Rosh Hashanah

WHAT IS ROSH HASHANA?
Chabad.org

The festival of Rosh Hashanah—the name means “Head of the Year”—is observed for two days beginning on 1 Tishrei, the first day of the Jewish year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, and their first actions toward the realization of mankind’s role in G‑d’s world.

Rosh Hashanah thus emphasizes the special relationship between G‑d and humanity: our dependence upon G‑d as our creator and sustainer, and G‑d’s dependence upon us as the ones who make His presence known and felt in His world. Each year on Rosh Hashanah, “all inhabitants of the world pass before G‑d like a flock of sheep,” and it is decreed in the heavenly court “who shall live, and who shall die . . . who shall be impoverished, and who shall be enriched; who shall fall and who shall rise.” But this is also the day we proclaim G‑d King of the Universe. The Kabbalists teach that the continued existence of the universe is dependent upon the renewal of the divine desire for a world when we accept G‑d’s kingship each year on Rosh Hashanah.

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar, the ram’s horn, which also represents the trumpet blast of a people’s coronation of their king. The cry of the shofar is also a call to repentance, for Rosh Hashanah is also the anniversary of man’s first sin and his repentance thereof, and serves as the first of the “Ten Days of Repentance” which culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Another significance of theshofar is to recall the Binding of Isaac which also occurred on Rosh Hashanah, in which a ram took Isaac’s place as an offering to G‑d; we evokeAbraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son, and plead that the merit of his deed should stand by us as we pray for a year of life, health and prosperity. Altogether, we listen to one hundred shofar blasts over the course of the Rosh Hashanah services.

Additional Rosh Hashanah observances include: a) Eating a piece of apple dipped in honey, to symbolize our desire for a sweet year, and other special foods symbolic of the new year’s blessings. b) Blessing one another with the words “Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim,” “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” c) Tashlich, a special prayer said near a body of water (an ocean, river, pond, etc.), in evocation of the verse, “And You shall cast their sins into the depths of the sea.” And as with every major Jewish holiday, after candlelighting and prayers we recite kiddush and make a blessing on thechallah.


Please join us if you can this Wednesday 4 September at CBN's new chapel to celebrate Rosh Hashana.

You are invited to join us this Wednesday evening as CBN celebrates Rosh Hashanah. You can be a part of this live webcast event, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, featuring an incredible evening of worship and praise. Watch a Preview • Special greetings and teaching from Pat and Gordon Robertson • Musical guest Paul Wilbur • The Messiah Company and the Academie de Ballet Dancers • Shofarist Don Heist About Rosh Hashanah The name Rosh Hashanah means "beginning or head of the year." This celebration marks the beginning of the High Holy Days on the Jewish calendar. The Bible refers to Rosh Hashanah as the Feast of Trumpets, and it begins the Ten Days of Awe that conclude with Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement. This is a wonderful time to seek the Lord, repent for wrongdoing, and consecrate ourselves to God, thanking Him for His work in our lives. Find out more about Rosh Hashanah... Rosh Hashanah Celebration CBN/Regent Campus Chapel Wednesday, Sep. 4, 7:00 p.m. ET. Watch the Event Live at CBN.com

If you are not able to join us please watch last year's celebration below or watch live online and enjoy the experience.



Bill
"May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year" (Leshanah tovah tikateiv
veteichateim)


Rosh Hashanah Celebration: September 16, 2012
Rosh Hashanah Celebration from Sunday, September 16, 2012. The celebration featured Pat Robertson, Gordon Robertson and musical guest Paul Wilbur.