| Celebrate Rosh Hashanah this year by sending out | | | | apples are dipped in honey as a precursor to the |
| free e-cards to show your appreciation. Friends | | | | traditional meal. In the synagogue, a special |
| and family are often the most likely recipients of | | | | instrument made out of ram's horn and called a |
| free e-cards, but you could also send one to a | | | | shofar is used. According to religious lore, such a |
| work colleague. | | | | horn was used more than two thousand years |
| Free e-cards are gradually becoming the free, | | | | ago as a call to action, even battle, and reiterates |
| easy way of sending e-cards. Quickly, since the | | | | the importance of the holiday as well as |
| internet boom they are taking over the card | | | | suggesting that Jews recall and celebrate their |
| market. There are a few main reasons for this, | | | | roots. |
| the main one obviously been that they are totally | | | | Many synagogues have shofar-blowing contests. |
| free. | | | | Because the horn takes a deep, sustained breath |
| As well as that, free e-cards are obviously | | | | to play, the contestants begin to get slightly red in |
| environmentally friendly as no paper is ever | | | | the face after ten or so seconds, assuming they |
| wasted, this is because free e-cards are made on | | | | make it that long. The practice lets the |
| computers. | | | | congregation relax after services and have a |
| Not only that, free e-cards can be sent from just | | | | much-needed laugh. |
| about anywhere in the world, to almost anywhere | | | | Another interesting tradition: before dinner on the |
| in the world. So if you leave it to late to post, | | | | second night of Rosh Hashanah, some Jews |
| you can still get your free e-card to them, as it | | | | throw breadcrumbs into a river, creek, or lake as |
| will arrive almost instantly. As it is sent over the | | | | a symbol of letting go their sins. They say a |
| net. | | | | prayer and walk back home relieved of the |
| Rosh Hashanah (translated from Hebrew to | | | | burden of their transgressions. |
| literally mean head of the year) is the first of the | | | | There are three other Hebrew names for Rosh |
| Jewish High Holy Days and the beginning of a new | | | | Hashanah: |
| lunar year according to the Jewish calendar. It | | | | Yom Hazikaron - Day of Remembering |
| serves as a time of reflection and prayer, | | | | Yom Hadin - Day of Judgment |
| remembering the year past and rejoicing over the | | | | Yom Hateruah - Day of (Sounding the) Teruah |
| future. | | | | (the name for one of the notes played on the |
| Forgiveness and acceptance of past deeds are | | | | shofar- a reminder to hear the traditional |
| important aspects of the renewal that this holiday | | | | instrument played to celebrate this holiday). |
| signifies. It is believed that on this day God judges | | | | I do not know how I would live without free |
| each person's actions of the past year. Rosh | | | | e-cards. Hundreds of free e-cards are sent |
| Hashanah is one of the most important and | | | | annually, and I am not surprised one bit for their |
| widely celebrated holidays of the Jewish calendar. | | | | popularity. |
| As a symbol of good fortune and sweetness, | | | | |