At sundown last night, Jews all over the world began marking Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Rosh Hashanah, a one-day festival in ancient times, is celebrated for two days on the first and second day of the month of Tishri (generally during September).

Rosh Hashanah, which literally means "head of the year'' or "beginning of the year'', is not related to any historical event, nor is it a joyous holiday.

Along with Yom Kippur, the two high holidays which have come to be known as the Days of Awe are purely religious holidays that celebrate God's role as master of the universe. The Days of Awe emphasise morality, spirituality, holiness and self-examination.

According to "The Jewish Book of Why'', the Talmud said: "All man's actions of the past year are judged by God on Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur judgment is rendered. For religious Jews these become awesome days.'' Rabbi Jachanan, in summarising this period, wrote: "Three books are opened for evaluation on Rosh Hashanah: the Book of Life of the Wicked, the Book of Life of the Righteous and the Book of Life of the Those in Between.

"The righteous are immediately promised a good life in the future. The wicked are immediately condemned to death. Judgment of those in between is deferred until Yom Kippur, when a final decision is made as to which category they are to be assigned.'' Rosh Hashanah morning service (which can last anywhere from two to seven hours, depending on the congregation) stresses the concept of "return to God'' who would receive the penitent, forgive their sins, and offer them an opportunity to start the New Year with a "clean slate''.

A shofar, one of the oldest natural wind instrument known to the world, traditionally made from a ram's horn, is blown on Rosh Hashanah.

The shofar was blown in order to confuse Satan and block him from bringing any charges against Jews before God on the Day of Judgment.

"When Satan hears the shofar blown so long and often, he will believe that the Messiah has arrived and that his influence and power over God will have come to an end,'' Rabbi Jachanan wrote.

Normally on Rosh Hashanah the shofar is sounded 100 times, ten blasts are sounded three times after the Tora reading, immediately before the Musaf service.

The shofar, depending on the congregation, is again sounded at three points during the Musaf service.

"After Malchuyot, in which God's kingship is affirmed, after Zichronot, in which God's Covenant with Israel is affirmed and after Shofrot, in which the belief in the coming of the Messiah is affirmed.'' Finally a series of blasts, ranging from ten to 40, is sounded at the end of the Rosh Hashanah service.

This year Rosh Hashanah falls on the Sabbath and the shofar is never blown when this occurs because it might lead to a violation of the Sabbath law which states it is to be a day of rest. However, the shofar could have been blown yesterday.

Special prayers, called Piyyut, are also recited on Rosh Hashanah. The piyyut is Jewish religious poetry and constitutes a significant portion of the High Holiday prayer book.

Since Rosh Hashanah is a solemn rather than a joyous festival, no hallel is recited.

It has become tradition for Jewish men and women to wear white on the High Holidays. The rabbi, cantor and laymen -- like the Jewish Community of Bermuda's lay leader Diana Lynn -- in traditional congregations wear a white robe called a kitel.

White garments, in the Jewish tradition, symbolise humility and purity of thought. The colour also symbolises closeness to God and the idea of man's cleansing from sins.

The coloured ark curtain -- parochet -- the Torah mantles and the cover of the reader's table are also replaced with white ones during the High holidays. The synagogue is also decorated with white flowers.

During Rosh Hashanah the Hebrew words `leshana tova tikatevu' (may you be inscribed for a good year) are used as a spoken greeting. The phrase reflects the notion that on Rosh Hashanah, God records in each person's `Book of Life': their fate for the forthcoming year.

Another tradition on Rosh Hashanah afternoon is to visit a body of water to empty their pockets of crumbs.

This ceremony, called Tashlich (which means cast off) is a symbol of self purification, but scholars are not certain of its origin.

On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, gathered by the water, Jews empty their pockets and recite prayers.

The 70 member Jewish Community of Bermuda held a High Holy Day Service yesterday evening. Services will continue this morning at 10 a.m. at the Unity Centre on Reid Street.