Skip to main content

It's September 8th! Shofar So Good?

Wow!!! Amazing how time goes by so quickly. There is a song by the Tempos. Perhaps you've heard it. It's entitled, See you in September. Here it is compliments of ak47bandit on youtube. Click here!

Depending upon where you are in the world, when summer begins and when it ends determines the start of the educational year. Most people in the United States embrace the end of August to be the end of summer, especially with the return of school.

Yet summer is not over until about September 22nd in the United States with the beginning of autumn equinoxes the next day. Perhaps that’s why my daughters Girl Scout registration day is September 24Th with official start October 1, 2010.

At at any rate, school is in session. A family member called and asked if I were taking my girls to school today. My answer, yes. Apparently some parents are still protesting the midweek start. In case you didn't already know, Rosh Hashanah is on Thursday and Friday.

New York City Public Schools will be closed after today's start with a return on Monday, September 13, 2010. Many parents were unhappy about this decision. The schools chancellor, Joel I. Klien announced that the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) opted to keep September 8th as the official start of school so that Brooklyn Queens Day can continue to be a day off! At least that what I recall.

Brian Gibbons of UFT explains it DOE won’t change first day of classes | United Federation of Teachers">here.

While much debate is about the calender, lets educate ourselves about Rosh Hashanah. What is it anyway? Go to Chabad.org one will find that it means head of year in Jewish tradition. It's an anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and their first actions towards the realization of mankind's role in God's world,as identified on the chabad.org site.

The story of Adam and Eve can be found in most Holy Bibles in Genesis Chapter 2. One can read the story via biblegateway. Click Here. The day also commemorates man's first sin and repentance; Eating the fruit of the tree which was forbidden and asking God for forgiveness. Many blow the shofar, a rams horn to signify calling a people to their king.

This two day celebration marks the start of ten days of repentance, which ends on Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. Special observations are to bless each other with kind words and eat apples dipped in honey to signify the desire for a sweet year. Now, that's a nice new meaning to give a teacher an apple and a kind phrase for the start of this season!

Be Educated; Be Blessed! Comments are welcome below and on facebook, Peace.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MEET & GREET CHANGE!

Blessed Autumn World!-As we begin to transition from warm to cooler weather we'll learn of opportunities to rededicate ourselves in community initiatives. I've listed some common and perhaps unknown ways to participate in this post. Did you know that your local Police Precinct has meetings with the community each month? In all five boroughs of New York City there is a Community Council. Check your part of the world for meetings and engagement with local police departments. Learn what the department has achieved, ask your questions, learn how you might even be able to participate in some initiative. You'd be surprised what you may learn! The local police department usually has representation at your Monthly local Community Board Meeting . New businesses, road work, zoning issues and more are discussed at these important meetings. Local elected officials and/or their reps attend these meetings as well. You'd get info about their initiatives in your community. Remember ...

How Do You Repair the World?

National Service Shabbat with Geralynn Lane Five years ago... a table was prepared for me to meet  new friends.  The picture above is the day that started it all; actually, it was the preparation for this day. My partner at the podium is Geralynn Lane, not pictured (yet in the audience) is Yusyin Hsin. We’d all been working with NYC Service at partnering agencies. There was an opportunity to attend a National Service Shabbat. I was intrigued by this idea to celebrate service through Jewish custom and belief. As opposed to a formal grace over the food, Geralynn and I led the audience into a moment of gratitude, setting the tone for the evening. There were many progressive young people present. We listened to one another and shared our stories. It was a safe space. Our common share was the gratitude in meeting one another through service.   I grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Honestly the only connection that I had with my Jewish neighbors was my parent’s l...

Sparkle and Create!

Hello World. This was a very busy week. Thank God it's Friday. I want to share two nice video's with you; especially since I didn't communicate yesterday. If you had diamonds on the soles of your shoes, would it inspire you to get up and go? Use it as a metaphor. Are you working on something that may seem hard. Well, be diligent and make it beautiful! Be creative with some of life's tasks; Add some spark. Inspire yourself! Click on this link to view Paul Simon live in Zimbabwe with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, as they sing Diamonds on the soles of her shoes, 1987 . (Compliments of Ben Bruch on You Tube) Be Blessed and Be Happy !(Bobby McFerrin Video Compliments of Blue Note Records on You Tube)-Peace