Jewish High Holidays

The Jewish High Holidays are coming in a few weeks.  Rosh Hashanah is first, which is the Jewish New Year, which for some reason, starts in month 5 of the Jewish calendar, not month 1.  Eight days after Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  The days in between those two holidays are known as the Days of Awe.

These holidays require preparation.  The entire month beforehand, we get introspective.  We examine our previous year’s flaws and determine to try and do better in the coming year.  We apologize in advance for the mistakes that we will make this year.  We get our debts paid.  We apologize to everyone in case we either knowingly or unknowingly hurt them.  We honor and mourn our dead.  We listen to the sound of the shofar, the ram’s horn, which is a clarion reminder that God is paying attention.  This time of year is serious business.

So, in the spirit of the season, let me apologize to all of you, in case I hurt you.  I’m very sorry.  And shanah tova to my Jewish readers.

I will try to do better next year.  Maybe I’ll offer you some New Year recipes in a future post.  Hint: they have lots of honey in them.