Yom Kippur in Israel

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When you look for images on the Internet for Yom Kippur in Israel - you will either see photos of empty highways, cycling children or masses of praying religious Jews dressed in white.

And yes, I guess that what a lot of people experience during Yom Kippur. But it so much more than that. Yom Kippur is the day of Atonement and one can say that the entire previous year leads up to this single day.

In the days following up to Yom Kippur, Jews are supposed  to reflect over the previous year, look at what they have done wrong and set it right. Family and friends are asked for forgiveness for any hurts that you may have caused them, grudges are finally put away and everyone tries to enter to new year with a clean a slate as possible.

According to Jewish tradition, God's writes down each person's destiny for the new year during Rosh haShanah. At Yom Kippur the verdict is finally closed and sealed. Just before and after Yom Kippur people wish each other a "G'mar Chatima tova" or a 'good final verdict'.

The day of Yom Kippur itself is spend by fasting for 25 hours (no food or water) and many people attend synagogue. For many Israeli Jews, Yom Kippur is the only day of the year that they do go to the   synagogue.

The country also comes to a total standstill, the television stations are closed, the borders, restaurants and shops are closed. The entire country becomes a ghost town. Many people do not use any form of electricity. No computers and no telephones.

Of course not everyone is religious and may watch DVDs or cable TV quietly in their own homes. But still, the entire country is quiet. Nobody but nobody drives their car. On Yom Kippur the roads and highways belong to the ambulance drivers and the children on their bicycles.

It is not easy to fast for 25 hours, to not take a bath and to stay away from electrical appliances. But it is wonderful to sleep for as long as you like without traffic waking you up, to chat quietly to neighbors in empty streets and to have some time to just think.

Yom Kippur may be hard on the body, but is is definitely good for the soul. :)

New Year in Israel

Pomegranates are eaten at Rosh haShana to symbolize the wish that people's good deeds will be as plentiful as the  seeds of a pomegranate.

In Israel the new year is celebrated twice. On the eve of December 31st, like the rest of the world, and on Rosh haShana - the Jewish "Head of the Year".

But actually only secular Jews go and party on the 31st of December. And usually it is the kind of people who needs only half a reason for a party! The 1st of January is not a holiday, so the most of us just see the new calender year in by watching a few news reports from around the world.

The real Israeli new year takes place on Rosh HaShana. Usually in September, a few weeks after the children have gone back to school. The entire country takes a break for two days and one spends a LOT of your time eating food!

Many of the food stuffs that are eaten are sweet. To symbolize the hope that the coming year will be a sweet year. My favourite Rosh haShana dish is apples dipped in honey - this is amazingly delicious! One also eats honey cake, honey cookies, sweet challah and pomegranates.

Rosh haShana is festive time in Israel with a wonderful holiday feeling but it is actually a very serious Jewish holiday. According to Jewish religion God decides during the days leading up to Rosh haShana and Yom Kippur who will die and who will live in the new year. This is a time of looking carefully at your life, making amends and deciding where you can improve or work harder in the coming year.

Everyone wishes everybody a sweet and good new year. It is also the Jewish holiday that friends, family, companies, banks and businesses send you Rosh haShana greeting cards.

So here is my Rosh haShana greeting to you, wherever you are in the world:

"May God grant you a happy, healthy and sweet new year!"