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Rosh Hashanah
By: E.C. Lee Muhammad 32⁰
Rosh Hashanah is an annual Jewish Holiday that is celebrated for two days, on which there is to be no work. This year it will be celebrated on Sept 8th - 10th. Jewish believers celebrate this holiday because it is the mark of the Jewish New Year, the name Rosh Hashanah in Hebrew translates to "head of the year". It is also the anniversary of the day that G-D created Adam and eve in the Garden of Eden, and man knew and understood his relationship with G-D and their role in life. Rosh Hashanah is also significant of G-Ds importance to humanity and his importance to us, and that we make the world aware of their importance to him.
The central observance of this holiday is the blowing of the Shofar , or rams horn. The signifigance of this horn is that it is a reminder to humanity of G-D, it also symbolizes the call to repentance. Rosh Hashanah also marks mans first rebellion to G-D and their fast return by repentance. The blowing of the ram's horn also starts the ten days of atonement called Yom Kippur. Isaacs's life was also spared on during Rosh Hashanah, after G-D commanded Abraham to take his life on a mountain, G-D sent an angle and directed Abraham's attention to a ram caught in a bush, and that G-D desired that he sacrifice the ram instead of his son.
Observances also include the dipping of an apple in honey in desire for a sweet and blessed new year, and a special prayer said by a body of water in reference to Micah 7:19 "You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." There is also a special prayer call the Kiddush which is recited over wine in observance of a special holiday, and making the blessing over the Challah or twisted baked bread in honor of Shabbat.
Let us, as Royal Arch Masons recall this Holy Holiday, and have some mention of its observance in our home, fraternal and personal lives by atoning to G-D, and one another, and marking it as the beginning of a new year.
Yours 3X3:
E.C. Lee Muhammad
Asst. Grand Lecturer, 1st District
Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter
Holy Royal Arch Masons, of Illinois
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