Home > History Fact Finder > Holidays and Observances - What Does Rosh Hashana And Yom Kippur Commemorate?

Holidays and Observances - What Does Rosh Hashana And Yom Kippur Commemorate?

What does Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur commemorate?

With Yom Kippur (also called the Day of Atonement), Rosh Hashana (means "head of the year" in Hebrew) is the most important of the High Holy Days observed by Jews. Although Rosh Hashana takes place around September, it is considered the Jewish New Year. The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the Days of Awe. It is a time when Jews face up to their mistakes, make amends, resolve to live better in the coming year, and ask forgiveness from others and God. The evening before Yom Kippur, Jews—except for children and pregnant women—begin a twenty-four-hour fast (a time of not eating and drinking) to remind themselves of their dependence on God. People do not go to work or to school on Yom Kippur and many spend all day praying and studying at the synagogue (temple).

Further Information: Druker, Malka. The Family Treasury...

[The entire page is 180 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass