Starting JANUARY off With A Bang In Israel

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Happy New Year Everyone to 2024.  On the Jewish Calendar it's Tevet/Shevat 5784;  the year five thousand seven hundred and eighty-four years.  Today, January 1, is Tevet 20.  Tevet is the name of the month.  What are the 12 months of the Jewish calendar? Usually there are twelve months in the Jewish (Hebrew) calendar. They are, in order: Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Heshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar.  Today the whole world operates under the calendar starting with January.  This is the  Gregorian calendar which is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull Inter gravissimas issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar.

If you think "how old" these names are, look at what the world is still using;  Roman names of 2 months.  The names of Roman months originally functioned as adjectives January and March honor the gods Janus and Mars; 

In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus (/ˈdʒeɪnəs/ JAY-nəs; Latin: Ianvs [ˈi̯aːnʊs]) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces.

                                                      The god, Janus

July and August honor Julius Caesar and his successor, the emperor Augustus,  and the months Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December are archaic adjectives formed from the ordinal numbers from 5 to 10.  

So on this auspicious date, let's look at what's happening in Israel.  Israel welcomed the new year of 2024 under a large Hamas rocket attack targeting the center and south of the country, including Tel Aviv. 18 rockets were intercepted and no damage or casualties were reported. Rockets and attack drones were also launched from Lebanon.  

I went to bed last night with the sounds of fire crackers for about an hour or two.  I thought of how in Israel such a sound would be for real.  It was.  How frightening that must have been.  

The IDF strike targets in Khan Yunis, Gaza and in southern Lebanon. Khan Yunis is a city in the southern Gaza Strip; it is the capital of the Khan Yunis Governorate in the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Khan Yunis had a population of 205,125 in 2017. Khan Yunis, which lies only 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles) east of the Mediterranean Sea, has a semi-arid climate with temperature of 30 degrees Celsius maximum in summer and 10 degrees Celsius minimum in winter, with an annual rainfall of approximately 260 mm (10.2 in)

This morning, Air Force jets destroyed a Hezbollah drone fleet that was prepared to attack Israel today.

May Israel be prepared in their continued defense of their country.  As Golda reminded us, we have no where else to go.  This is imperative.  

Resource:

Israel AM

https://study.com/academy/lesson/hebrew-calendar-history-components-overview.html#:~:text=What%20are%20the%2012%20months,Tevet%2C%20Shevat%2C%20and%20Adar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendar#:~:text=Some%20of%20their%20etymologies%20are,numbers%20from%205%20to%2010

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Yunis

Rosh Hashanah's Purpose: The Birth of Our World

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Our ancestors got into study of astronomy right away 3,000 years ago when living outside without shelters on their 40 year Exodus with Moses from Egypt to Canaan.  The 1st dictum through Moses from G-d was to have a day to recognize and celebrate the birth of our world, and an awesome world it was.  Amazing!  For 40 years these people noticed the sky, the stars and their constellations, how the sun rose and set and which direction.  What a study of astronomy!  Most important was the movement of the moon.

A custom practiced on only this holiday is the blowing of the SHOPHAR- a ram's horn. Biblical Law prescribes its sounding for the memorial blowing on the New Year,   At various periods the shophar was sounded also on fast days, at the time of the proclamation of a rabbinic edict, in the ceremony of excommunication before the entry of the Sabbath, and at times of famine or plague.  The custom of blowing the shophar during the synagogue services in the month of Elul and on Hoshanah Rabbah and at the conclusion of the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), are later customs.  If people have been lax in attending synagogue services throughout the year, this is one occasion they try to observe; this and Yom Kippur that comes at the end of the next 10 days.  

This year  we will leave the year of 5782 and enter the New Year of 5783.  Though our own calendars tell us this is the year of 2022, we have been tracking the years that have added up to being 5,783 years ago that we recognize as the beginning of our ancestor's lives.  We became more aware of our environment and how to deal with it that long ago.  Jews use the Lunar calendar that goes by the moon's rotations (see below).             

Literally, Rosh means Head.  This Rosh Hashanah or year means the head  of the year.  It's come to be a 2 day holiday at the beginning of the month of Tishri which always falls in September to October with our Lunar calendar.                     

Notice the 10 commandments on the wall.  The Torah is about to be taken out from behind the curtain of the Ark or Aron Kodesh.  

The way we remember and think about it is done with the Ten Days of Penitence which end on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).  

Long ago in the Rabbinic Period,  Rosh Hashanah was regarded as a Day of Judgment for the entire world when the fate of each man for the coming year is inscribed in the Book of Life.  (If your name is inscribed in this heavenly book, you will live for another year.)  We still think of this for this holiday.   

Although termed The New Year, the Torah refers to it as the 1st day of the 7th month.  (Lev. 23:24), and not all the rabbis considered it as the day marking the creation of the world.  This is the time period for us of the creation of the world, then Adam and Eve, etc.   

A custom practiced on only this holiday is the blowing of the SHOPHAR- a ram's horn.  There is also a ceremony of Tashlikh in the afternoon of the 1st day.   This means the time prayers are said near a stream or body of water where there are fish, and bread crumbs are thrown to the fish.  

At the Kotel in Jerusalem, prayer shawls are always white

Traditionally we wear white this day.  The central theme in petitional prayers is the request for a good year.  Various customs  developed like eating of honey-a sweet year-so use an apple slice dipped in honey at our table for a sweet year to come, 

It is the period to ask forgiveness of anyone you may have harmed, any hurt feelings, etc.  The rabbis held that mortals are judged at the beginning of this period and judgment pronounced on the Day of Atonement, those whose case is in doubt may obtain clemency by sincere repentance during this period.  Each day, penitential prayers (selihot) are recited, and the extremely Orthodox practice day-long fasts, and the fast of Gedaliah.  

     Visiting my paternal grandmother's grave in Portland, Oregon They called her Hattie but her Yiddish name was Zlata; maiden name was Jermulowske.  She was a widow who raised 2 boys and 2 girls and lost a baby boy as well.  She was a proud Litvak.  

On the eve of the Day of Atonement, 10 days later, eating and drinking are regarded as a duty; also a time of a 25 hour fast;  it is also an occasion for donating to charity, for visiting cemeteries and the graves of the pious.  When living in Tzfat, Israel,  many would come to our cemetery where many pious were buried.  

The Jewish month is based on the lunar or synodic month, the time it takes for the moon to circle the earth.  Since the exact duration of one revolution is a little over 29.5 days, the length of the months normally alternates between 29 and 30 days.  A month of 30 days is called male ('full'), one of 29 days is chaser ('defective').  There are two months which are male in some years and chaser in others.

The month begins with the appearance of the new moon.  In the time of the Temple, the Sanhedrin (the highest court) sanctified the new month when two witnesses had actually sighted the moon.  In the middle of the fourth century C.E., a fixed calendar was introduced.

In the Torah, the months are numbered; the first is the one in which the Exodus from Egypt occurred (Yetziat Mitzrayim; cf. Shemot [Exodus] 12:2).  Later, names of Babylonian origin were adopted:

1. ניסן — Nisan — (30 days)
2. אייר — Iyyar — (29 days)
3. סיון — Sivan — (30 days)
4. תמוז — Tammuz — (29 days)
5. אב — Av — (30 days)
6. אלול — Elul — (29 days)
7. תשרי — Tishri — (30 days)
8. חשון — Cheshvan — (29 or 30 days)
9. כסלו — Kislev — (30 or 29 days)
10. טבת — Tevet — (29 days)
11. שבט — Sh'vat — (30 days)
12. אדר — Adar — (29 days)

The first day of each month (with the exception of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year) is Rosh Chodesh (lit. 'head of the month', abbreviated ) — and so is the thirtieth day of the preceding month, if there is one.  For example, if a gravestone inscription mentions the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, the calendar date "30 Av" is meant.

Happy New Year, everybody!  

Our Ancient Jewish Calendar And Celebrating the Year 5782

Nadene Goldfoot                                            

Safed was a wonderful city to experience the sky for me.  Shabbat (the Sabbath) ended when 3 stars could be seen in the sky.  It was as if the heavens had lowered the ceiling of inky black filled with these huge sparkly stars one could see so easily.  Safed was a mountain and the city was laid out on the very top, a wonderful place to breathe fresh air as there was usually a constant breeze, blowing through the hot air.  The sky and evening was a place where one would feel was like heaven, as it was refreshing as well as magical with all those amazing stars.  Then there was that moon that was always changing its shape, a bigger light that reckoned the time for all the people below.  We'd sit outside at night and wait for 3 stars to appear, telling us that Shabbat was over.  In this black sky, stars were always easy to see and count.                                              

Safed is a city in the Northern District of Israel and covers the top of the mountain. Located at an elevation of 900 metres (2,952.76 feet) , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and in Israel. Safed has been identified with Sepph, a fortified town in the Upper Galilee mentioned in the writings of the Roman Jewish historian Josephus.                                                                

