Happy Rosh Hashanah!

We wish all Jewish members of our community a Happy Rosh Hashanah!

To our members that don’t know about Rosh Hashanah, it marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that ends with Yom Kippur, which is also known as the Day of Atonement.

Jewish tradition states that God judges all creatures during these 10 days, and decided which will live and which will die over the next year.

Those God allows to live have their names written in the Book of Life, while others are condemned to death. Those God is not certain about have the 10 days after Rosh Hashanah to repent their sins.

This means many Jewish people see this time of year as one for prayer, introspection and repentance.

Rosh Hashanah begins on the first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar – Tishrei – meaning the date varies each year. It almost always falls in September or October.

This year, Rosh Hashanah starts at sunset on Monday 6 September. Some Jewish people observe it for two days, and some for just one, meaning it either ends at sunset on Tuesday 7 or Wednesday 8 September, depending on your beliefs.

Shanah Tovah!