The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) sends its best wishes to the Jewish community in Botswana and the rest of the world on the occasion of the Rosh Hashanah. It is the Jewish New Year which heralds the beginning of the High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah, which is Hebrew, literally means the beginning of the year. In Biblical terms and as mentioned in the Torah- in the book of Leviticus, the Holiday is known as Yom Teruah, literally meaning the day of shouting/blasting, the Feast of Trumpets or the day of sounding of the Shofar (ram’s horn). The shofar and pomegranates are common symbols associated with Hosh Hashanah.
It is a traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and the Jewish Mishnah, from the Oral Torah, says it’s a “day of judgement”.The Jewish New Year is a two-day holiday that starts on October 2 and heralds the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, Tishri. It affords the families an opportunity for a gathering celebration. The 10th day of Tishri is also time for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Rosh Hashanah occurs 163 days after the first day of Passover, celebrated over two days starting on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishri.
Tishri is the first month of the civil year in the Jewish calendar – but the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year.
Celebrated on different days, this year its date, as governed by the Hebrew calendar, is from sunset on October 2 until sunset on October 4.
It’s one of the holiest days in the faith and a massive occasion for families and communities to come together.
As Rosh Hashanah represents awakening and righteousness, we hope these not only find space for expression in the Jewish community but also in other communities. It is also our hope that the spirit of peaceful co-existence, happiness, fairness and justice for all is entrenched during this period and beyond. We wish that we all resolve to all work towards tikkun olam (healing of the world) in the new year. Jews believe God balances a person’s good deeds over the past year against their wrongdoings, so the day marks a time of reflection and penitence, and worshipers ask God for forgiveness. It’s also the start of the agricultural cycle of sowing, growth, and harvest. It is a time of personal reflection and prayer.
This holiday therefore, encourages positive attributes which will help us shape a better world for all.
Moeti Mohwasa
UDC Head of Communications.