      Celebrating in Jerusalem at the wall, blowing the Shofar- biblical law prescribes its sounding for the memorial blowing on the New Year   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clwYVduTUlo

 Monday, September 6, 2021, is Erev Rosh Hashana (Head of the Year), the Eve of the beginning of the New Year. when we start our celebration with a big family dinner.  We eat sweet things to help bring on a sweet New Year.  This year is celebrating the  the year 5781 in the month of Elul to the New Year of 5782 in the month of Tishrei. which is on September 7, 2021.  If that's confusing, Elul and Tishri occur in September this year.   This is the start of the Ten Days of Penitence, which ends on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).  It was regarded as a Day of Judgement for the entire world when the date of each man for the coming year is inscribed in the Book of Life.                                         

The Jewish year is reckened from the Creation of the world, calculated on biblical data to coincide with 3760 BCE.  AM (=Anno Mundi) 5000 began September 1, 1239.  For calculations since 1240 CE: to find AM, deduct 1240 from the Common Era (CE) and add 5000.   This starts our 10 days of awe, the time of repentance which culminates 10 days later on Yom Kippur.                                      

Our calendar months are from the original Babylonian names.  The tribe of Judah had been kidnapped and taken to Babylonia twice;  in 597 BCE and shortly after again in 586 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar after he had destroyed the Temple built by King Solomon.  The months start with the new moon of September-October, called:

Hebrew name                         Babylonian name                       length of days

1. Tishri                                    Tashretu (Beginning)                             30

2. Heshvan (marheshvan)        Arakhshama                                 29 or 30

3. Kislev                                  Kislimu                                        29 or 30

4. Tevet                                    Tabetu (Flooding)                                 29

5. Shevat                                 Shabatu (Beating)                                 30

6. Adar                                    Addaru                                                  29  in leap year, 30

7. Nisan                                  Nisannu                                                 30

8. Iyyar                                   Ayaru (Bud)                                          29

9. Sivan                                  Simanu                                                  30

10 Tammuz                            Du'uzu  (name of a god)                        29

11. Av                                    Abu                                                         30

12. Elul                                 Ululu  (Purification)                               29  

The Jewish calendar depends on the moon, being a lunar calendar and the Jewish year consists of 12 months calculated according to the moon's activity.                             

   Time by the changing moon-29 to 30 days making a month

It was used to celebrate the agricultural festivals in their proper season.  This lunar year consists of 354 days.  The calendar used today by all countries is a solar calendar consisting of 365.25 days. and is made up by adding (intercalating) a full month after the Jewish month of Adar in the 3rd, 6th, 8, 11th, 14th 17th and 19th year of each 19 year cycle.  The year of 5749   began such a cycle.  

This calendar was introduced by the patriarch, Hillel II (330-365).  Before this time, witnesses had to report each month the appearance of the new moon to the Sanhedrin which announced the date by fire-signals, and later by messengers because of the uncertainty involved.                                                              

It became customary for  countries in the Diaspora (outside of Israel)  to celebrate certain holidays for 2 days to make sure we're all celebrating it together.   The Sanhedrin also determined each year whether intercalation was to take place.  So sectarians, whose views are preserved in the Book of Jubilees, etc., advocated a purely solar calendar, probably one of 12 months of 30 days and 4 extra days.

     A bread, the Challah, may be made round with raisins added for sweetness, and honey cake for dessert.

The Jewish year is reckoned from the Creation of the world, calculated on biblical data to coincide with 3760 BCE.  AM (=Anno Mundi) 5000 began September 1, 1239.  For calculations since 1240 CE, to find AM, deduct 1240 from Common era (CE) and add 5000 (for dates in September -October to December, add another year.  So, 1958---1240+5000=5718.  1958 CE= AM 5717-8.  To find CE delete the 5 from AM and add 1240.  Well, it's easier to buy a printed calendar.  

The Chinese also have a lunar Calendar.  Their New Year in 2021 fell on February 12, and it was the year of the Ox.  The festival was traditionally a time to honour deities as well as ancestors.  There are various theory about the origin of Chinese New year. One is that it was started by Emperor Yao in China's Bronze Age.  Before the new year celebration was established, ancient Chinese gathered and celebrated the end of harvest in autumn. However, this was not the Mid-Autumn Festival, during which Chinese gathered with family to worship the moon. 

Resource:

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia:  Calendar and Rosh Hashana

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year

 

Israel's 2017-5778 New Year Threats

                                                                   

Missile test in February by Iran to use on Israel
Warhead will be atom bomb, something they're working on 24/7-
all according to the accord struck by USA.
Trump spoke about it today in UN. 

