Jews say a prayer, celebrate New Year

With prayers through out the day, Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Observed by the Jews for over two days, the celebration actually begins after the sunset. It will be celebrated till Tuesday sunset.

During the day, Jews go to synagogues for prayers. Shofar, the Jewish equivalent of a conch shell in Hindus, is blown on this day during the prayer service. “People hear it and then through out the day they are supposed to pray and seek forgiveness for eight days,” said Aaraon Benjamin, a city Jew and honorary secretary of Tiphereth Israel Synagogue at Jacob Circle.

Jews believe that once the New Year starts they are supposed to pray and seek forgiveness. It is also said that on this day the book of fate opens. People are divided into classes of righteous, those intermediate between righteous and wicked and the wicked. “We are supposed to pray and seek forgiveness. It is said that based on action in these days, the fate is written for the next year. The person will be living his life based on the fate inscribed in the book (of fate),” said Benjamin.

“After prayers the families congregate and a special halwa out of coconut is prepared. We pray again and repent for our sins. Apple and honey are also taken on this day,” said Shulamit Malekav, another Jew. Some Jews also carry on the tradition of going to the sea and “leaving their sins” there after prayers.

“It is said that we are supposed to go to running water and pray there. After prayers we leave our sins at that place,” said Solomon Sopher, another Jew.