Hanukkah, Passover, and Sukkot are all celebrated by Winonans. The Jewish New Year is a serious occasion. Jews believe their acts and thoughts have all been written in the Book of Life. It is read on the first day, and their fate for the year can be decided. However, during the following ten days of solemn worship, Jews can ask to be forgiven for their sins.
Honey symbolizes families' hopes for a sweet life in the new year.
On this day, the judgment made about each person on Rosh Ha-shanah is established for good in the Book of Life. Everyone, except the sick and children, stop eating at sunset of the following day and think about the meaning of Yom Kippur. At synagogue services, the story of Jonah, written in the Torah , is read to show that God will forgive people for their sins. On this holiday, one gives thanks for all things that grow and remembers the difficult escape from Egypt by Jews in Biblical times. Children enjoy sitting inside and even having a meal there.