Tishri is the first month of the Jewish civil year and the seventh month of the Jewish religious year. It typically falls in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. The name "Tishri" is derived from the Akkadian word "tashritu," which means "beginning" or "head of the year."
In Judaism, Tishri holds great significance as it marks the High Holy Days, a solemn and spiritually reflective period that includes Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Rosh Hashanah, which falls on the first and second days of Tishri, commemorates the creation of the world and is characterized by prayers, repentance, and the sounding of the shofar (a ram's horn). Yom Kippur, observed on the tenth day of Tishri, is a day of fasting, prayer, and atonement, where Jews seek forgiveness for their transgressions.
Tishri also includes other important observances, such as Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), celebrated from the 15th to the 21st of the month, during which Jews build and dwell in temporary outdoor shelters symbolizing the Israelites' wilderness journey. Simchat Torah, marking the completion and recommencement of the annual Torah reading cycle, is also celebrated on Tishri 23.
Overall, Tishri represents a time of reflection, renewal, and spiritual introspection for the Jewish people. It serves as the beginning of the Jewish year, where individuals seek personal growth, seek forgiveness, and commemorate their shared history and traditions.
