| The ten day Jewish Festival of ROSH HASHANAH begins on September 16, 2004. The NEW YEAR for the Jewish Calender is the year 5765, from the Day of Creation. This is the date I also believe the Creation took place according to the readings from Genesis. The Rosh Hashanah Eve (Eruv Tavshilim) will begin at sundown on September 15. The ten days culminates with YOM KIPPUR (Yiskur) on September 25. The service of Yom Kippur Eve is at sundown on Sept. 24. Rosh Hashanah is Hebrew for "New Year". It marks one of the two most sacred holy days in the Jewish faith and ushers in Ten Days of Penitence when 'mankind passes in judgement before the heavenly throne." During this period, tradition holds, God looks into the hearts of men and examines not only their deeds but their motives as well. It is also the period when Jews sit in judgement over themselves, comparing their conduct during the past year with the hopes and resolutions they had cherished.. Among the variety of meanings which Jews assign to Rosh Hashanah is 'the birthday of the world' - the anniversary of CREATION (this I believe). And among the day's prayers is one looking to the day when 'all men shall come to serve Thee' - when mankind will be joined in universal brotherhood under the FATHERHOOD of GOD. (Let us pray this day comes SOON - Preacher). Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, the last of the Ten Days of Pentitence.It is marked by twenty-four hours of prayer and fasting: "For the sin which we have committed agianst Thee under stress or through choice; For the sin which we have committed against Thee in stubbornness or in error; For the sin which we have committed against Thee in the evil meditations of the heart; For the sin which we have committed against Thee by word of mouth; For the sin which we have committed against Thee by abuse of power;... For the sin which we have committed against Thee by exploiting and dealing treacherously with our neighbor... For all these sins, O God of forgiveness, bear with us, pardon, forgive us!" This is the PRAYER which runs through the entire service on YOM KIPPUR. To our JEWISH ASAKOREA members and buddies, we wish you and yours Mazel Tov...and pray for us sinners as well for the Greater of God the Creator and Redeemer, Amen and Amen. Rev. Charles "Preacher" Knappenberger, Chaplain, ASAKorea |