Rosh Hashanah
Shana Tovah--Happy New Year! Challah bread --the round shape symbolizes the yearly cycle and the cycle of life. On the evening of October 2nd (when Rosh Hashanah started this year), we heard many shofars sounding from synagogues all over Jerusalem. The streets were almost empty. Everyone was at home or at a service celebrating. Special Scripture portions were read at the Rosh Hashanah service we attended: Genesis 21-23 , where it talks about Isaac's birth. Tradition states he was born on Rosh Hashanah. 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 , the birth of the prophet Samuel. Tradition also states he was born on Rosh Hashanah. Numbers 29:1-6 , where God gives the command that the "first day of the seventh month" shall be a "holy convocation" and a day of "blowing the trumpets". Jeremiah 31:1-19 , the Haftarah portion. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 , where it states that "the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, ...