Thursday, September 27, 2012

The High Holy Days Of Judaism

The country of Israel has been regarded as the chosen people of God of whom the first five books in the Holy Bible Old Testament are all about. During the time of Moses, the Israelites have notable experiences from the Lord, in particular during the time of the Egyptian slavery. The people of Israel, becoming the chosen persons of God had been in particular taken care by the Lord during their exile from Egypt on the Promised Land. The High Holy Days of Judaism are in commemoration and in celebration in the several significant events during the history with the men and women of Israel. In this paper, we will realize that these celebrations and feasts are deeply rooted in the spiritual experiences from the Chosen Folks of God.

THE SHABBAT
Shabbat is a Hebrew term which approaches “rest”. (T. Rich) In Judaism, Sabbath falls on Saturday. But the Sabbath starts at sundown of Friday simply because a day in Judaism is from sunset to sunset. It's noticed weekly by the Jews in remembrance on the creation with the world (Exodus 20:11) and their deliverance from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). “Sabbath also highlights their central religious belief that there's a single powerful creator God who cares for his people.” (Religiousfacts.com)

The Jews are prohibited to work of Sabbath. Based on the Talmud which was written by the rabbis have 39 established categories of jobs which include cooking, washing clothes, constructing, repairing, writing, creating a fire, cutting and fishing. Leviticus 23:3 states, “…ye shall do no work therein” and on Leviticus 23:7, the Jews have been commanded as: “…ye shall do no servile work therein.”

Jews welcome the Sabbath at the sunset of Friday. Ahead of sundown, the woman of every household light at least two candles at the definite time according to the Hebrew calendar. Each house prepares a nice meal and each home is cleaned before the Sabbath day comes. Everyone is even bathed and dressed properly. Right after the candles have been lighted, each household recites this blessing: “Blessed are you, Eternal One our God, Ruling Presence of the Universe, whom creates us holy with mitzvoth and gives us the mitzvah of kindling the Sabbath lights.” The foods prepared during Sabbath is in accordance to the laws of Kosher. After the festive and tasty meal, families sing additional songs. The Sabbath Prayer Services are held in each synagogue on Friday night, that may be the primary prayer assistance for ones Conservative and Reform Jews. Over a other hand, Orthodox Jews held the Saturday morning services as the principal prayer service. Havdalah (separation) ceremony is held right after nightfall of Saturday to end the Sabbath. Blessings with the wine, smelling of fragrant spices, lighting a havdalah candle as well as the blessing with the havdalah are held during the ceremony which is held either within the synagogue or at each home.

THE PESACH OR THE PASSOVER
The Passover is seen by the Jews in remembrance of their deliverance within the hands of the Angels sent by God to kill all of the very first born males from the land of Egypt. Individuals who have marked their doorposts from the blood on the lamb had been spared within the Tenth Plague. It begins over a 15th of the month of Nisan and ends on the 22nd.

Work is prohibited over a very first a couple of as well as the last 2 days from the Passover. A minor fasting is done by all of the firstborn a day prior to the starting with the Passover (Fast in the Firstborn). During the days with the Passover, all leaven (chametz) is entirely removed from all of the houses being a symbol of removing the pride and arrogance in their souls. Leaven includes something created from wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt. For ones Ashkenazic Orthodox Jews, leaven includes rice, corn, peanuts and beans. No leaven is eaten during the Passover; instead the Matzah or Matzo, that's leavened bread, is eaten. All chametz found inside property during the formal inspection is getting burned.

The Jews share a ritual meal named the Seder during the first and second nights of the Passover. Seder, that's a Hebrew word for “order” consists from the rituals of hand washing, recited benedictions and explanations. The matzah, bitter herbs, crushed fruits and also the four cups of wine are symbolic foods included inside meal. Just before the meal, the youngest on the family is assigned to as the conventional four questions, the answers of that are recited by the sleep with the family members members. The answers are read in the book on the Hagaddah, a book that tells the story on the Exodus solely for ones purpose with the Passover.

THE YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)
Yom Kippur is the most solemn and the most critical with the Jewish holidays. It's celebrated over a 10th day of Tishri according to the Laws of Moses in Leviticus 23. It is day of intensive reflection, repentance and fasting, worship and self-denial. The Bible refers to it as the Shabbat Shabbaton or the “Sabbath of Sabbaths” exactly where there is strict compliance towards the no jobs rule. Jews entirely abstain from food, drinks (including water) and sex. Orthodox Jews do not wear leather shoes, do wash, no deodorant, lotions and perfumes.
A prayer in beautiful melody referred to as Kol Nidre is getting recited inside the eve of Yom Kippur. It's during this time that the Jews take into account essentially the most time to ask God for forgiveness only for sins committed against God. Sins committed against other men and women are forgiven by the offended ones. The Jews maintain that Yom Kippur only atones when one asks for forgiveness from his neighbor.

Much time with the Yom Kippur is consumed within the synagogues. Particular services are held day and evening wherever Orthodox Jews wear white, symbolizing the forgiveness of their sins as well as the purity during the eyes of God. Kittel (white robe utilized to bury the dead) are also worn by other Jews during the Yom Kippur. The confession of sins by the community is done during the Amida blessing to symbolize the Jews responsibility to each other relative to their sins. It is concluded the by a service referred to as Neilah, wherever the ark of the covenant remains open for about an hour as well as the Jews are asked to stand for your whole service. “Yom Kippur is concluded at nightfall with a single last long blast on the shofar.” (Judaism 101)

DAYS OF AWE (DAYS OF REPENTANCE)
Days of Awe happens in autumn devoted by the Jews for repentance, atonement of sin and introspection. It is observed 10 days in the beginning from the Rosh Hashanah towards end in the Yom Kippur. It is in today that the Jews feel that God decides on the fate of every individual for your following year. Jews greet one another with “L’ shanah tovah” (for a beneficial year) just before and during the Days of Awe. Jobs is normally permitted during nowadays except during the Sabbath that falls between the Rosh Hashanah and the Yom Kippur.

One need to have witnessed how the High Holy Days celebrated by the Jews are all relative to their celebration of their becoming the chosen persons of God. They all somehow commemorate that the Lord has guided them, provided for them and had blessed them all throughout their history. The said celebrations are important inside the sense that it shows how they extremely regard the presence with the Lord in their midst. Whilst there were slight changes during the modern day way of celebrating them, the essence from the Holy Days were carefully passed from generation to generation.
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