Attacks in Jerusalem have led to attacks in the West Bank where our IDF have to quell them. 

The hot spots that Israel is facing start right at home with the West Bank.  The Palestinian leaders that should be talking about peace with Trump today instead are the leaders of incitement.  This raises tensions and spurs a rise in terrorist attacks against Israelis.
                                                                               

Hamas is actively rebuilding its terror infrastructure and are stockpiling more advanced rockets and constructing new terror tunnels into Israel from Gaza.
                                                                               

Jordan's pro-Western monarchy faces challenges from Islamic extremists and economic strains from a flood of Syrian refugees.
                                                                         

Egypt's Sinai Peninsula remains lawless, with militant Islamists growing in power, waging an insurgency against the Egyptian government and threatening attacks on Israel.   Here are Egyptian Security Forces executing ISIS militants.
                                                                       

Hezbollah, the terrorist group backed by Iran in Lebanon has more than 150,000 rockets of which many are capable of striking any location in Israel being it's such a tiny country.  This is a sculpture outside of  Bint Jbell, Lebanon of rockets aimed towards Israel.
                                                                           

Syria has been taken over by Islamist radical groups that are affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS.They are programmed to hate and attack Israel.
                                                                             

ISIS is dedicated to murdering all those who disagree with its views of Israel and now control formidable territory and resources of Iraq.  Here ISIS is beheading one of 7 for delinquency  during a fight.
                                                                             

The worst threat of all is from Iran who continues to foment chaos throughout the Middle East.  They have incited civil strife and destruction in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain while threatening Israel with its terrorist proxies.
                                                                             

 They've threatened Israel with an atomic bomb attached to a missile and all the practicing that North Korea has been doing was learned from Iran.
                                                                                   

 No one would listen to Netanyahu's pleas when he spoke to the few Senators left to hear his speech in Washington DC.  It's nice to think the best of people, but not when they've been vocal about their intentions about Israel.
             
                                                                                   

Iran's ballistic missile 

•  Report: Iran launches ballistic missile test in violation of UN resolution
• Netanyahu and Trump to meet on February 15.  

"Several missiles were deployed during a military exercise, in defiance of new US sanctions on Iranian interests. Tehran and Washington are again at loggerheads, just 18 months after a landmark nuclear deal."  So what happened?  Did we just give up complaining about it?  Not Israel.  They're too close for comfort.  

Yet Israel will be stoic and face another year under dire threats and our prayer is that Rosh HaShanah will bring peace to the world, including Israel.  "Jews all over will celebrate by reflecting upon the past, correcting one's mistakes, planning for the future, praying for a healthy and sweet year and celebrating with holiday meals."

Resource: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iran-News/Israel-urges-Trump-UN-to-act-against-Iran-after-ballistic-missile-test-480120
http://www.dw.com/en/iran-tests-missiles-just-one-day-after-us-sanctions/a-37413566
 AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, America's pro-Israel Lobby in Washington DC
Rabbi Kalvin Packouz

New Year Holidays of Jews and Muslims For 2016 On Close Dates

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                                   

                                                                                                       
We are in the month of Elul right now, going by a calendar at least 4,000 years old that follows the moon; a lunar calendar.  The High Holidays are about to begin,  and we learn of them from
Moses b: 1391 BCE-d: 1271 BCE. 

so we get ready by visiting the graves of relatives and teachers-to remember the sanctity of their  lives and to gain inspiration for the coming year.  It is the custom.                                                                                                
                                                    ROSH HASHANAH-October 2nd-starting

The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, starts at sundown on October 2nd,  It is the birthday of the world.  It's also the Day of Judgement, a solemn time of reconciliation and confronting the past year.  However, it is New Year's Day but not as frivolous as January 1st, but a joyous remembrance of the creation.                                                                                                                                                 

     On the eve of the holiday on the 2nd of October this year, families have a big dinner when it is customary to dip an apple in honey to bring in a sweet New Year.  On the 2nd night of the holiday, it 
is customary to eat a new fruit-not yet eaten that season.  The meal can also include more apples and honey.                                                       

 A special challah is made, the bread eaten on the Sabbath (Shabbat) that is made with an egg and braided with sesame and poppy seeds on the top for decoration, but this challah is to be 
                                                                              

made as a round loaf to symbolize a crown, or it can be made in the shape of a ladder, symbolizing Jacob's dream connecting heaven with earth.  The table may have red apples, white grapes, and white figs. I think I'll include deep blue plums while I'm at it.  We may send New Year's cards out to family and friends as well at this time.  Mothers usually buy a new outfit for the children and herself to wear at synagogue for the new year.  It's a happy occasion with high hopes for the future.
                                                                                 

