Betty Fagenson Lewis: My Autobiography, 1903 -- 1998
Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah was a serious time - the climate was one of fear. They were afraid because, at that time, it was a question of living or dying. (According to the Jewish religion, this is the time when God decides who is to live or die for the coming year).
At Rosh Hashanah, it was the fear of God's wrath turning against you because you had sinned. And you never knew whether you had sinned or not, and what your punishment would be. It was a time of great anxiety for everyone. Many behaviors were considered sinful like doing something on a Saturday that you weren't supposed to do, or having sex on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. You had to pray for special forgiveness from God if you had sinned - because you were a Mahashefe -- a malicious, wicked woman.
