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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset this year Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012.  

The first day of Rosh Hashanah is Monday, Sept. 17, 2012.
Torah Reading for the first day:   Genesis 21:1-34; Numbers 29:1-6; Haftorah:  1 Samuel 1:1-2:10

Second day of Rosh Hashanah:   Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Torah Reading for the second day:   Genesis 22:1-24; Numbers 29:1-6; Haftorah: Jeremiah 31:1-20

Traditions:
Round Challah filled with raisins - for a sweet new year.  The round loaf symbolizes the cycle of the year and the cycle of life and also represents the passing year.

Eat Pomegranites:   "May our good deeds  this year be as many as the seeds of this fruit."

Buy a new knife!    On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we read that this is the day that the first circumcision was performed (on Isaac).   It is a reminder to return to G-d in repentance.  The first step of our sins being cut off.

On the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah, Abraham took a knife to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice.   The knife was used on the ram for the required blood sacrifice in place of Isaac - to remove the sins.

The ram is a metaphor for Messiah.  The word "Ram's Horn" -- "Yovel" is the same word for Jubilee.

So Isaac became the living sacrifice, an example of a holy life with the fire of Torah burning within.
By G-d providing the sacrifice of the ram caught in the tree, Isaac was set free ---Jubilee.

Thus, purchasing a new knife is a reminder to us to be a living sacrifice.


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