Rosh Hashannah and Ramadan Options

[History]

Note: Though written last year, it is applicable to this year as well as Rosh Hashannah begins sunset September 29 and Eid falls on October 1st.

Respectfully,
History


Judaism, Islam united this week
The major holidays of two faiths occur together in a way that should inspire their members.
--Abraham J. Peck and Reza Jalali September 13, 2007

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Abraham J. Peck directs the Academic Council for Jewish, Christian and Islamic Studies; and Reza Jalali coordinates the Multicultural Student Affairs program, both at the University of Southern Maine.

— Once every 30 years or so, within the span of a sunset and a moon rising, two of the world's great religious communities unite in a way that no human effort can possibly achieve.

This year, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holy month of Tishrei, which begins with Rosh Hashana and ends with the festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, coincide.

In the days that follow, Jews and Muslims will look up to heaven out of a sacred desire to draw closer to G-d, the Creator of the Universe, and to reflect on and repent for those human failings that disappoint the Most Merciful and Beneficent spirit in our lives.

Jews around the world are entering a period of introspection on the deeds of the previous year, vow to do better in the year ahead, and ask for and grant forgiveness.

Muslims believe during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation." These revelations continued for 10 days, starting on the night of the 27th day of Ramadan. This is the Laylat-al-Qadr (Night of Power). According to the Quran, this is when G-d determines the course of the world for the following year.

Similarly, Jewish tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashana G-d provisionally determines people's fate for the coming year based on their behavior over the past year, but that can be modified during the 10 Days of Awe leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The Jewish sages believe the entire world is sustained by three things: truth, justice and peace. These thus affect not only one's destiny but the continued existence of our world.

Islamic teachings focus on remembering that we have a Maker; our lives are brief but have purpose; we are accountable for what we do; and we all shall live again and be brought back to G-d.

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West: But it is righteousness to believe in G-d and the Last day, and the Angels, the Book, and the Messengers; to give out of the things you hold dear to your kin, the orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, the one who asks, and to free the slave." (Quran 2:177)

While religious holidays -- particularly Jewish and Muslim holidays -- are too often cast in political terms nowadays, the mutual days of prayer and reflection could help to lessen mutual mistrust and hatred. While angry headlines speak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sectarian violence in Iraq, reinforcing the general cynicism that our broken world offers little or no opportunity for religious harmony, the idea of unity between Jews and Muslims seems a distant dream. Yet, an unbiased reading of the history of these ancient communities shows there are many examples of extraordinary acts of courage shown by ordinary Jews and Muslims. Centuries ago, in the Battle of Uhud between the forces of Mecca opposing Prophet Muhammad's new religion and the Prophet's followers, a rabbi who honored the pact between Muhammad and the tribes in the city of Medina, fought and died alongside the Muslim forces. With the future of the young faith in balance, this battle is significant in Islamic history.

During the Holocaust, a period of time when the survival of the Jewish people was in danger, Muslims such as Sultan Muhammad V of Morocco and an imam in Paris provided moral and physical support for the 500,000 North African Jews caught in the vise of Nazi Germany and its systematic effort to destroy the Jewish people.

Within the span of a sunset and a moon rising, more than a billion people with a shared belief in a divine Creator will pray, celebrate and reflect on their actions in a world that is shattered and begs for wholeness.
Setting aside their differences, they will pray for the day of ultimate brotherhood and sisterhood and redemption for humanity.

That is a remarkable event.

[Jim]

Remarkable post History.

During the Holocaust, a period of time when the survival of the Jewish people was in danger, Muslims such as Sultan Muhammad V of Morocco and an imam in Paris provided moral and physical support for the 500,000 North African Jews caught in the vise of Nazi Germany and its systematic effort to destroy the Jewish people.

I did not know this.

[Coexist]

Thanks for that inspiring post, History...

[Kayak]

Thanks History.

[bb7]

What a thoughtful and interesting post...thank you History.
There's hope for us yet...maybe its a sign.

Enjoy your festivities, and a happy Rosh Hashannah to you (if thats the correct form) and Eid Mubarak

[LadyGarnetRose]

Thank you History

L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu!

[History]

L'SHanna Tovah, everyone.

Just a forschbise regarding this Day which celebrates The Day of our Creation as well as begins the Ten Days of Awe, of self-contemplation and renewal, ending in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The Book of Life is now open for the coming year, may G-d write all your names within it.

