The Customs of Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah falls on the first of Tishri, a Jewish month which falls
in September. It is regarded as a high holy day, on which all normal
activity ceases. Even those Jews who are not particularly observant
will make an effort to attend the synagogue. It is known as Yomim
Norain, or day of awe.
It is a day on which one should show humility to God and acknowledge
that whatever our intentions may be we will descend into sin. On this
day one should become particularly aware of sin, as it is a day for
reflection. It is not intended to be a negative activity, but to
induce positive behavior, as it is very brave to face up to weaknesses
and mistakes
.
Rosh Hashanah is a one-day festival, and is called the New Year
festival. The word Rosh means 'head', and Hashanah means 'year', with
the implication that it is the start of a new year. It is also
referred to as Yom Teruah, the day of the blowing of the horn, or
shofar. Another name for it is Yom Haldim, or Day of Judgement. It
comes from the book of Leviticus, part of the Tenakh-
'In the seventh month, keep the first day as a solemn rest, a memorial
proclaimed with the blasts of horns.'
Preparations for Rosh Hashanah begin in Elul, the month prior to
Tishri, as the customs are extended to Elul. The shofar is sounded in
services, and special prayers called Selicoth, or pardon, are recited.
People go and visit the graces of deceased relatives. It is also the
best time for Tzedakah, or charity. During Elul, all disputes must be
settled.
Rosh Hashanah begins in the evening, as this is the start of the
Jewish day. They have a festive meal, ...
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...stakes. Yom Kippur helps Jews to learn from their past actions, and
show their humility to God. Though it is a solemn day for Jews, they
do not see it as something negative, because they are repenting for
their sins, and trying to erase them. By confessing, and repenting,
the guilt that they may feel for their wrong actions can be erased,
and their conscience cleared.
However, spending a whole day thinking about everything you have done
wrong over a period of a year can be a very daunting idea. It could be
a very destructive action, if one does not go about it in the right
way. Jews see Yom Kippur as something positive, as it is a learning
experience, but if it is not seen as something good, no good can come
of it. If it is carried out with the right attitude and outlook, it
can be a very healthy helpful thing to do.
Human needs are similar- health, physical appearance, human body and economic resources to meet these needs. Nacirema culture bears some semblance to more civilized culture. While reading this article it seems most of the practices are similar with modern culture. A major difference is the magic, ritual and the crude method of doing things. One of the cultural practices that stood out for me is the “holy-mouth-men” ritual, which seems like what a dentist will do. I also find interesting the diagnostic ability of the diviner.
Jewish Historical Origin/ Time of Year The Jewish religious tradition of Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birthday of the world and a time of divine judgment. It is then followed by another holiday, called Yom Kippur, ten days later. These two traditions are called the High Holidays. Rosh Hashanah encapsulates four major and interconnected themes, which are: The Jewish New Year, The Day of Shofar Blowing, The Day of Remembrance, and The Day of Judgment (Layton, 2014).
Matthew Braddy 03/10/14 Rabbi Greenburg Holiday Paper. The "Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" Of all the Jewish holidays, the most sanctified is the time of the Jewish New Year. This is a very solemn and enlightening celebration. The celebration of Rosh Hashanah is a time where an appreciation for the creation of the universe, creatures, and even humanity is reflected upon.
The purpose of this research paper will be to examine how Judaism rituals have helped the religion remained amongst the most prominent in the world. The use of tradition and rituals has been at the very core of its existence. Birth, adolescent, marriage and death rituals will be used to highlight how the Judaism way of life is not dependent on the written word but rather the actions of those who follow this historic Hebrew religion. The paper will begin with a brief outline of Judaism and its relationship with God and then continue with how the written word of the Torah has laid the basis for the many traditions still practiced in Judaism.
historical data as being too easily flawed. It is the very nature of reminiscence that it is
At a surface level the native people of Nacirema are foreign, barbarous, and outlandish. Scenes of cosmetic torture and life-threatening practices instill a sense of recitation and awe in readers of Western values. This is exactly what author, Horace Miner, intended in his essay, Body Ritual Among the Nacirema. His critique of Western culture, specifically the United States, is apparent in several aspects beyond the one-layer deep reverse-spelling of “American”, Nacirema. Miner opens the door for discourse on Eurocentrism by his critiques via extended metaphors of physical vanity, medical obsession, and fixated materialism.¬¬¬
Thanksgiving is the start to the holiday season. It is also the start to the holiday travel season. Sadly, the travel often aligns with some of the country's worst weather, biggest crowds, stressed out travelers, and high flight prices from airlines hoping to take advantage of needy patrons. While there is not a lot you can do about the weather or crowds, you can avoid being one of those stressed travelers by planning your trip in advance and taking advantage of a few price saving measures.
