Stellar Snippets
Around 2.4% of the U.S. population, which is 7.6 million people, will be celebrating the Jewish New Year this weekend.
"Rosh Hashanah" translates to "the head of the year" in English and marks the creation of the world.
It is the only two-day long holiday that generally falls between September and October.
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a period called the Days of Awe which is 10 days of reflection and repentance that lead into the Day of Atonement.
It's a day to come together, celebrate community, take stock, and reflect on the past year's events as well as hopes for the new year.
There are special services at synagogues to pray, sing, and sometimes also blow a Shofar, a curved ram's horn. Some offer prayers near a water body.
The food eaten on this day also has special significance. Some Jewish homes eat apples and honey to welcome the new year.
A round loaf of challah or braided bread is eaten to represent the cycle of a year and say "shanah tovah" which means "good year."