Rosh Hashana or a bit of Judaism

Well this evening we will celebrate Rosh Hashana ("head of the year" or "beginning of the year" literally). In judaism the new day begins when the stars come out and not at midnight so this evening it will begin. The first month is in Hebrew calender is Tishrey (in Arabic Tishrin is the gregorian month that happens around Tishrey) and the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Aleph (yes the same aleph from Borges's short story and the same aleph from infinte sets in math, since Cantor was a fan) so the date is Aleph Tishrey

the month of Tishrey is filled with holidays. Rosh Hashana starts a period of 10 days in which people are supposed to abandon their sins and beg forgiveness from god and their friends. on the tenth day it's Yom Kipur which is a 25 hour fast where you pray a lot and according to tradition in that day god decides your destiny for the year to come.

5 days after Yom Kipur there is a 7 day holiday called Sukut in which you are supposed to lodge in a temporary home outside your house commemorating the 40 year journey of Israel from Egypt to Israel. people today though only build it and eat there but otherwise stay at home. one day afterwards is simxat tora (joy of the Torah) which is a celebration in honor of the Torah - the first part of our bible.

As for me I am going to go home tonight and stay there until Saturday eating and hopefully reading a lot

So I wish you all on the brink of a new year (the year 5768 according to our calender) that you have a Shana tova umetuka - i.e. a good and sweet year. and if you wish to practice some Jewish costumes you can:

a. eat apple with honey - to help make the year sweet
b. eat the head of fish - so we will lead and not follow
c. eat a pomegranate - so we will have as many good deeds as the pomegranate has seeds
d. wish your friends to be written in the book of life
e. wear white which is the color of purity
f. wear something new in honor of the new year

Happy new year guys!