Two popular and important Jewish holidays took place in October: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah (“head of the year” in Hebrew)  is the Jewish version of New Years Day, the first “High Holiday” (or High Holy Days), and also known as the Feast of Trumpets. Lasting a ten-day period that ends with Yom Kippur.

On Rosh Hashanah, Jews from all over the world celebrate God’s creation of the world. According to the Talmud, the world was made in the first and second days for the month of Tishrei (Jewish calendar). Rosh Hashanah starts on the first day of a ten days of penitence – where people ask God for forgiveness for the things they’ve done wrong during the year and remind themselves not to repeat these mistakes in the coming year. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to become a better person.

One of the holiday’s most significant rituals is the blowing of a shofar, or ram’s horn. During this time people get new haircuts, buy new clothes, and eat apples dipped in sweet honey. They also eat round bread dipped in honey and salt. Traditionally, pomegranate seeds may be eaten because they are symbolic to the Ten Commandments. Another popular ritual of the Rosh Hashanah is to walk to a river or stream to have a special penitence prayer recited. Once they are done with their prayers, people throw breadcrumbs into the river as a symbol of casting away their sins.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year.  During this time, Jews also ask for forgiveness and pardon for the sins they committed that year. Some follow the restrictions of cosmetics, washing, and bathing. During Yom Kippur, people do not go to work, but instead attend services, usually wearing white to represent purity. Five prayer practices are held during Yom Kippur.  For nearly twenty-six hours (several minutes before sunset on the 9th to after nightfall on the 10th  of Tishrei), Jews abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations.

These two very important Jewish holidays happen around September and October depending on the Jewish calendar. This year (2016) both of them happened in October:

Rosh Hashanah October 2 – 4

Yom Kippur October 11-12