Sound the shofar (animal horn) and let Rosh Hashanah begin! Rosh Hoshanah is the first of the High Holy Days and the start of the Jewish New Year. It began at sundown last night and continues through nightfall September 10th. It is a day of rest and a day for Jews to renew their accepting God as King. The sounding of the shofar is, among other things, a call for repentance. If you want to learn more about Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish community in Greensboro, the Greensboro Jewish Federation is a great place to start.
Also, today is the end of Ramadan, a very important holiday for Muslims. It has been a month of purification, prayer, doing good deeds, and asking for forgiveness. Imagine going a whole month of Ramadan abstaining from just about EVERYTHING from sunrise to sunset and then feasting at the end of a month of great restraint. If you want to learn more about Ramadan and the Islamic community in Greensboro, The Islamic Center is a great place to start.
Fortunately, public school students in North Carolina can be absent to observe holidays not on the school calendar. Likely, many students will be absent today as Jewish and Muslim families, pray, reflect, celebrate, donate, and promise to make a positive difference in the upcoming year. Hopefully, teachers will take a minute and inform students in attendance why their Jewish and Muslim classmates are absent.
(This horn, photographed above, has been in our family for over 60 years, but we're not 100% sure it qualifies as a shofar. Nobody has ever verified the animal of origin and a shofar should not be from a cow)!
Quite unique, and I also like the light in your photograph!:)
Posted by: Gunn White | Thursday, September 09, 2010 at 06:09 AM
Love the colours in this!
Posted by: Tracy | Thursday, September 09, 2010 at 07:45 AM
I cannot speak to the origin of the horn, but the red coloration draws the eye in.
Your backstory, as always, was interesting as well. Wishing you and your family a day joyous day of rest and meditation.
barb
pcadp
Posted by: barbara farr | Thursday, September 09, 2010 at 07:56 AM
It looks like a shofar to me! Have you tried blowing it? Any sound? It is hard to do.
This is a lovely post. Shana tova, a good year, to all.
My daughter and granddaughter are here in the country for a short visit and I am way behind on blogging. Shalom to you.
Posted by: Dina | Thursday, September 09, 2010 at 09:10 AM
Shalom! Thanks for the reminder that the Holy Days do indeed begin today. I like this shofar!
Posted by: Halcyon | Thursday, September 09, 2010 at 09:58 AM