The Jewish new year, Rose Hashana, was approaching. Taeyong had told me he was bringing some more people for this holiday. He told me seven people.
They came at around eight and I recognized Haechan but I didn't know the others. They quickly introduced themselves and I introduced myself to them.
I explained to them how the night was going to go and then what the holiday was about. "This holiday is the new year. For the past month, Jewish people have been reflecting on our past actions and repenting for our sins. This is the day of judgement. On this day, God decides who' will live in the coming year and who will die. God also decided on this day how the person will die if they are to die or how their lives go if they are to live. Will you have a good year or a bad year? It's all decided on this day. God decides this for the entire human race as well as the animals on this day. We pray to be written in the book of good life and do different things assigns to show God that we want a good year. The judgement will be sealed on Yom Kippur which is in ten days."
We sat down by the table. Everything was already on the table. They all looked at their places curiously. "We'll start with the fish head because we want To be the head and not the tail. Then we eat from the body of the fish to symbolize the fact that we want to multiply like fish."
"What if we don't want to multiply," Johnny asked. "Then just eat the fish cuz it's yummy," I told him.
"Following that, we have the pomegranate to symbolize the 613 God given commandments because there are around 613 seeds in a pomegranate.
"I remember that from the other holiday," Kai said.
"Tu B'Shvat?" I asked. Kai nodded. "Yes. We did have it then as well because it's one of the seven species of the land of Israel."
"Now," I continued, "we have an apple dipped in honey for a sweet new year. We also have raisins on a celery stick for a raise in salary, and carrots because the Yiddish word for carrot means enemy so it is to symbolize defeating our enemy, and finally, we have a date because the Hebrew word for date comes from the Hebrew word to end and it is a symbol that we want to end this exile and go back to our holy land with the messiah."
"It's all so symbolic," Taeil said.
Baekhyun laughed. "So are the other holidays," he said "although this one seems a bit more."
The meal ended soon after and they all went to sleep. In the morning, we went to the synagogue I and gave them translated prayer books. There were different prayers than usual for this special day. When the shofar, a Rams horn that was hollowed out, was blown, Johnny stood up and copied it until he was shushed by everyone else. After the services we went home and had lunch and played games. The second day of the holiday went much the same as the first day had. When the time came for them to go, they didn't want to leave. "Can I live here forever?" Jaehyun asked. "I loved the atmosphere and the meaning behind this holiday."
"I would love you to stay," I told him," but it would be too hectic. You could always come back and visit." I turned to SuperM. "The next holiday is in nine days. Bring your own food and wear white. I will explain why then."
They nodded and headed out the door. "Thank you," They all said as they are leaving. Doyoung and Jungwoo looked around and said "we're going to visit again." "Great," I told them. "I will look forward to your visit." They smiled and followed everyone else out the door. I was exhausted so I went to sleep. In the morning, I started preparing for Yom Kippur.