                                                          
                                                           YOM KIPPUR =October 11th-                                                          starting

Ten days later comes another holiday, this time a very somber one; Yom Kippur, which falls on the 10th of Tishri. It is our most holy holiday.   This year it falls on the 11th of October, a  Tuesday.  This is the culmination of the entire High Holiday period.  After this, the old year is ended and the new one begun.  We have a big meal on the eve of Yom Kippur that is joyous. Our challah can be shaped into the forms of birds or have this figure on the top, though I haven't been that artistic.                                                                    

It would be there to symbolize the aspiration and opportunity of man to attain the level of the angels, and the sheltering protection of G-d.  After dinner on the eve of this occasion, we begin a 25 hour fast (no food or water)  that ends in a light repast the next night.  We try to eat so that we will not feel hunger as much since we spend most of the time in the Synagogue asking G-d forgiveness for our sins.  

Men in their large prayer shawls "Tallit" during Yom Kippur in Europe.
Kol Nidre is being chanted during the Maariv Service.  In orthodox synagogues,
men and women are separated for better concentration and meditation.  Usually
a screen separates them.  When men pray, they all have their tallit over their heads like a tent, and women,
if lucky enough to be above like in this picture, see a sea of tents below that is something to behold!  I feel we women are very spiritual and on a high plane anyway, so do not need to copy the men.  We are partners in life and one is not greater than the other.  One need not feel inferior; we each have our specialties and responsibilities.  One sees the rabbi holding the Torah and walking with it among the people.  Everyone will touch their tallit to their lips and then touch the Torah with it in reverence and respect for its words.  

This holiday is marked by physical abstinence of food and for married folks, relations so as to concentrate on the spiritual.  If one is sick or weak, we are exempt from doing this.  We wear shoes to synagogue that are NOT made of leather.  No major washing during this holiday like a bath.  We don't wear cosmetics or anoint our body with anything.  A service of Kol Nidre is sung by the Cantor, a beautiful heart wrenching piece of music  that starts before sunset.  We greet each other at the synagogue with  "May you be finally sealed for good in the book of life", for it is our custom to feel that if we were worthy, our name would go down in the book to live for another year.   The shofar is blown in a rhythmic blast of notes that we all want and need to hear that marks the final sealing of the heavenly gates.                       
                                     ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS 
                                              MUHARRAM OCTOBER 1st=starting
                                                                             

Food typical for this holiday of Muharram from Turkey.
It pre-dates the holiday.  Islam is the 2nd largest religious group in the world.
Mohammad started Islam and died in 632 CE (AD).  

                                                                                  

For Muslims, the first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar, marks the start of the Islamic New Year.  According to my desk calendar, it starts on October 1st, a Saturday this year.    It lasts until October 31st, ending on a Monday. "The festival of Muharram has significant religious importance for Muslims, beginning with the first day, which is known as the Islamic New Year.
                                                                                      

"Note that in the Muslim calender, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Al-Hijra / Muharram on the sunset of Saturday, the 1st of October." "Some Muslim Americans choose to fast during this month, although fasting is not obligatory. Many Muslims engage in voluntary prayer, including evening prayer, during Muharram."
                                                            

ASHURA=OCTOBER 10th-starting 

                                                                             

They also have another holiday called Ashura.  Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ashura on the sunset of Monday, the 10th of October."The Day of Ashura (or Ashurah) is known as the most sacred day in the month of Muharram.
                                                                                     

It is the 10th day of Muharram and is a day of fasting for many Sunni Muslims. Many Shi’a Muslims use the day to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali in 680 CE. Some Muslims give to charity on this day.

I wish my family and friends a Happy New Year:  : שנה טובה
Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem” (לשנה טובה תכתב ותחתם).  “May you be written and sealed for a good year.”  From noon on Rosh Hashanah, when our fates are already written, until Yom Kippur, when our fates for the coming year are to be sealed, we wish each other “Gemar chatimah tovah” (גמר חתימה טובה), “A good final sealing.”
So I also wish my Muslim friends a Happy New Year, and may you also be written in the book of life.  

Resource: The Jewish Catalog by Richard Siegel, Michael Strassfeld, Sharon Strassfeld
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/muharram-new-year
http://www.when-is.com/al-hijra-muharram-2016.asp