For Jews, this time of year equals prayer and celebration. They gather to sing and dance in circles, on the beautiful music of the shofar, a trumpet made from a ram’s horn. These days filled with faith and repentance are part of the Jewish month of Elul, which introduces the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”) that conclude with Yom Kippur.

The blowing of the shofar symbolizes the awakening of the listeners from their so-called sleep and is meant to make them aware of the future judgment.

Traditionally, these are the days when Divinity decides who is to live and die in the coming year, thus people come together in the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem’s Old City and recite a set of prayers called Slihot.

During the first afternoon of the Jewish New Year, one can notice the practice of tashlikh, in which prayers are said in the vicinity of a natural flowing water. This custom stands for the forgiveness of the sins, which are symbolically shed into water.

Rosh Hashana is seen as a day of rest and activities that are forbidden on Shabbat are also prohibited on Rosh Hashana.

As the Muslim calendar changes every year, this is also the month of Ramadan, when the faithful believe that Divinity handed the Koran to Prophet Muhammad. During this time of year, Muslims concentrate on prayers, as well as self-reflection and fasting (sawm), while colorful lights illuminate the Old City. Throughout the month of Ramadan, the faithful wake up before dawn to eat Suhoor and perform the fajr prayer. They are not allowed to eat or drink until the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), takes place. Muslims may eat and drink after the sun has set, until the next morning’s fajr prayer call.