Celebrate the Small Things: Rosh Hashanah

Today is Friday. Another day to Celebrate the Small Things with VikLit, over at Scribblings of an Aspring Author.

What is Rosh Hashanah you might ask? Well, it's the Jewish New Year. It is held on the first or second day of Tishri, which on the American calendar is September. This is the time we blow the shofar, beginning ten days of self-refelction and repentance culminating to Yom Kippur.

It is also an appointed holiday by G-d, in Leviticus 23:24:

 'Tell the people of Israel, "In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with the blasts on the shofar,"

What is the purpose of the shofar in this celebration?

1. It is the anniversary of G-d's creation and G-d's return to the earth. Yes. Yeshua Moshiach will be returning. When He comes the shofar will sound.

2. It is to wake us up from our spiritual slumber. It also calls us to repent and turn away from our sins.

3. It is also a reminder of when the shofar was blown on Mt. Sinai when the Torah was given. It also reminds G-d of our commitment and sincerity.

4. It also reminds us of the Prophets of old, who like the blast of the shofar called upon us to correct our ways, follow God's commandments, and act properly with others.

5. The shofar's blast reminds us of the tears shed for the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, galvanizing us to bring Moshiach and hasten the rebuilding of the temple.

6. Since a shofar is made from a ram's horn, it reminds us of the binding of Isaac, and the ram G-d provided as a sacrifice in his place. This also symbolizes the sacrifice of Yeshua for our sins. And that we too are to self-sacrifice in order to rid ourselves of our sins.

7. It also reminds us that the shofar will be blown on the Day of Judgement when Yeshua Moshiach comes back. It nudges us to examine our deeds and contemplate how we can improve them.

8. The shofar blast also signals the return of the Jewish people when Yeshua Moshiach comes. He is our salvation.

9. When Yeshua Moshiach comes, the shofar will blast, heralding a time of universal understanding and recognition of G-d's unity.

10. It also reminds us of the primordial scream, the eternal voiceless call of the soul expressing its desire to return to its creator.

So L'Shana Tov to my Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, and Messianic Jewish friends along with everyone else!

 Hopefully, we all can take time to self-reflect, repent, and do better this new year.

Hugs and chocolate, all!
Shelly