Jewish High Holidays

Catalina Wenk
World Religion 150
Dr. Clark
February 2, 2020
 The Jewish High Holidays happen in the month of Tishrei, which lands either in or
between September and October on the Hebrew calendar. The High Holidays start with Rosh
Ha-shana and end with Yom Kippur. It is said that during this time God takes special note of
your behaviors; writing you into the book of life on Rosh Ha-shana and sealing your fate in on
Yom Kippur. These holidays are about self reflection and becoming realigned with God and
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yourself.
Rosh Ha-shana, also dubbed “The Jewish New Year,” kicks off the High Holidays,
happening on the first day of the month of Tishrei. It’s a two day celebration consisting of
prayer, abstaining from work, and connection with friends and family. This holiday is all about
asking for forgiveness and making amendments either with people in your life or with God. It’s
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also a time to reflect on your own life and see how you could improve yourself. In the Torah
(Leviticus 23:24-25) it states that “In the seventh month on the first day of the month, you shall
observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts. You shall not work at
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your occupations; and you shall bring an offering by fire to the Lord.” Not only did God speak
this unto Moses, it’s also written in the Torah, the most sacred text in Judaism. The Jewish
people worship god as the creator of all humanity and the universe and hold him in high esteem
above all things. This is why these days are so holy. The loud blasts this passage is referring to is
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the sounding of the shofar that occurs at the end of the holiday.
A shofar is a ram’s horn that a Rabbi blows at a synagogue to signify the end of Rosh
Ha-shana. The blowing of the shofar is actually one of the 613 mitzvahs or laws in Judaism.
There are three different shofars that they blow, each with their own unique sound. The first
being called Tekiah, the second is Shevarim, and the third is Teruah. At the end of these two
days there’s a big feast. People usually try new fruits and foods at this time. One of the most
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notable rituals is eating apple slices dipped in honey to signify a sweet new year.
The second holiday is Yom Kippur or “The Day of Atonement”. Yom Kippur occurs on
the 10th day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar and lasts about 25 hours. This is the
day most Jews attend synagogue as it is considered the holiest day of the year. It is considered
the holiest day of the year because this is the day God is sealing your fate in the book of life, a
day of repentance and atonement. It’s also written in the Torah, in Leviticus 23:27. “Also on the
tenth day of this seventh month there shall be ​a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation
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unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.”
On the 10 days just before Yom Kippur also known as the 10 Days of Repentance;
similar to Rosh Ha-shana, you must repent, pray, and ask forgiveness from close friends, family,
and from God. Not only must you ask for forgiveness but you must also commit to changing
your ways. On the day of Yom Kippur you must also abstain from food and drink, work, sex,
wearing make-up, wearing leather, and various other physical and non-physical activities; this is
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a day to relax and reflect. The day before the start of Yom Kippur Jews have a big feast and
prepare for the spiritual journey ahead. There’s a ritual of requesting and receiving honey cake
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for a sweet new year. Jews also bless their children and are extra charitable during this time.
A typical start to a Yom Kippur synagogue service would be with a song entitled “Kol
Nidre” which is all about owning up to the fact that you aren’t perfect and how you’ve messed
up and missed the mark in some aspects of your life. During the service people chant confessions
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or “Vidui,” to own up to what they’ve done publically or to themselves.
After these confessions there’s a memorial service called “Yizkor” or “May God
remember.” This is to remember your ancestors, even people who have passed recently. The
Jewish people believe that doing this can help them in finding personal atonement.
Yizkor consists of chanting and reading prayers along with reading certain passages
relating to the type of person being mourned. For example there’s a certain passage to mourn the
loss of a mother and another for a brother etc. Each person reads the appropriate passage
together. After this there’s another prayer that’s chanted entitled El Male Rahamim or “God of
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Compassion” this is a prayer usually chanted at Jewish funerals.
The final service on Yom Kippur known as Neilah or “locking of the gates” is to signify
your soul finally being sealed into the book of life. Once Neilah is finished a Rabbi sounds a
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shofar to signify that Yom Kippur is officially over. After this people can now break the fast.
Although they haven’t eaten food in a little over 25 hours, most Jews eat a light brunch-style
meal consisting of bagels, eggs, cheese, and spreads. For others the meal might resemble a
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dinner rather than brunch, with meats and salad type dishes.
 Overall the Jewish High Holidays are a time for reflection. It’s to realign yourself with
God and start a new year off with a clean slate. The Jewish people hold God in the highest
esteem and it is important for them to find themselves again and connect with God deeper and
deeper every year these holidays are held. After these holidays you can expect to feel refreshed
and ready to take on any new goals and feel as though you’re a better person. After all that’s
what the High Holidays are all about.

Citations
1. BimBam, Rabbi Mark Melamut, “What is Rosh Hashana? The Jewish New Year,” Sarah
Lefton, September 1, 2017, 4:18. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AuMXq5sHDw
2. Ibid
3. Lev 23:24-25 (King James Ver.)
4. BimBam, “What is Rosh Hashana? The Jewish New Year,” Sarah Lefton, September 1,
2017, 4:18. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AuMXq5sHDw
5. Ibid
6. Lev 23:27 (King James Ver.)
7. BimBam, Rabbi Mark Melamut, “What is Yom Kippur, The Jewish Holiday?,” Sarah
Lefton, September 12, 2017, 3:39. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqBzg8wCUg
8. “What is Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement?,” Chabad, Accessed February 3, 2020.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-Is-Yom-Kippur.htm
9. BimBam, Rabbi Mark Melamut, “What is Yom Kippur, The Jewish Holiday?,” Sarah
Lefton, September 12, 2017, 3:39. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqBzg8wCUg
10. Dr. Ron Wolfson, “Yizkor: The Jewish Memorial Service,” My Jewish Learning,
Accessed February 3, 2020.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yizkor-the-memorial-service/
11. BimBam, Rabbi Mark Melamut, “What is Yom Kippur, The Jewish Holiday?,” Sarah
Lefton, September 12, 2017, 3:39. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqBzg8wCUg
12. Giora Shimoni, “A Classic Yom Kippur Breakfast Menu,” The Spruce Eats, Updated
August 9, 2019. ​https://www.thespruceeats.com/yom-kippur-break-fast-menu-2122523