The following is an exerpt from Rabbi Barry's "Way Messages". Rabbi Bary is a friend of mine from tribe.net
The biblical feast of Rosh Hashanah begins tonight at the appearance of the second star in the sky. There is much symbolism in this feast that begins the month of Tishrei, often called the holy month because Jews will celebrate four major holy days during this month.
Rosh Hashanah means the head of the year. We would call that New Years. However, strictly speaking it is not the new year that we normally think of, that is, the beginning of the year. That day occurred on the first day of Nisan in the spring. This day is the first day of the religious new year. It is the day upon which the cycle of life begins again. The cycle of human life began according to Jewish beliefs on this day. The world was created on this day and this day is called the birthday of Adam. Therefore, it is appropriate to see this day as the beginning of life.
Another name for this day is Yom Teruah, which means the day of the trumpet. It is called the day of the trumpet because the world was created by a trumpet like sound and the world will come to end with a trumpet like sound. That trumpet will be blown by Gavriel the Archangel at the coming of the Meshiach. Paul calls it the last trumpet. Bible believing Jews believe that the Meshiach will appear at the blowing of this trumpet and the dead shall rise from their graves incorruptible.
Rosh Hashanah begins a period of reflection for Jews. We believe that on Rosh Hashanah the King of Creation judges all beings, everywhere. He decides if they deserve to live another year or to die in this coming year. He decides whether they shall become rich or poor, sick or well, happy or sad, on this day of days. Not only mankind is judged but the angels as well and all the elementals, demons, devils etc. For ten days, Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur, Jews will try to do good deeds. They will see each request, whether for money or time, during that period as an offering from the King to make amends and prove that they should live. Now some have already been found innocent and will live another year, but most will now use this time to become right with the King. On Yom Kippur, the King will sign the sentence, set it in stone, and nothing can change it. But for the next ten days we can influence him by our mitigating acts.
On Rosh Hashanah, Jews will go to a river or flowing stream and there they will pick up stones. They will symbolically attach their sins to the stones and symbolically throw their sins away by throwing the stones in the river. This public confession of sin helps the soul and helps to make amends with the King.
Strictly speaking, it is the blowing of the trumpet in Jerusalem that calls forth the new year, but Jews everywhere will take up their shofarim and call forth the new year. The event happens at the exact moment that a second star appears in the night sky. Why the second star? Because under Jewish law, it takes two witnesses to convict and so it takes two witnesses, the two stars, to declare that the sun has fled and the night has begun. And thus the ancient statement again is recreated -- and the evening and the morning were the first day.
I will end this address by saying the words all Jews will say to each other this evening: L'shanah tovah. To a good year.
