Happy Rosh HaShanah 5772 – “L’Shanah Tovah”

Today is the first day the Jewish New Year, which began at sundown last night.  One of the important observances of Rosh HaShanah is the blowing of the shofar:

The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, “big tekiah”), the final blast in a set, which lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. Click the shofar above to hear an approximation of the sound of Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar’s sound is a call to repentance. The shofar is not blown if the holiday falls on Shabbat.

Rosh HaShanah is celebrated around the world by people of the Jewish faith.  For a more complete description of the meaning and customs of Rosh HaShanah, the first two of the ten Days of Awe, or High Holy Days,  leading up to Yom Kippur, see here  and  here.

Recognizing their roots in the Jewish faith, many Christians celebrate Rosh HaShanah also.  CBN will broadcast their annual Rosh HaShanah celebration tonight.

On behalf of the authors at the Sarah Palin Information Blog, I want to wish all of our Jewish friends and readers “L’shana tovah tikatev v’etahetem.”   We wish you all the blessings of this holiday season.  May your year ahead be good and sweet.