I was just chatting with a friend in Israel about Rosh Hashanah. She is not a practicing Jew and I’m curious how the secular people celebrate. I know she is excited about the holiday.
With little doubt, your friend in Israel indeed does enjoy the depth of Rosh Ha’Shanah, which is a symbolic time for introspection, self-improvement, improved interpersonal relations, and renewal. Even Jews who declare themselves “secular,” are still steeped in the rich lessons and ceremonial, cultural aspects of their religion.
A Jewish person in Israel - likely any person in Israel - would have to have hidden himself under a rock to not absorb the atmosphere and teachings about introspection about how one conducted oneself this past year and commitment to do specific things that will be making one an even better person in the coming year. Rosh Ha’Shanah celebrates the new year on the Hebrew calendar. The year that is beginning tonight, Monday, Sept 6 at nightfall, is the year 5783 on the Hebrew calendar.
The ten days that follow are focused on repenting and asking forgiveness directly from people who we might not have treated as we should have. Mistakes one made in his relationship with God are addressed between the person and God. This is a ten-day period of especially focused repentance.
Yon Kippur, ten days after Rosh Ha’Shanah, is the day of judgement by God for each individual for the coming year.