The Jewish New Year - 5771

For the five thousandth, seven hundred and seventy first time - the Jewish New Year has arrived! Yes, we count our years from the beginning of creation - hence the number 5771. Don't worry about it - most Jews adhere to the Gregorian calendar. Jesus beat us on that one!

And yes, its another Jewish holiday although it's slightly misleading to call it a holiday as most Jews don't rush off to the beaches and mountain resorts - unless they're Israelis :). These holidays are the high holidays and no, cannabis is not legal in Synagogues unfortunately. Jews would probably be a little more popular on the planet if that were the case.

They are called high holidays as they involve a period of time during which Jews are supposed to examine themselves, achieve some level of spiritual spring-clean and prepare for the coming year. Here is my very simple understanding of the high holidays - and for anyone who wants to know, the appropriate greetings:

Rosh Hashana (direct translation = head the year)

Greeting - Chag Sameach (direct translation = holiday happy)

(CH - pronounced by flapping you epiglottis while exhaling. For those familiar with Afrikaans - its the same sound as when you say 'gat'.

Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (direct translation = ten days of repentance)

Greeting - Gmar Hatimah Tovah (direct translation = may you be sealed (signed) for a good year). You are wishing the person success in being forgiven for their 'sins' and that God will grant them another year of life by adding their names in the book of life.

Yom Kippur (direct translation = day of atonement)

Greeting - Tzom Kal (direct translation = fast easy) Wishing them a day of fasting that is not too difficult.

Hope that clarifies things a bit! Just remember that with almost everything Jewish, the more you investigate, the more complicated everything becomes.

Good Luck - (Hebrew translation = Behaltslacha)