This year (2009), Sept. 19, begins the Jewish New Year. Other years we had not fallen in this religious event, but this year that the coincidence or causality, we are interested in this celebration of the Hebrew calendar. And take this excuse to try to summarize in this article some data that we found interesting because of its symbolism and meaning. In advance we apologize to those experts and followers of Judaism if we make an error or omission, we are not specialists in Jewish culture rather than try to approach these holidays with the utmost respect. That said, let the topic ... .. 1. INTRODUCTION
Tishrei (in Hebrew: תִּשְׁרֵי; tašrītu Akkadian language "beginning" of šurrû "Start"). is the name given to the first month of modern Hebrew, and commemorates the creation of the world, the creation of Adam. A month Tisrei also defined as "the moon Eitanim (ירח האיתנים, Jerah haEitanim literally " strong month "). Tisrei always have a duration of 30 days and always start on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Is defined with the new moon this year is Sept. 18 and provided near the autumn equinox, during the singo Libra zodiac.
2. Rosh Hashanah AND teshuvah.
The first two days of Tisrei (which in 2009 under 19 and September 20), we celebrate the holiday of Rosh Hashana or Jewish new year. This festival lasts for two days, opening a period that will last ten days until the celebration of the feast of Yom Kippur or Yom Kippur. Both festivals are called Yamim Noraim or holy days. And the period of ten days there are between one and another, Teshuva or days of repentance. Although during the previous month Tisrei / month, month of Elul , devotees have been preparing for his trial inside.
The festival celebrates Rosh Hashana the world's creation and Adam, the first man, the Genesis. Its spiritual significance lies in the beginning of those ten days of repentance called Teshuva . Days that define or indicate the Jewish people, a time for introspection, for self-analysis and personal questioning, leading to the fulfillment of one of the most important duties for the Jew, reflect on their past actions, asking God force to correct their mistakes in the future, pray for the will and clarity sufficient to persevere the right path.
3. CLARIFYING THE REPENTANCE.
As we have seen dear reader, the spiritual pillar to start putting Party Rosh Hashana and ten days of Teshuva , is repentance. But what can we understand repentance?.
first thing we do, it would look in the dictionary, and the Royal Academy of the English language gives these definitions:
repent.
(Del lat. Re, intens. And poenitēre).
1. prnl. Such a person : Feeling regret having done or have not done anything.
2. prnl. Change your mind or may not be consistent with a compromise.
is clear that with this definition we can intuit, but can not understand the concept of repentance from a religious viewpoint or mystical.
So, looking at other sources we found a fragment of the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria (20 to 50 ac-dc) entitled: "There are two ways to mourn."
"There are two ways to mourn. One occurs in which crave and tend to things unfair and not reach: This form is vile. The other hand, occurs in those who repent and feel pain for his past failure and cry Woe to us, how time has hidden from us that we were suffering from disease of insanity, irrationality, injustice in our customs!. But this does not ensue if not stop, and perishes in the soul to atheism, pleasure-loving, King of Egypt (Ex 2, 23) and then immediately died and vice, he who sees God regrets of their own change . < Note: For body and Egyptian works, understand the pursuit of materialism and hedonism.
Well I think that meditating on this text we can understand the concept of repentance is sought within ten days of Teshuva . Unlike Philo clearly the man who regrets what he wants (the worldly) and do not get, and yet not cry for the wrongs committed by their sins, crimes and atheism (spiritual).
4. MORE DETAILS Rosh Hashanah.
In book "Judaism, a diverse" , see bibliography at the end, we found a description of the ritual of Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue:
"In the prayer of Rosh Hashana recalls three principles of faith the following prayers: "With
Maljuyot prayer to God is proclaimed King of the world and underlines its dominance over the universe.
-La Zichronot sentence refers to the ways of Divine Justice remembering that God knows everything that happened in the universe. It asks the Lord to remember his mercy in the trial.
Shofarot -ago memory of giving of the Torah at Sinai to the sound of the shofar and announces the days of Universal Redemption. "
The Shofar is a kind of trumpet made of ram's horn, goat , antelope or gazelle. The last part of the ritual called Shofarot, is what defines the name of the holiday of Rosh Hashana get in the Bible, there is known as Yom Teruah (Day sound of the Shofar) or Yom Teruah Zijrom ( Day I remember the sound of the Shofar ). The name recalls the obligation to blow the shofar during the liturgy for Yom Hadima, which is examining the events of last year to submit to God's judgment.
For Jewish Kabbalist Baal Shem Tov (1700-1769): "In the palace of the king there are many cameras and each requires a different key. There is a key, a tool, however, that can open all doors - - ax. The Shofar is an ax. When a person with passion breaks his heart before the Almighty, he can smash any doors in the palace of the King of kings. "
The way of sounding the shofar and its symbolism, is grounds for another article at another time, today we'll leave space here, however we invite you to see this video.
the contrary of what we might think, this feast is lived with joy for the Jewish people. Typically, white dress, eat and drink, live gay party with introspection, as the Jewish trust God's mercy and his mercy. Another interesting because of its symbolism, is the celebration of the feast of Rosh Hashana in the privacy of the home, and as the Jewish family celebrates the holiday with dinner. See description we found in the book "The taste of memories, food and Jewish tradition" , see bibliography:
Rosh Hashanah begins when the mother lights candles before sunset on the table ready to be served upon return the synagogue, so that symbolizes blessing and prosperity.
