Tonight, Jewish people all over the world start celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. The Jewish New Year debuts a 10-day period of repentance known as the Days of Awe, which culminate in the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As expected, nowhere around the world is the Rosh Hashanah better celebrated than in Jerusalem. There, Israelis and Jewish pilgrims greet one another with the Hebrew greeting 'Shanah Tovah,' which means 'Happy New Year.'

As in traditional Christian Churches, which have inherited this custom, the religious holiday begins at dusk today. Apart from the wine and challah bread which customarily opens a festive meal, on this special occasion a piece of apple is taken and dipped in honey to symbolize hope for a sweet year. Another tradition is to eat pomegranates on the second night, or other fruit which one not tasted for at least 30 days previously.

This year, the Jewish New Year coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Thus, Jews and Muslims, in heavy tension in Jerusalem, will be celebrating at the same time their holidays.

The observation of Rosh Hashanah can be traced back to Leviticus 23:24, where it is said that the holiday should be observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Tradition holds that Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of man. The day is a rest day similar to the Shabbat and is also characterized by the blowing of the shofar, a trumpet made from a ram's horn which makes a somewhat unpleasant sound which is to remind Jews of upcoming judgment.

This year's Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will start on the evening of October 8 and will end next evening.