What is Rosh Hashanah 2023 and Jubilee: Key Facts and Observances.

Rosh Hashanah is a significant Jewish holiday that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. In 2023, Rosh Hashanah will commence at sundown on Friday, September 15th, and conclude at sundown on Sunday, September 17th. This important celebration is observed during the Hebrew month of Tishrei, specifically on the first and second days, and holds deep spiritual significance for the Jewish community.

The holiday represents a time of inner renewal, divine atonement, and an opportunity for individuals to reflect on the past year's actions, seek repentance, and make plans for the upcoming year. Rosh Hashanah is also known as the birthday of the universe, as it symbolizes the day God created Adam and Eve. The central observance of this holiday is the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, which serves as a call to repentance and spiritual awakening.

In addition to the shofar, other customs specific to Rosh Hashanah include festive meals with symbolic foods, such as apples dipped in honey, representing the hope for a sweet new year. Additionally, prayer services and special liturgy mark the observance of this sacred time. As Rosh Hashanah 2023 approaches, Jewish communities around the world will come together to honor the start of the new year and the ongoing process of spiritual growth.

Historical and Religious Significance

Rosh Hashanah, which begins on September 15, 2023, is a significant Jewish holiday that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is celebrated for a myriad of reasons and holds deep historical and religious importance.

Torah References

In the Torah, Rosh Hashanah is referred to as the Day of Judgment. This day is believed to be the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. It is on Rosh Hashanah that God judges all people, determining their fate for the coming year.

During this holiday, Jewish people reflect on the past year's actions and make an effort to improve themselves in the coming year. The central theme of Rosh Hashanah is teshuvah, or repentance, which involves introspection, admission of wrongdoings, and making amends.

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the 10 Days of Repentance, which culminates in Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. These days serve as an opportunity for individuals to seek atonement and change for the better.

As part of the Rosh Hashanah tradition, it is believed that God opens the Book of Life, in which each person's good and bad deeds are recorded. Throughout the 10 Days of Repentance, individuals strive to improve their standing in the Book of Life, securing a favorable judgment and a positive destiny for the year to come.

By engaging in acts of repentance and embracing change, the Jewish community seizes the opportunity to reflect on their actions, grow spiritually, and strengthen their relationship with God during Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah 2023 Dates and Schedule

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, marks the beginning of the Hebrew year 5784. In 2023, this significant holiday starts just before sundown on Friday, September 15, and concludes after nightfall on Sunday, September 17¹ . The celebration commences on the eve of Tishrei 1 and lasts for two days² .

The first evening, known as Rosh Hashanah Eve, sets the stage for the festivities. Families gather to share a festive meal, light candles, and recite blessings to welcome the new year³ . Traditional foods like apples dipped in honey symbolize the hope for a sweet year ahead.

On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, participants attend synagogue services, where the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn) takes center stage⁴ . This ritual serves as a call to repentance and spiritual awakening during the Ten Days of Repentance, which culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Additionally, many people partake in Tashlich, a custom of casting breadcrumbs into a body of water to symbolize the casting away of sins.

The two-day holiday concludes with Havdalah, a ceremony marking the end of the holy day and the beginning of a new week⁵ . This brief yet meaningful ritual incorporates blessings over wine, spices, and a braided candle, symbolizing the separation between the sacred and the ordinary.

Rosh Hashanah in Different Jewish Traditions

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated with various customs and traditions within the diverse Jewish communities around the world. It marks the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tishri and is observed for two days by both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, although certain variations exist between these traditions.

In the month preceding Rosh Hashanah, Elul, Jewish people engage in a period of introspection, self-examination, and repentance. This time of reflection continues into the Days of Awe, which encompass Rosh Hashanah and culminate with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Sephardi Jews, who originate from Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean, maintain distinct customs during Rosh Hashanah. One notable practice is the recitation of "Selichot," a series of penitential prayers, throughout the entire month of Elul. In contrast, Ashkenazi Jews, who trace their ancestry to central and Eastern Europe, begin reciting Selichot only in the week before Rosh Hashanah.