When the great holiday of Thanksgiving comes to mind, most people think of becoming total gluttons and gorging themselves with a seemingly unending amount of food. Others might think of the time spent with family and friends. The whole basis of the holiday is family togetherness, fellowship, and thankfulness for blessings received during the previous year.
“Rituals and Traditions; It Takes a Tribe,” written by David Berreby and “Indians: Textualism, Morality, and the Problem of History” written by Jane Tompkins, both exemplify a typical controversial topic in the United States of America today. The US prides there self on the basis of freedom, and how Americans are made up of individuals with backgrounds from all around the world. Many consider the US to be a “melting pot”, a society where cultures are just blended together and not recognized fully on their own, where as others consider the US to be a “salad bowl”, where people of international cultures hold fast to their traditions and practices and coexist with the cultures around them. Both authors of the readings propose that generally speaking,
Hanson, J. R. (n.d.). Fraud or confusion? RDH Magazine, 19(4). Retrieved 3 15, 2014, from http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-19/issue-4/feature/fraud-or-confusion.html
Hinduism is easily the oldest major world religion that is still in use today. It has not only survived countless attacks but has also thrived and has changed little to none in the last 2500-3000 years. "The Aryans are said to have entered India through the fabled Khyber Pass, around 1500 BC. They intermingled with the local populace, and assimilated themselves into the social framework. The Aryans did not have a script, but they developed a rich tradition. They composed the hymns of the four vedas, the great philosophic poems that are at the heart of Hindu thought" (The Aryans and the Vedic Age, 2004, par. 2).
Maya were broad headed and as soon as a baby was born, squeezing it gently between two boards flattened its head. This gave them a noble air and their heads were then better adapted to carry loads. The Maya were also cross-eyed. This was regarded as a special mark of beauty and distinction. Mothers would hang a ball in front of their children so that they would focus on it and therefore develop cross-eyes.
There are traditions and or rituals that we participate in year after year, even though we have forgotten what the meaning is or where it has come from. Every one of us has experienced some type of ritual or tradition in some form or fashion. Wedding and marriage rituals and traditions also fall true to this. There are different cultures that celebrate in different ways all over the world. There is a tradition for Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and South America, North America and even Caribbean traditions and Oceania traditions. I suppose there is a tradition or ritual for every corner of our world and for every tribe. I have even seen weddings for animals. Everyone seems to be getting into a ceremony! Within all of these different ceremonies, traditions and rituals have changed over the years. To go back hundreds of years ago, some couples did not even know each other when they were to be married, or paired up by the tribes or royal parents to choose the couple that would best suite the family. Just imagine not even meeting the one that you are supposed to marry and spend the rest of your life with until the day of the ceremony. These traditions were kept sacred and carried out just because that is the way that it has always been done. Most wedding ceremonies would consist of the same rituals and traditions that would be carried on down from generations. Most people doesn’t even know what most of the traditions mean. Unfortunately with time, and more modern ways, these rituals are being changed.
Most people in the world derive their religious beliefs and traditions from their parents and peer influences. From a religious point of view, “There are many definitions for the term ‘religion’ in common usage. [Broadly defined], in order to include the greatest number of belief systems: ‘Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, and a philosophy of life’” (Robinson, 1996). However, in examining Hinduism, it is difficult to label the practices as a religion. This paper will expound upon the Hindu traditions, taking into account the characteristics of sacred elements, their meaning, and significance.
Easter is a religious holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion about 2,000 years ago. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and the gathering of family. In many churches Easter comes after a season of prayer, abstinence, and fasting called Lent. This is observed in memory of the 40 days' fast of Christ in the desert. In Eastern Orthodox churches Lent is 50 days. In Western Christen religions Lent is observed for six weeks and four days.