?) and usually there are apples and honey to symbolize a sweet new year. Other foods with symbolic meaning may be served along with pomegranates, challah bread, dates, and whole fish (the head of the fish symbolizing the "head" of the year). So as mentioned, I am in this crafting mode! and will bring this little platter of apples to dinner this evening at sundown.

Life is Good. May your new year be filled with good luck, good health and happy spirits.