Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on Sunday, September 29 and ends at sundown on Tuesday, October 1, the only Jewish holiday which lasts for two entire days (considered as one very long day). It is traditionally the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and the inauguration of humanity’s role in God’s world.
Jews start Rosh Hashanah festivals with lighting of the candles and synagogue prayers. There is feasting, interspersed with traditional blessings. It is customary to also eat foods whose names allude to blessing and prosperity and not to eat foods which are sour or tart. Instead, the focus is on sweet foods, symbolizing the desire to have a sweet year, filled with blessings and abundance.
The menu includes ‘Yehi Ratzon’, meaning ‘May it be Thy will’. It consists of a platter composed of apples dipped in honey that are either baked or cooked as a dessert named as ‘Mansanada’. This is the most important content of the meals.
For a recipe for Mansanada and its accompanying blessing, click here: https://afaithinprocess.com/?p=815
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We who follow Christ don’t have lavish traditional celebrations around our New Year. But the Bible is clear that we are surrounded by the blessing of newness:
But the Lord says,
“Do not cling to events of the past
or dwell on what happened long ago.
Watch for the new thing I am going to do.
It is happening already—you can see it now!
I will make a road through the wilderness
and give you streams of water there. Isaiah 43: 18-19 Good News Translation
So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Common English Bible (CEB)
Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness. Ephesians 4:23-24 The Passion Translation (TPT)
So with our Jewish friends, I say:
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higianu laz’man hazeh.
Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.
And to you I say:
‘May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 Living Bible (TLB)