Shana Tova!
Well the time has finally arrived to put on our fanciest clothes (which in Israel means clean crocs and a fancy top), bake our favorite sweet apple recipes, break out the nice china, and spend 2 full days in Synagogue. That's right, it's Rosh Hashanah!
If you think preparing for the Hagim (Holy Days) in America is cool, try doing it in Jerusalem! Think of it in terms of Christmas in the wintery states in America. About 2 months before the holiday the santas and decorations start appearing, people start saying merry christmas in their cheeriest voices, the music appears on the radio, and then boom. It's Christmas. I wrote a post at the beginning of the month of Elul and said that Rosh Chodesh Elul (the first day of Elul) begins the month long preparations for the High Holy Days. We heard the Shofar blown every morning, we went to Selichot services, and people started wishing each other a Shana Tova (a good year) on the streets. In certain places in America, we are lucky if someone on the streets even knows what Rosh Hashanah is. In Jerusalem, it's a standard greeting at grocery stores, the gas station, even to a stranger on the bus. It is hard to ignore the Rosh Hashanah spirit!
This year, Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat which makes it extra fun becase we get to add in some of the special Shabbat prayers, but also less fun because we do not hear the Shofar on the first day because it is against Jewish Law to sound the shofar (a musical instrument) on Shabbat. I took a little walk up my street Emek Refaim to see what kind of last minute preparations were going on. The grocery stores were all busting with people who had forgotten a jar of honey, or a bottle of wine, or whatever they were cooking for this festive meal. outside the stores are tables set up by people selling gift baskets filled with apples, honey, wine, and other sweet things- all of the baskets adored with labels wishing people a "shana tova" or "chag sameach". All of the boutique Judaica stores had tables outside selling pomegranante candlesticks and honey jars. Even in our own building I can smell the various meals being prepared- briscuit, kugel, cholent, baked apples and honey.
Jerusalem during Rosh Hashanah is a wonderful place to experience. I'm sure I will have plenty more to say after 2 days of services and quiet streets. But for now, I am wishing you all a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year!
A Sign outside a popular restaurant called "Little Italy"
a box of chocolates with a "Shana Tova" greeting on the box!
A Sign in the window of a clothing store that says "Chag Sameach" meaning Happy Holy Day
a poster on the side of a building that says "shana tova"
In my family we always joke that while we are eating one meal, we are already planning the next. Well in Israel, the same goes for Holy Days. Before Celebrating Rosh Hashanah, people are already looking towards Sukkot. This sign just cracked me up.
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