Tishrei

Tishrei is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar. It falls in September or October in the Gregorian calendar. The name "Tishrei" is believed to originate from the Akkadian word "tashrītu," meaning "beginning." This month is particularly significant as it marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a period of introspection, prayer, and repentance for Jewish people worldwide.

The month of Tishrei is filled with important holidays and observances. It begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which is a two-day festival celebrated with prayer, festive meals, and the sounding of the shofar, a ram's horn. Following Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, observed with a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer services. The period of introspection culminates with Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, a week-long holiday commemorating the Israelites' journey through the desert after their exodus from Egypt. During Sukkot, people build and dwell in temporary booths called sukkahs, symbolizing their reliance on God's protection. The holiday concludes with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, celebrations marking the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one.