Thursday, October 2, 2008

Happy birthday to the World

Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the new year. We have just entered, by Jewish reckoning, the year 5769. I have seen it written in some scholarly works as 5769 A.M., from the Latin anno mundi, meaning the year of the world, i.e. of the creation of the world.

In the Rosh Hashanah liturgy (the holy day has its own thick prayerbook) we say to God:
"This is the day of the beginning of Your creation, a memorial of the first day ... today is the conception of the world."
I took the photo now of a postcard I carried around the world for several years. It is a painting by the wonderful artist Sieger Köder called "Schöpfung" [Creation], Und Gott sah alles an, was er gemacht hatte, und es war sehr gut" (from Genesis 1).

14 comments:

  1. What are you supposed to buy someone that old?!?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shalom from Toronto. Thanks for visiting my blog and for stopping to say hi.

    It is many years since I was last in Israel and then only for a week which might as well have been a year there is so much to take in. Every square inch a treasure and an experience never forgotten. My partner has not been and I must remedy that. I look forward to further visits to Jerusalem via your blog in the meantime.

    Oh, and L'Shanah Tovah!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've heard, before, about Rosh Hashanah, since I get friends who celebrate it, but I identified that day as a Jewish holy day. That what our world is made of, ignorance and incomprehension.
    In fact, as our religions were linked for , let's say, 3761 years, we can appropriate this celebration too. Thanks, Dina, for the information. Happy New Year!
    Your post card represents many Sky Watch in one!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bear Naked, May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for the new year.

    Kris, you are so funny!

    Welcome Rob. And I hope to see you both in person some day soon.

    How right you are, Catherine! Rosh Hashana is the most UNIVERSAL of all the Jewish holy days. So celebrate!
    Ha, good one! I didn't think of the illustration as a SkyWatch one. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy birthday "World" !
    That's right for the date (I have Genesis...) !
    Nice picture...
    See You later Dina.

    ReplyDelete
  6. First of all, happy Rosh Hashana (New Year?), Dina. May this commemoration of the creation renew us in spirit and prepare us for a better and more peaceful and prosperous future.

    I read with fascination your stories and explanations about the tradition and enjoyed the "tour" you gave on the Kotar. Someday I would like to visit Jerussalem and see for myself the wonder you have so graphically described. (My wife had been to Jerussalem a few years ago after the umrah/minor hajj before we were married and has wonderful stories about it too.)

    Thanks for sharing the story and pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your good wishes. Lovely painting. L'Shanah Tovah!

    ReplyDelete
  8. xronia polla (may it have many years in the future - birthday wish in greece)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful post ...

    Thank you for the visit, I cherish your comment and wish the very same to you and your family!

    L'Shana Tovah!

    :-Daryl

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear friends, on behalf of the World I thank you for the birthday wishes. :)

    Eki, you will love Jerusalem. I hope you come visit soon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful thought : The beginning of the world... God must have known that we made a mess of it. So sad!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Dina. I love the postcard. I could get lost in it. Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete


Thanks for your comment!
Comment moderation is on so I will see any new comments even on older posts!