Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet, Theresa Villiers, has issued the following message on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.
“I would like to wish Shana Tova to the Jewish community in Barnet who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah this weekend.
As we approach this important date in the Jewish calendar, I know many of my constituents will be preparing to spend the festivities with friends and family.
Celebrations begin at sunset on Friday 15th September and mark the start of the New Year according to the traditions of Judaism. I hope that everyone marking this joyous festival will have a happy and sweet New Year”.
Starting on the first day of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration at the start of Jewish New Year. The festival includes by the lighting of candles, prayer services, and the sounding of the ram’s horn, or Shofar, one of the world's oldest musical instruments. Jewish families gather together for a Rosh Hashanah dinner, which traditionally includes foods such as pomegranate and apples dipped in honey, to symbolise a sweet New Year.
