A Time for Renewal The central theme of the High Holiday period is renewal. The period of introspection that begins a month before Rosh Hashanah and culminates with the fast of Yom Kippur is a time of personal reflection and transformation, an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. This process is known as teshuvah, a Hebrew word that literally means "return" but is more commonly translated as "repentance." For many Jews, this is a time to look back on the year that was, take stock of our lives, make amends for past transgressions, and express our hopes for the year to come. At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, a celebratory ripple is often felt in synagogues, as the conclusion of the intense 25-hour fast is greeted with joy that our past wrongs have been made right and that we can begin the new year on a hopeful note. These two High Holiday customs also emphasize the theme of renewal: Many people observe a custom of eating a fruit one hasn’t tasted in a long time on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. A popular fruit choice is a pomegranate, which has long been a Jewish symbol of fertility and rebirth and which Jewish legend suggests contains 613 seeds, corresponding to the 613 commandments in the Torah. 2. Shehechiyanu: A Blessing to Mark New Moments Eating a new fruit is accompanied by the recitation of Shehechiyanu, a blessing traditionally recited to mark new occasions. The blessing, which thanks God for having sustained us and granted us the opportunity to reach this special moment, is recited on both nights of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur.
Though Shehechiyanu is recited on many Jewish occasions, during the High Holiday period the blessing takes on an added dimension, as we express our gratitude for having reached this yearly milestone and we convey our hopes for the year to come.
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