News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) The Jewish new year of Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown Wednesday, 5768 years after the creation of the world. The traditional shofar, used by the patriarch Abraham, will be blown on each of the two days. This year's holiday is followed by the Sabbath, meaning that Israelis will have the uncommon experience of observing three consecutive holy days. The occurrence is frequent outside of Israel where the festivals of Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost) and Succot (Tabernacles) are celebrated for eight days.

This coming year also will be the Sabbatical year, known as Shemittah, which occurs once every seven years and is observed only in Israel.