Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are days of awe, judgment, prayers and introspection at the beginning of the Jewish year. Celebrating them reminds us that every year of life is a gift from God. These days increase our awareness of God's presence, remind us of our being responsible for how we use our free-will, and teach us to always be optimistic and happy (because Rosh Hashanah is celebrated with festive meals and the gravitas and judgment are not allowed to precipitate sadness).
That is a question to ask each individual Jew, since the effect is a very personal thing. The intent of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is:
to pray for ourselves and for everyone
to be constantly mindful of God and our responsibilities to Him
to be grateful to Him for the opportunity to spiritually cleanse ourselves
to be happy, since these days are included among the festivals
to renew our interpersonal relationships and apologize if we've offended anyone
They're both what, rather than who. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, when observant Jews fast and believe that, if they've made sincere efforts to put right any wrongs committed over the previous year, G-d forgives those wrongs. Yom Kippur comes tens days after Rosh Hashanah, which marks the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar.
The High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are celebrated by Jews because God commands us to celebrate them (Leviticus ch.23).
The seven festivals of God are listed in Leviticus ch.23. Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuoth, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkoth, Shemini Atzereth.
The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) is kept by Jews wherever they live. That includes Australia.See also the Related Links.Link: Where do Jews liveLink: More about Rosh Hashanah
The Torah states that this day has been given to us for atonement of sins (Leviticus 16:30, referring to Yom Kippur). On that day, we fast and pray and beg God to forgive us for all sins which we committed during the year, whether intentionally or not. Our tradition is that the ten days from Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur are when the world and its inhabitants are judged for that year (Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 16a and 18a).
Yes, but it's only six days, since swimming isn't permitted for Jews on four of the ten days. Those four are the two days of Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat, and Yom Kippur.
Jews in California celebrate Yom Kippur the same way that Jews the world over celebrate Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah 2008 begins on sunset of Monday evening, September 29. Orthodox Jews celebrate 2 days of Rosh Hashanah, Reform Jews celebrate 1.
Jews
umm... what do you call Hanukkah, rosh hashanah, yom kippur and other Jewish HOLIDAYS? a holiday is basically a celebration on a religion. like Christmas. christians celebrate their religion as well as Jesus or god. and Easter.
The Jews celebrate Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.