Respectfully,
History

NEW BEGINNINGS
--by Dina Coppersmith
Every holiday in the Jewish year has a certain spiritual energy and potential which is responsible for creating the holiday. In essence, every year we travel through the cycle of holidays and come again to that same point in time, and to that same event which happened on this date with its spirit and potential intact.

For instance, on Passover we come around to the time of freedom from bondage. All aspects of God's revelation and redemption are available to us again each year, as they were when the Jewish people left Egypt. Other holidays follow the same pattern.

So, what about Rosh Hashana? What historical event happened on this day? Are we commemorating anything? What's the energy inherent on the first day of Tishrei?

In the prayers of Rosh Hashana we get a hint:

This is the day of the beginning of Your creation, a memorial of the first day ... today is the conception of the world.

It seems that the world was created on Rosh Hashana!

Tradition tells us that man was created on this day, and this is where our calendar begins. We date back to Day One of creation of man.

...
Every Rosh Hashana we enter into that primal event of pre-creation once again, that time before all time began. There is a planning anew of the world -- in essence. We don't exist in the past at all -- there is no past on this day; the world has not been created yet!

We can begin to fathom the intensity of this idea when we return to one of our earlier questions. Why is there no repentance on this day? No regret, no mention of sins? Because there is no past to regret and repent for. We are recreated today from scratch, with an empty slate.

A NEW PLAN OF ACTION

The prayers on Rosh Hashana focus instead on God's reign, on God's renewal of His kingdom for another year. God judges His world and the creatures within it on this day, determining their worthiness of existence and their status and circumstances for the new year.

Since this judgment is not based on our past, for we are "new," pastless beings on this day, what then is it based on? How does God decide whether we are signed in the Book of Life?

We are expected on this day to conceive of a plan, to engage in a vision of the future, to have ambition and desire to take an active part in the Almighty's supreme kingdom in the coming year. And this is what the judgment is based on.

To the extent that we can remove ourselves from our past limitations, and reach for the stars, see ourselves as new beings involved in a new and ambitious plan for reaching our ultimate destiny, as individuals and as a nation, to that extent we have chosen life and have, in fact, signed ourselves into the Book of Life for the coming year.

--http://www.aish.com/hhRosh/hhRoshDefault/new_beginnings.asp

[Saif Ali Khan Fa...]

L'Shana Tovah to all of our Jewish friends and thanks for the articles History.

[History]

>bump<
Rosh Hashannah begins this evening (L'Shana Tovah, everyone).
As it falls on the Sabbath this year, there are some changes in how we celebrate this holiday on the weekly holiday--Double mitzvah!
I found the holiday schedule of Rabbi Yossi Michalowich pretty much on target http://www.westmountroutes.com/documents/H...%20-%205770.pdf . Double mitzvah!

There is a wonderful tale of the Hassidim which recalls a Rabbi who addressed G-d, Blessed be His Name, before his congregation on a Rosh Hashannah which fell on the Sabbath.

He reasoned with G-d, "My Lord, every Rosh Hashannah you open your Book of Life and your Book of death and in these you will inscribe in the first the names of those whose merit Life for the coming year and in the other you will write the names of those for whom you decree death.

"However this year Rosh Hashannah falls upon the Sabbath. On the Sabbath, no work is permitted, and you cannot make accounts in either Book.

"The exception is one may break the Sabbath to save a life.

"Thus, on Shabbos, you may inscribe the names of those who merit Life in the Book of Life, but you may not inscribe the names of those who would be in the Book of Death.

"Therefore, we ask you assign ALL your people for Life for the coming year, in blessing of your Holy Name."

Respectfully,
History

[spike]

L'Shana Tova Ess, ess,enjoy the sweetness of the new year - 5770

Blowing the Shofar

[LadyGarnetRose]

L'Shana Tova!

[Rhoda]

I found this touching. It also has considerable historical interest for all of us, but perhaps especially for our Jewish friends.

Happy New Year, guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZihm6VlYjo

[SisterK]

I dont know how to say it, but Happy New Year to all the Jewish members!

[spike]

I found this touching. It also has considerable historical interest for all of us, but perhaps especially for our Jewish friends.

Happy New Year, guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZihm6VlYjo

I've finally been able to hear/watch this all the way through without crying, Rhoda. It still gives me chills. Thank you very much.

I have several broadcasts out of nazi Germany and @ WWII historical events that were originally a set of 33 rpms (Edward R. Murrow) that have been saved to CDs.

[Coexist]

Ketiva ve chatima tovah! I wish all my Jewish brothers and sisters peace and blessings in this new year!