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What do we do on Rosh Hashanah:
There are several customs, which are unique to Rosh Hashanah:
1. As mentioned earlier, Rosh Hashanah serves believers to reflect their wrongdoings of the previous year ('Tikhale shana vetsaroteha, tahel shana ve mistviteha'- let last year's mishaps end, and let the new year come forth with its blessing). On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews believe that god sits in the sky with three books before him, and decides who shall live and who shall die, based on last year's actions:
The first book is the book of living. Everyone written in this book, is righteous, and deserves to live.
The second book is the book of death. Everyone written in this book is vile and evil, deserves no penitence, and is condemned to die.
The third book is the book of deliberation. In this book, all the people who have done an equal share of good and evil things in the previous year, are written. These people have 10 days to repent, during the Days of Awe, before God passes judgment.
2. Days of Awe (Aseret Yemey Teshuvah), is a 10-days period which stretches from the first day of Rosh
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