Jewish New Year
Simply choose the image you wish to send by clicking on it.
Tuesday 23 September 2006 is the first day of Rosh ha-shanah, the
Jewish New Year: 1st Tishre 5767 in the Jewish calendar. The Jewish
New Year celebrates the creation of the first humans, Adam and Eve,
and the creation of the world. It is customary to dip apples in
honey and wish for a 'happy and sweet' year ahead.
The three images here all come from manuscripts in the British Library.
The Duke of Sussex, Book of Numbers illustration: The four soldiers in booths hold standards with devices traditionally associated with the leading tribes:
Judah (a lion), Ephraim (a bull), Dan (a serpent) and Reuben (an eagle).
Book of Ruth illustration: harvesting scene featuring Ruth, Boaz and threshers. Humans with animal faces can often be found in Hebrew medieval manuscripts from Ashkenaz (mostly Germany). The practice of distorting the human face could have been associated with the traditional prohibition against figurative art.
Golden Haggadah illustration: the creation of Eve (right); Adam
and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge (left). You can turn
the pages of the Golden Haggadah and 14 other wonderful books on
your screen now!
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Book of Numbers
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Book of Ruth
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Adam and Eve
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