Another difference in observance pertains to the Rosh Hashanah meal. Sephardi Jews often incorporate symbolic foods known as "simanim" into their feasts. These foods, such as pomegranates, dates, and various vegetables, are accompanied by blessings that express hopes for a prosperous and harmonious year. On the other hand, Ashkenazi Jews may also feature symbolic foods like apples and honey, symbolizing the desire for a sweet year ahead.

Despite these variations, both the Sephardi and Ashkenazi traditions emphasize the importance of the shofar, a ram's horn that is sounded during synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah. The blowing of the shofar serves as a reminder of the divine, a call to repentance, and an alarm to awaken the soul.

In conclusion, Rosh Hashanah is a significant event in the Jewish calendar that unites Jewish communities around the world. While specific customs and practices may differ between Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews, the core themes of reflection, renewal, and spiritual awakening remain central to both traditions.

Jubilee

The Jewish Jubilee year, known as Yovel in Hebrew, is a special year that occurs every 50 years in the Jewish calendar. It is a time of forgiveness, freedom, and new beginnings, aligning with the concept of Rosh Hashanah as the start of the Jewish New Year. In biblical times, the Jubilee year was observed with the release of prisoners, forgiveness of debts, and the return of land to its original owner. This practice aimed to ensure social justice, maintain a balance of economic resources, and encourage spiritual growth among the Jewish people.

During Rosh Hashanah in 2023, the Jewish community will not be celebrating the Jubilee year, as the last Jubilee year occurred in 5777 (2016-2017), according to the traditional Jewish count. However, the principles of the Jubilee year remain relevant to the broader themes and values celebrated on Rosh Hashanah. The holiday serves as a reminder of the opportunity for personal growth, reflection, and renewal, which is an integral part of Jewish tradition.

As Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 15, 2023, and ends on September 17, 2023, Jewish communities around the world will engage in prayer, self-reflection, and T'shuvah (return or repentance) to start the year 5784 on a positive note. The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn), which symbolizes the call for introspection and the renewal of spiritual commitments.

In this sense, the spirit of the Jubilee year can still be found in the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, as the holiday reminds the Jewish people of the importance of growth, renewal, and forgiveness in their lives, much like the principles upheld during the Jubilee year.

Randy Hilarski Ideas Regarding Jubilee.

For over a year I have been talking about the importance of the Shemitah which was in the Jewish year 5782 and the Jubilee year in 5783 which ends on the 17th of September, 2023. These two years have had huge impacts on the world around us.

The last time we had a Jubilee year was when the US took the US Dollar off of the gold standard and made the USD 100% a fiat currency. Well, this year we have seen the transition of the fiat USD, to the Digital USD with the announcement of FedNow. This is a major change in how our money works. All around the world we are seeing the move to digital money.

We are a family that travels often and we experienced this last year when we were in the UK, and more recently in Canada. Less and less places are accepting cash for payment. This is a case of, “Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.” If the central banks can control 100% of our money, that is a problem.

This is where crypto comes in. I believe we have 1-2 more crypto cycles to protect our families from what the future holds. This means different things to everyone, but for us it is an off grid, sustainable home and money that can’t be taken by the drones in government. So go down the rabbit hole and figure out how you can prepare before “Shemitah 2028” arrives.

Pulsechain News.

1. The Atropa, pDAI, Teddy bear, Tsfi ecosystem continues to shine. I don’t know if it will succeed, but I am truly impressed with what has happened so far.

2. PHAME has launched on Pulsechain. It is the GMX fork that was built by Buck and the team that brought you Phiat and PHUX.

No Permissions Welcomes You.

As our community continues to strengthen, we would like to invite you to join us via the No Permissions Patreon. The knowledge and insight that we share with each other is profound compared to most communities I see online. The fact that the group has a private Telegram sets it apart from others. We can talk frankly and worry much less about scammers since everyone is vetted. I look forward to seeing you there!