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Charlie shares the ways Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish Day of Atonement mark the Jewish new year for his family. It鈥檚 a time to be sorry, and make a fresh start. The dates of Jewish festivals come from the Hebrew Calendar. So instead of January, the Jewish New Year begins in autumn. There is a celebration called Rosh Hashanah. It鈥檚 important at new year to repent, turn from bad behaviour and set your course to good in the coming year. Celebrations include food: apples and honey, time spent in the synagogue, the blowing of the Shofar (it鈥檚 a ram鈥檚 horn, one of the world鈥檚 oldest known wind instruments).
The blowing of the Shofar starts a ten-day period known as the 'Days of Repentance.鈥� This ends with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. Many Jewish people fast for 25 hours and spend most of the day praying. This is a time of forgiveness, after being judged by God during Rosh Hashanah.
Charlie describes the festival鈥檚 impact: 鈥淏it scary, bit intimidating. That鈥檚 how it feels to be judged by God. You can worry a lot that you might not be forgiven. It鈥檚 also good, because then you know what to do good next year and what not to do. After I feel very happy, definitely that a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and just look forward to the next year which hopefully will be a good one.鈥