Читать книгу The Jewish Religion, Ethically Presented - Henry Pereira Mendes - Страница 19
ОглавлениеNEW YEAR (ROSH HASHANA).
1. The New Year is called in Hebrew Rosh Hashana.
2. It is kept in memory of the creation of the heavens and the earth.
3. When we behold the heavens with the countless stars or worlds immensely larger than the earth upon which we live, and remember that it was God who created them, and that it is He who governs them, we are filled with reverence for Him.
4. When we learn about the earth and find how God has stored it with everything necessary for our happiness, we cannot but love Him.
5. On each New Year we should resolve to prove by our conduct that we do reverence and love Him.
*6. On the New Year Holyday we prepare to meet our God.
7. We do this by examining our conduct during the past year, and by firmly resolving to correct it wherever it has been wrong.
8. When we have removed our sins from us by sincere repentance and by sincere promise of amendment, then we may confidently approach God in prayer, or “meet Him,” on the coming Day of Atonement.
9. The ten days from the New Year to the Day of Atonement are called “the Ten Days of Penitence.”
10. Our life during these days should be more serious. We must repair any wrong we have committed, and remove any cause of ill-feeling between others and ourselves. A father cannot be pleased when his children are at variance. We are all children of our Father in Heaven.
11. Rosh Hashana is not a festival. Therefore it is not observed with festivities. It is one of the Holy Days, or “Days of Awe” (Yamim Noraim).
12. It is sometimes called “Day of Judgment” (Yom Hadin).
13. Because on that day we represent ourselves as being judged by God for our past lives.
14. It is also called “The Day of Sounding the Shofar,” or ram’s horn.
15. Because the Shofar is sounded on that day, to remind us to appear before the Lord.
16. It is the beginning of the Jewish civil New Year.
BIBLE QUOTATIONS.
3. The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth His handiwork.—Psalm xix, 1.
4. O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy possessions.—Psalm civ, 24.
5. Reverence the Lord, ye His holy ones.—Psalm xxxiv, 9.
I love the Lord.—Psalm cxvi, 1.
6. Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.—Amos iv, 12.
7. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow-ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.—Hoshea x, 12.
8. I will wash mine hands in innocence; so will I compass Thine altar, O Lord.—Psalm xxvi, 6.
10. If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.—Job xi, 14.
13. For He cometh to judge the earth; with righteousness shall He judge the world and peoples with equity.—Psalm xcviii, 9.
14. And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work; it is a day of sounding the shofar unto you.—Numbers xxix, 1.
