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Rosh Hashanah at Robert M. Beren Academy

By Adam Hoffman, Robert M. Beren Academy, School Buzz Editor | October 5, 2016

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EC 4 students Ahava Carmel and Hannah Juarez working on a special Rosh Hashanah project involving coloring and scissor skills. (Photo: Leigh Levine)

As a normal week went by for most students in Houston, those at Robert M. Beren Academy were sitting out. Over Oct. 3-4, we spent hours in synagogue asking God to look upon us with favor, forgive our sins and place us in the book of life. These days are known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

The Jewish New Year, as opposed to those of other cultures, is viewed as a serious time- a time of introspection. According to tradition, it is in these days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, continuing with the Days of Awe and climaxing at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, that God judges us for our actions from our previous year. God weighs our sins and good deeds as He is planning out our fortune (or misfortunes) for the coming year.

Though many of you may not have been familiar with the rituals as stated above, you may be familiar with some customs that take place. First to mind may be apples and honey. Apples and honey are eaten together to symbolize sweetness in hope of a sweet new year. The Shofar, a ram's horn, is blown to reminisce of the horn sounded in the Temple and of Abraham's sacrificial ram in place of his son Isaac.

Traditionally, Rosh Hashanah is also a time for families to come together. Similar to Thanksgiving, families travel across the country to join for festive meals.

So, if your Jewish coworker or school peer missed a day or two of work or school this week, now you know why.