Roshhashannah Yom Kupur
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kuppur in the Jewish Community
Mini-Ethnography
ANTH 100 SEC 2
FALL 2012
In this paper, I will be describing to you the life and customs of a person of Jewish decent here in America. I will tell you about the first hand research I conducted while participating in the two most important holidays of the Jewish year, Rash Hashanah and Yom Kuppur. I will also describe to you my experience with the Jewish holidays. Through the anthropological study of the Jewish customs and holidays I will not only become familiar with an environment outside of my own but also be provided the opportunity to organize and gather fieldwork and understand its importance. Through my study, I will have a better understanding of Jewish culture, cutsoms and ritual. Most people of Jewish descent gather with family and friends in celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kuppur, in part to celebrate relationships and interactions one has in life, but also to look back on memories, make amends and prepare for the next Jewish year.
During my first experience at synagogue during Shabbat on a Saturday morning I noticed many things about the people there. All of the women had their knees and shoulders completely covered in order to be as respectful and modest as possible. The men dressed very modest as well, almost all of them with yamakas on their head. All of the people at the service were very friendly and inviting. I didn’t understand much of what they were saying because it was spoken primarily in Hebrew. During the service a young boy celebrated his 13th birthday with his Bar Mitzvah, I knew this because they announced this in English. Everybody was excited and I realized that was why the synagogue was so full that day. The service ended with a nice brunch with lots of great comfort foods for the Bar Mitzvah where I met a very nice, short man, Mr. Leibowitz by the bagels. I explained the project to him when he asked me about my notebook and told me he noticed me taking
Mini-Ethnography
ANTH 100 SEC 2
FALL 2012
In this paper, I will be describing to you the life and customs of a person of Jewish decent here in America. I will tell you about the first hand research I conducted while participating in the two most important holidays of the Jewish year, Rash Hashanah and Yom Kuppur. I will also describe to you my experience with the Jewish holidays. Through the anthropological study of the Jewish customs and holidays I will not only become familiar with an environment outside of my own but also be provided the opportunity to organize and gather fieldwork and understand its importance. Through my study, I will have a better understanding of Jewish culture, cutsoms and ritual. Most people of Jewish descent gather with family and friends in celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kuppur, in part to celebrate relationships and interactions one has in life, but also to look back on memories, make amends and prepare for the next Jewish year.
During my first experience at synagogue during Shabbat on a Saturday morning I noticed many things about the people there. All of the women had their knees and shoulders completely covered in order to be as respectful and modest as possible. The men dressed very modest as well, almost all of them with yamakas on their head. All of the people at the service were very friendly and inviting. I didn’t understand much of what they were saying because it was spoken primarily in Hebrew. During the service a young boy celebrated his 13th birthday with his Bar Mitzvah, I knew this because they announced this in English. Everybody was excited and I realized that was why the synagogue was so full that day. The service ended with a nice brunch with lots of great comfort foods for the Bar Mitzvah where I met a very nice, short man, Mr. Leibowitz by the bagels. I explained the project to him when he asked me about my notebook and told me he noticed me taking