Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday that represents the beginning of a Jewish year. It takes place in either late September or early October and is unique in that it is actually two consecutive days.

The idea behind it is that God will decide who lives and who dies in the following year, and must atone for their sins so they will have a healthy year.  It is a time of self reflection for Jews. They examine themselves and try to right any wrongs they may have committed in the past year. They also strive to find how they can be better in the next year.

In a way, it is a time to atone for their sins and pray for forgiveness so they do not have to suffer the same fate as the sinners.  Rosh Hashanah is closely tied to Yom Kippur which takes place ten days after.  Both of the holidays are about repentance and making yourself right with God.

In my opinion, everybody should have a holiday similar to this one. It is a time when people can ask each other for forgiveness without having to feel funny about it.  Part of the holiday is about forgiving those who have done you wrong.  One of the rules is that a person must ask forgiveness for a wrongdoing three times if the first apology is not accepted, and apologies must be accepted and the situation mended unless the wrongdoing permanently harms someone. For example:

Situation 1: Person A steals a loaf of bread from person B. Person A asks for forgiveness, and person B accepts the apology, because a loaf of bread has very little meaning in the great scheme of things.  

Situation 2: Person A kills a member of person B’s family. Person A asks for forgiveness, it is then up person B to decide whether to accept the apology or not. However, if person B does not accept the apology, person A will ask twice more.

The purpose of this holiday is not just about ASKING for forgiveness, but also FORGIVING others of their wrong doings.  In Jewish faith, God is merciful, loving, and forgiving.  To forgive is to be closer to God.