ROSH HASHANA

Rosh Hashana is the day of Judgement. In many ways we should be serious and sober on Rosh Hashana and joyous on Yom Kippur. Because if we take the day of Judgement seriously and take advantage of the 10 days of Repentance then we can be confident that we will be sealed in the Books of Blessings come Yom Kippur. Therefore a key component of Rosh Hashana preparation is to ask for forgiveness from anyone one may have wronged during the previous year. To whatever extent possible, we want to begin the year with a clean slate -- and without anyone harbouring a grudge against us. One should also be quick to forgive those who have wronged him. When we practice forgiveness against others, we make it easier for Hashem to practice forgiveness upon us. The obligations to honour and enjoy Rosh Hashana are fulfilled by preparations like getting haircuts, special (new) clothing and cleaning the house. A husband must buy new clothing or jewellery for his wife. Treats are given to the children. Foods representing joy and blessing are eaten at the night meals, and prayers are recited for a good year using puns based on the names and nature of the foods (simanim) – apples with honey, carrots, pomegranate etc. (See Artscroll Siddur pg. 768).

We should strive to invite guests over Yom Tov. Maimonides says: "One who celebrates but closes his door to the less fortunate is engaged in joy of the stomach and not joy of a mitzvah." Be extra careful how you behave on Yom Tov. There is a kabbilistic idea that how you behave and what you do on Rosh Hashana will happen to you all year long.

After the destruction of the First Temple 2,500 years ago, the majority of the Jewish people were exiled to Babylon. The conqueror, Nebuchadnezzar, eventually eased some of his harsh restrictions and allowed some Jews to remain in the Land of Israel. He even appointed a righteous Jew named Gedalia to administrate the territory. Gradually, more Jews who'd escaped from the horrors of the war into neighbouring countries began to return to their homes in Israel.

Gedalia was realistic about the limitations of Jewish sovereignty. But this political subservience was intolerable to some Jews. A man named Yishmael ben Netaniah, spurred on by jealousy and foreign influence, arose and ignored the King of Babylon. On the third of Tishrei, Yishmael treacherously killed Gedalia as well as many other Jews. Thus ended Jewish self-rule in Israel for the first time since Joshua led the children of Israel in from the desert.