9/19/09

Birthday of the World





We celebrate Rosh Hashanah both in the traditional way (going to services) and by making a birthday cake.  It usually looks about 50 times worse than the one above, but still cute.

Rosh Hashanah is the new year in the sense of the anniversary of the world's creation.  In my steadfastly secular way, I think of it just as a day to be glad the world exists, though I enjoy all the distinctly Jewish trimmings--the music, the apples, the honey, the familiar rituals.

The holiday (like all religious things, as far as I'm concerned) is like a sturdy piece of cloth that we can make meaning out of as we please. The nice thing about it is that the cloth has been around for a long time, so it's covered with embroidery.  We can add to it, while also noticing what's already there. Plus, there's the pleasing sense of continuity over thousands of years.  May all who want burlap find their own. 

This is a day when the sermon often concerns environmental issues. I'm looking forward to it.  Here's to the world's existence and health!

4 comments:

s. wallerstein said...

Happy Rosh Hashanah

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rtk said...

I do not know what foods are associated with Rosh Hashanah. My evaluation for enjoyment of holidays depends on what is traditionally eaten. Easter and Christmas are very good, Chinese New Year excellent, Seder is okay, and the end of Ramadan superb. But Rosh hashanah? Tell me it's not gefilte fish, please.

Jean Kazez said...

Apples and honey. It's a good holiday! (But our unconventional cake is good too. It's always chocolate.) By your criteria, Yom Kippur is the worst of holidays. No eating allowed.