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September Newsletter - L'shanah tovah tikateivu
L'shanah tovah tikateivu
I am writing this newsletter in the midst of all the preparation and
excitement around Rosh Hashanah. For me, this means wracking my brains to
find an interesting display to grace the cabinets in the AHC. For
inspiration, I looked at last year's exhibition on the museum website and
Roslyn's collection of anecdotes on the traditions of Rosh Hashanah caught
my eye.
I embarked on a search to find all the traditions of Rosh Hashanah, Yom
Kippur, Sukkot and Simhat Torah that I could get my hands on. As I did my
research I realized that there are some traditions that I didn't know about
that would be really easy for my family to incorporate into the festivals
this year.
For instance, did you know that it is customary to buy new clothes for Rosh
Hashanah! On the same tack, Rabbi Engel mentioned to me that it's also
traditional for a husband to buy his wife a new piece of Jewelry to
celebrate the New Year -- this tradition really appeals to me!
Last year Yvette Bolaffi told Roslyn: "I remember in our home a plate with
wheat seeds spread on a base of cotton; we would water the seeds and the
shoots would grow. I'm sure this was symbolic - the new shoots representing
the New Year". I'm sure the kids would love that one!
Before leaving for the synagogue on Yom Kippur, it is customary to bless the
children, to give Tzedakah and also to light Yahrzeit candles for departed
family.
What about making a beautiful Etrog container with the kids for Sukkot, and
then making jam or marmalade with the Etrogim after the holiday?
In my research I pieced together the following greetings for this time of
year:
On and before Rosh Hashanah, we greet people with the words "Shanah tovah
umetukah" (Have a good and sweet year!), or "L'shanah tovah tikateivu" (May
you be written into the Book of Life!).
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur it is customary to greet people with
"L'shanah tovah tikateivu vetehateinu" (May you be inscribed and sealed [in
the Book of Life]), and after Rosh Hashanah through Hoshana Rabbah, "G'mar
hatimah tovah" (May you end up with good sealing [in the Book of Life])
On that note, I wish you all a good and sweet year and may you be written
into the Book of Life.....
Contact Me
I'd love to share your stories and ideas for the Museum...
Adelaide Jewish Museum
P O Box 8070
Station Arcade
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: 8431-7732 Fax: 8110-0900
Email: laltman@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.adelaidejmuseum.org
Yours Sincerely
Leanda Altman
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