Shana Tovah - Happy Jewish New Year 9/6

 Shana Tovah - Happy Jewish New Year

Check out my past blog posts about Jewish New Year:

And, here's My Mom's Sweet Kugel Recipe

My shop remains open, but

I will not be checking emails 

Sept 6 - Sept 9 for Rosh HaShanah 

or 

Sept 15-17 for Yom Kippur

The New Year for Trees - Tu Bishvat

The New Year for Trees

The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Thursday, January 28, 2021—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. Commonly known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

We mark the 15th of Shevat by eating fruit mentioned in the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. 

The tree of life is nothing other than Torah, as it is stated: “It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and those who support it are joyous” (Proverbs 3:18).

Tree of Life Sterling Silver Necklace

Tree of Life Open Sterling Silver Earrings

See "How to Have a Tu Bishvat Seder" from Reform Judaism. The photo shows the variety of fruist and nuts. 

I observe the holiday like a Jewish Arbor Day by planting trees in Israel. 

How do you celebrate? 

8 Facts About the Jewish New Year 

Hamsa Protection Necklace

Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the High Holiday season (Rosh HaShanah) starts at sundown on Mon., Sept. 6. It's the Jewish New Year 5781. 

1. My mom taught me to get something new for the New Year. It's the Shabbat of All Shabbats. 

Shabbat Candle Earrings

Women's Kippah

2 We get a chance for teshuvah (return to G-d), turn over a new leaf, and begin again with a clean slate doing the right thing. 

3. We hear the shofar – a wake-up call to jostle us, to seriously taking stock of what we’ve done all year and make sure we are worthy of being written into the Book of Life. “God sits in judgment, deciding whether or not we have merited to be inscribed in the divine book of 
life.“ **

Did you know that there are at least 5 Names for the Jewish New Year?

4. Rosh Hashanah literally means "Head of the Year" because Rosh Hashana marks the point when we begin the new calendar year.

5. Yom Harat Olam means "The Birthday of the World."

6. Yom Hazikaron means "The Day of Remembering."

7. Yom Hadin means "The Day of Judgment."

8. Yom Teruah means "The Day of Sounding (the Shofar)." This is the actual name that the holiday is called in the Torah.*

Traditions

We eat apples dipped in honey to celebrate the sweetness of life. 

The challah is round symbolizing the circle of life. 

Here's a quote that I love by Torah Around the Clock on Facebook

My Etsy shop and website will be open in September, but I won't be checking email or orders from Sept. 6 - 8th. I'll also be out for Yom Kippur from 9/15 - 9/28 and will check email on Fri., Sept. 17. 

Read my blog post about Reflection, Renewal, and Repentance

Shanah Tovah u’meitukah,

Happy and Sweet New Year!

Linda B

*Source: Jewish Treats

Reflection, Renewal, and Repentance for Rosh HaShanah

Reflection Renewal and Repentance for Rosh HaShanah

It's a reflective time for Jewish people prior to the High Holy Days: known as Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.

Hamsa Necklace

Reflection

In the days leading up to Rosh HaShanah, we take inventory of our past year, our actions, and our behaviors toward G-d and other people. 

Wire Kippah - White Gold and Blue

We ask to be inscribed in the Book of Life.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the 10 days in-between known as Aseret Yamei Teshuvah (the “10 Days of Repentance”) gift us with an annual opportunity for renewal and self-discovery. More important than asking God to bless us with a positive inscription is the need for us to open our hearts and bless ourselves with optimism and the possibility of life-affirming changes in the coming year.” (Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz,  A Taste of Torah) 

Shabbat Bracelet

Renewal

Each day, we add Psalm 27 to our morning and afternoon prayers. Here are my favorite parts:

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

    of whom shall I be afraid? 

For in the day of trouble

    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

    and set me high upon a rock.

Hope in the Lord and  be strong 

Take courage, hope in the Lord. 

Repentence

Spiritual cleansing and new beginnings are available to us for the Jewish New Year. 

We strive to:

• Evaluate how we can be better people in our actions and behaviors
• Return to HaShem (G-d) to receive blessings in our life
• Seek forgiveness from friends and family before going to G-d

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year.