A tradition that is often overlooked is that this table should not be sour or bitter foods.
In the middle of the table will put the candlesticks, to light candles at the beginning of the family reunion. Beside the cup of Kiddush wine. Deserve a prominent place challahs (plural challah), round and sweet breads as we want to be our year.
Small containers with honey, where the apple pieces get wet they will have around. post a boiled fish head in a fountain near the head of the family, in memory of the biblical promise: "And God will put you head and not the tail if you obey the commandments of the Lord thy God" (Deuteronomy , 28.12)
5. JONAS AND THE YOM KIPPUR (Day of Atonement).
Everything we do must be motivated and better motivation for repentance forgiveness. We can not understand regret without forgiveness, and forgiveness without repentance before. As we discussed the Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement is the last day of Teshuva or days of repentance, ten days after Rosh Hashana . It is customary in the synagogue during evening prayer read a text book Prophet Jonah (Jonah Sefer).
In "Book of Jonas" see how God sent Jonah to preach to Nineveh to repent of his faults and sins. Jonah disobeys and embarks on a ship to escape from the mission entrusted to him, but God sent a storm and the sailors of the ship, discovering that the origin of the storm is a divine punishment to save, throw Jonah into the sea. In the sea, Jonah is swallowed by a great fish for three days and three nights. Finally, sorry for disobeying Jonah inside the fish ora:
Prayer of Jonah
Summoned I the Lord in the midst of my affliction, and I've heard kind; I cried from the within the tomb and you've served my voice. I'd thrown into the abyss, the deep sea, and all the waters around me, I have passed on all your swirls and all your waves. And I said, I've thrown been out of sight of your eyes. How can I still contemplate your holy temple?. Cercáronme waters to the point of killing myself, I have been locked in the abyss, the algae have covered my head.
I came down to the roots of the mountains: the bars of the land locked me in there forever, but t u, O Lord my God! bring my life rather than corruption.
Amid the anguish that I suffered my heart turned to you O Lord, my prayer came to you in your holy temple. Those who needlessly indulge in the vain gods, leaving their mercy.
But I will offer you a sacrifice of praise songs, fulfill the vows I made. The Lord comes to health. The Lord ordered the fish and it vomited Jonah onto the shore.
Once on the beach, Jonah obeys and goes to Nineveh to preach
Jonah preached in Nineveh
And the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time saying Anda go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach in it what I tell you, it marched
Jonah went to Nineveh, according to the order the Lord. Nineveh was a very large city, which was three days away. He began to tour the city and walked through it one day crying and saying, Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.
Preaching is effective and the city of Nineveh repents and returns to be devoted to God. But Jonah is not in accordance with God's mercy, do not understand.
Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east of the city, and made him a booth, and sat under it in the shade, to see what would become the city:
And prepared
Lord God, a vine, which grew over Jonah, that might be a shade over his head, and deliver him from his discomfort, and Jonah was glad of the gourd.
But come the dawn of the next day God prepared a worm, which smote the gourd that it withered.
And it came to the sun, God prepared a vehement east wind and the sun beat on Jonah's head and he fainted, and wished for death, saying: It is better for me to die than to live.
God said to Jonah: "Whether you're angry about the vine? And he said: I am very angry, even unto death.
And the Lord said, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for which no work, and you made her grow, which came up in a night, and space for another night perished.
Did not I spare Nineveh, that great city with over one hundred and twenty thousand people who can not discern between their right hand and his left hand, and many animals?
Actually, there is no better text to celebrate the day of atonement Yom Kippur, after ten days of repentance Teshuva. With this history we understand the relationship between repentance and forgiveness. Jonah did not is more than an expression of ourselves. Jonah does not understand repentance, even including forgiveness and mercy. That is why the Jew lives this holiday with joy, knowing that their domestic trial, can obtain forgiveness.
6. CONCLUSION
All year is good time to repent and to forgive. But we hope, dear reader, that the thread of this article on the festival of Rosh Hashana , to inspire the importance it has had and will in all religions, the fact of the man who courageously faces the interior and the trial repentance, in the hope of obtaining mercy and forgiveness. Seize, Jewish or not, to reflect on the good and evil did not we did. How wonderful it would be, not a world without evil people or making mistakes, but a world of people who regretted his actions and is able to rectify. As I said the VM Samael Aun Weor: "A thousand times the unworthy may call, and will not be heard because for unworthy all doors are closed but one of repentance." Helpful
Rosh Hashanah to all. Enrique
Grifola
BIBLIOGRAPHY: JUDAISM an
diverse / coordinators, Uriel Macias Kapon, Ricardo Izquierdo Benito .- Cuenca: Ediciones Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha 2005. ISBN 84-8427-354-7
TASTE OF MEMORIES Jewish Cuisine and Tradition. Author: Silvia M. of Ginerman. Editorira Trilce.
Philo of Alexandria, COMPLETE WORKS Vol.1. Editing directed by Jose Pablo Martin. Editorial Trot. ISBN :978-84-9879-022-1
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