When Is Jewish New Year 2018 And How Could It Affect Me? How To Visit Israel For Free

Problem
When is Jewish New Year? The dates shift around as all Jewish festivals follow the moon. Jewish New Year 2018 is Saturday September 9th until Tuesday September 11th.
Linked to the Jewish New Year is the Day of Atonement when one prays for forgiveness of past sins and to be written into the book of life for the next year.

Sweet Food
Features of the Jewish New Year are eating sweet foods (lots of delicacies in your nearest deli - and greetings cards and tableware). You will find apples and honey on greetings cards and paper plates and serviettes.

On the day, at synagogue, the Bible (Torah, old testament) starts with the reading of the first chapter of the book, the story of Abraham and Isaac, and the near-sacrifice of Abraham's son Isaac which is averted.

Shafar
Much excitement about the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn), which is very difficult and takes a lot of breath and a lot of practice.

Yom Kippur
September 18th to 19th (evening) 2018.

Meetings Postponed
A club I belong to in London had to shift the date of its speech contest which was arranged for a Saturday on a Jewish holiday because half of the contestants, as well as the helpers and organizers, would be away (or wouldn't want to be conspicuously present).

Cards
Now is the time to send out cards to your nearby and overseas contacts.

Animated Greeting Cards
I was sent a Jewish New year greeting card created by Jacquie Lawson animated cards. You could reply or send your own card by subscribing for a year.

Words you may see or hear include:

Hebrew / Yiddish - English
ha - the
Rosh Hashonah - New Year literally Head of the New Year.
Rosh - head
tov - good
yom - day
Yom tov - holiday, (tov is good; yom is day; like French the adjective is second)

English - Hebrew / Yiddish
Good yomtov - happy holidays
head - rosh
New Year - Rosh Hashonah
the - ha

After the joyful Jewish New Year comes the Day of Atonement, a full day fast. I have heard it said that Christianity is Judaism made easy, whilst the Muslim religion is Judaism made difficult.

English - Hebrew / Yiddish
Day - yom
Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur

Hebrew / Yiddish - English
Yom - day
Yom Kippur - Day of atonement

For a more detailed and accurate list of Hebrew and Yiddish words see Wikipedia. You can also buy Hebrew and Yiddish dictionaries and phrasebooks.

If you are travelling and cannot attend a service in your home country and wish to do so, ask around in advance if an organization such as Chabad can put you in touch with a congregation, or investigate following services online.

Expect Jewish businesses to be closed - that means the local bagel shop.

Travel To And In Israel
In Israel hotel prices are higher during the national / religious holidays, transport will not run, shops and restaurants including those in hotels may be closed. You could consider stocking up on food, or investigate whether you could be going to eat in nearby non-Jewish areas, such as churches, Armenian areas or Arabic areas.

To visit Israel for free:
For young Jews an outreach programme:
Birthright

For Jews and non-Jews
Working on a kibbutz.

Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah
https://www.jacquielawson.com/sendcard/preview (New Year cards animated with music)
123greetings.com
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/rosh-hashanah-faq-all-about-the-jewish-new-year/
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowTopic-g293977-i1733-k7319403-A_trip_during_Rosh_Hashanah_and_Yom_Kippur_Holidays-Israel.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthright_Israel
http://www.overseasjobcentre.co.uk/kibmosh.shtml

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.