Enjoy a little fun by testing your knowledge on Rosh Hashanah. It’s not too hard or deep, but might make you think a little. Feel free to post your answers, and I’ll try and post a followup with my answers between now and Rosh Hashanah.
- What is the name of the month in which Rosh Hashanah falls?
- What are some other names for this day (biblical or traditional)?
- Why is Rosh Hashanah attributed as the first day of Creation?
- Why do we blow the shofar on this day?
- Why do we eat sweets on this day?
- What attributes of G-are emphasized on this day?
- What is “tashlich”?
- What is the traditional greeting for this day?
- Why is Rosh Hashanah celebrated for 2 days, even within Israel?
- Put the following events of this month in the correct order:
___ Sukkot
___ Rosh Hashanah
___ Simchat Torah
___ Yom Kippur
___ Sh’mini Atzeret
Update 09.22.06: Answers have been posted here
http://diggingwithdarren.com/blog/?p=145
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- Rosh Hashanah Trivia Answers
- 5 Minute Torah – Rosh Hashanah
- Paul’s Yom Kippur Sermon
- Announcing: Digging Deeper with Darren & Randy
- Rosh Chodesh – 2 Days?
I’m embarrassed at the amount of things I do not know in answer to these questions.
1. The month after Elul…..ummmm. Can I cheat and look it up?
2. Yom Teruah (but I probably didn’t spell it right)
3. Because it is the beginning It is believed that God created the world on the first day of that month that I can’t think of the name of
4. Because it is commanded in Leviticus 23 “the 1st day of the 7th month….a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.”
5. We eat sweets in hopes of a sweet year to come.
6. I’m not sure, I am thinking it might be Judge.
7. I don’t know that one for sure.
8. May you have a good year and may you be inscribed in the Book of Life.
9. I am not sure on this one either.
The order of the holidays that I know is:
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Simchat Torah
I don’t know what Shi’mini Atzeret is.
1. Tishrei
2. Yom Teruah
3. Years are reconned by Rosh HaShanah from Creation (?)
4. Because Hashem told us to
5. For a sweet New Year
6. the 13 Attributes, also His roles as King and Judge
7. The prayers said by a body of water
8. Shanah Tovah
9. That one I have no idea
10. 1. Rosh Hashanah; 2. Yom Kippur; 3. Sukkot; 4. Sh’mini Atzeret; 5. Simcaht Torah
1. Tishrei
2. Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashana, Jewish New Year
3. Don’t know with out looking it up.
4. We blow the shofar because it’s commanded.
5. Tradition.
6. Would have to look it up.
7. Tashlich is where Jews go to a river or lake and throw stones or bread on the water to represent getting rid of sin.
8. Oh no, I just looked this up today and I already forgot. I think it is “May your name be inscribed in the book of the living and may you have a good coming year.
9. Hmm… Not sure.
10. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret, Simchat Torah.
1. Tishrei
2. Yom Harat Olam,Yom Teruah,Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaDin.
The 1st of Tishrei is also the New year for years, that is, Rosh Hashanah, New year for Sabbatical years, New year for Jubilee years, New year for planting trees, The new year for tithing vegetables.
3. I believe Leviticus 23:24-5 has something to do with that. I just know that I have always been taught that it is the day defined as the beginning of creation.
4. It was used to announce the new moon and the assembly to come together
5. This is simply a way of sharing our wishes for a sweet new year.
6. G-ds divine judgement. I believe His mercy is evident in that he gives the 10 days of repentance before the final decision on Yom Kippur.
7. ” cast off ” the practice is inspired from Micah 7:18-20.
8. L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu !
9. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated as two days everywhere (in Israel and outside Israel), because it occurs on the first day of a month. Messengers were not dispatched on the holiday, so even people in Israel did not know whether a new moon had been observed, and everybody celebrated two days.
10. 1-Rosh Hashanah
2-Yom Kippur
3-Sukkot
4- Sh’mini Atzeret
5- Simchat Torah
Hey Darren, D.Lan gives some great info on Rosh Hashanah on the Beth Emmanuel website. It can be accessed here:
http://www.bethimmanuel.org/test/article.cgi?t=a1&a=4001
Real good stuff.
Thanks, Jeff. I’m always interested in hearing what Mr. Lancaster has to say. On a side note, there’s a great book called “The Seven Lights,” (published by Aronson) that goes into a lot of the “mystical” understandings of the Fall Feasts. It’s essentially a recorded dialogue between R. Adin Steinsaltz and R. Jose Eisenberg “in light of the teachings of the great hasidic master, Rabbi Schneer Zalman of Lyady.” Some cool thoughts on things like the rebirth of the world each year, etc. They even sidetrack to a minor discussion on Paul and how his message was so appealing to the “sebomenoi” (G-d fearers) of his day. Very interesting stuff. Thanks again for the info!
Darren- I will definitely keep my eyes out for that book, sounds like a great read. Another good set of books by Zalman is “The Tanya”. Wonderful depth yet not something I would recommend to the beginner in the Torah movement. Check it out sometime if you haven’t already!
Jeff – very familiar with Tanya, but never read it. I first heard about it several years ago through the teachings of Grant Luton (http://www.bethtikkun.com/teachings.htm). I believe he was teaching through the Gospel of John and had recently went through Lessons in Tanya, and made many, many kabbalistic crossovers between John’s message and Tanya. I have learned an incredible amount of information from Grant. His sight might also be worth an investigation. Thanks again for sharing! Great stuff!!!