Every year, Christian and secular friends seem puzzled by aspects of the Jewish High Holy Day season, beginning with our New Year’s celebration, Rosh HaShannah, on September 13th this year. 

 

While joy and gratitude are certainly part of the tradition—we eat apple dipped in honey to emphasize prayers for a fresh, sweet year—the prevailing mood is solemn and serious (replaced introspective) rather than festive and giddy. The ten first days of the year focus on repentance – making up for shortcomings in the year just passed and trying to do better in the year ahead. The timing in early Fall is very significant: while days grow shorter, and dead leaves begin to fall, we are most conscious of our own mortality, and the need to draw closer to God without delay.

 

But there’s still an optimistic holiday spirit: even with the knowledge that winter and judgement are on the way, Jews, like Christians, know that God provides forgiveness, and offers rebirth with the spring season that inevitably follows.