List: '10 Facts About Rosh Hashanah'

Today’s ‘List Friday’. In the Gregorian calendar, days begin at midnight. But in the Hebrew calendar they begin at sunset. Thus the Jewish New Year – 5771 – began at sunset on Wednesday 8 September [1]. The first day of the New Year, called Rosh HaShanah (ראש השנה, literally ‘head of the year’), is a Jewish festival [2]. It marks the start of what are called the High Holydays; and also the start of the Ten Days of Penitence which end with the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, which for Jews is the holiest day of the year). Today’s list, ‘10 Facts About Rosh HaShanah’, for some reason comes in two parts [3, 4]. These ‘10 Facts’ are a good introduction for anyone wanting to know about Rosh HaShanah, and a good refresher for others. Though I’m a secular Jew, the sound of the Shofar (ram’s horn) [5] never fails to stir me. And then there’s the food – especially apple and honey, and honey cake, to symbolise the hope of a sweet new year. As Fact 5 says, ‘When greeting one another, a common salutation is L’shanah tovah (which means ‘for a good year’)’. And so, dear Farmdoc’s Blog reader, whether you’re Jewish or not, I wish you L’shanah tovah.

farmdoc's blog post number 518

Yesterday was a pretty special day:

First, it was the first full day of the year 5770 according to the Hebrew calendar [1]. As I’m a secular Jew, it doesn’t mean overly much to me. Indeed little more than the start of another cycle of Jewish festivals. I’m grateful Sweetheart Vivienne saw fit to spend it with me here in Mole Creek, thus forsaking a family dinner in Melbourne. We spent it quietly here: doing farm chores, eating well (of course), working at our computers, and watching a DVD. Also discussing where we’re up to in our lives – and our life – leading on to talk of future plans. And naturally, to symbolise a fruitful and sweet year ahead, we partook of the traditional apple and honey (as they did too, over in the Land of Meg).

Yesterday was also Talk Like A Pirate Day 2009. Though I’ve never met a real live pirate (and I hope to never meet one), as I’ve written [2, 3], pirates are really important in my life. So I don’t doubt the significance of this wonderful day – 19 September – which is the birthday of the ex-wife of a founder of this auspicious international celebration. In a world that mostly takes itself too seriously, an occasional bit of harmless fun can do no harm.

So ahoy there, me mateys! Have a swashbuckling 5770. Or else I'll make you walk the plank. Aarrgghhh!