Washington, D.C., September 22, 2015 – American Muslims wish a very
Happy Yom Kippur to all of our Jewish friends across the globe.
Tishri and celebrates Creation. Jews observe the Lunar Calendar, and as such
the festivities occur 11 days earlier in each successive year on the Gregorian
calendar.
creatures, and decides their fate for the coming year. What follows for the next
10 days is self-reflection to justify one’s existence to God, a period called
Shabbat Shuva, and on the 10th day, God closes your book and it is a time for
the celebration; Happy Yom Kippur.
capstone celebration at the end of a month long fasting and reflection. Jains
with Paryushun, Hindus with Navaratri ending in Dussehra on the 10th day, and
Christians with 40 days of lent thru resurrection on Easter.
Rabbi
Michael Lerner writes, ” We engage in honest, wrenching self-evaluation; we
create practical strategies for changing in the future; and, as a result, the
day cleanses us from the residues of past failures. “Kippur” in biblical Hebrew
means “cleansing.” We feel reborn, and that is a source of great joy. Indeed,
this joyous rebirth is one of the reasons that the holiday of Succos five days
later is called “the time of our joy.”
embrace the whole person, including the body. Of course it is not the food
alone. The feast involves love and camaraderie for family, friends, and guests,
as well as song and words of Torah inspiration. In that way, the pleasure of
eating becomes part of the spiritual joy. But the joy is not complete without
the food-without the body. “
In synagogues people pray to God to forgive
them for their wrongdoings and to give them a good year – during the service a
Shofar, or ram’s horn, is blown, to alert congregants to the seriousness of the
festival and the fact that God is deciding their fates for the coming year –
which will be sealed on the Day Of Atonement ten days later.
for the next year. Happy Rosh Hashanah, and Happy Yom Kippur.
“Festivals of the World” is an educational series by Mike Ghouse since
1993. When we live in the same communities as neighbors, we might as well learn
about each other. The best way to build cohesive societies is for its members to
participate in festivities as well as commemorations of each other, or, at least
understand each others’ joys and sorrows. Please note the simplicity in writing
is designed for people of other faiths to learn and to know, so we can function
cohesively.
America Together Foundation is all about bringing Americans
Together for a peaceful, safe and secure America. Foundation for Pluralism is
part of America Together Foundation.
human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His info in 63 links at
MikeGhouse.net and writings at TheGhouseDiary.com