> According to Jewish belief, this is the week the entire world is judged by God

Now there's a scary thought. Thank goodness God judges us less harshly than I would.

Hmmm Plane Speaker, doesn't sound good. I sense some fasting in your future?

I liked your article [in the Almanac]. Great writing and I agree!

Very nice post and sentiments. I assume your "Jewbu" friend could also be described as "Buddish"? A term I first heard from Daryl Henriquies, the "Swami from Miami" many years ago on San Francisco radio. Happy New Year to everyone.

Father of 3, Buddish is so much better and respectful sounding. Thank you. Buddish!

I agree on Buddish. Jewbu sounds like some sort of urban clothing line for the Hasidim ;)

Blog Crush, You made me google Hasidim (and blush). I like buddish much much better after Father of 3 wrote in. Happy Yom Kipper everyone!

Thanks for sharing these food-related religious traditions, Laura. As a person who's interested in an Earth-based spirituality, I find it interesting that the traditional Jewish fall holidays come at about the time of the autumnal equinox. The fall equinox comes when traditional peoples would start to think about their harvested food and how they would get through the winter... and that's a good time to think about making amends and figuring out how to get along better with everyone you'll be sharing food with during the long cold winter.

Nice post. For the record, there is a ritual of throwing small pieces of bread (not breadcrumbs) into a body of moving water as a symbol of casting off one's transgressions. This ritual, Tashlikh, is usually performed on the afternoon of Rosh Hashonah, which is at the beginning of the Days of Awe. The fast of Yom Kippur is at the end of the 10 days.

It is often not understood that the various forms of repentance, from Tashlikh to prayer to acts of charity, are ways of seeking forgiveness from God, but they do not replace seeking forgiveness from people whom you have wronged. So there is no easy shortcut to forgiveness!

Not a Rabbi - thanks for the clarification! I knew something was not right about that. What beautiful symbolism. I am glad to have learned about more this high holy time.