Celebrating Rosh Hashanah: A Time of Reflection and Prayer

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Sep 08, 2011, 09:17 ET

CLEVELAND, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, is one of the most important and holiest times for those of the Jewish faith. Introspection, self-evaluation, and prayers for peace, good health, and happiness are a central part of the holiday. According to American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM), Rosh Hashanah remains one of the top card-sending occasions within the Jewish community as people want to connect and send warm wishes to those most important to them.

Celebrated for two days, Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown on Wednesday, September 28, this year. It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a 10 day period culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During this time, services are held at synagogues and temples as Jewish people engage in self-reflection and prayer, hoping for a good year ahead individually and collectively. During festive holiday meals, they enjoy traditional foods such as the round challah bread, representing the circle of life, and apples with honey, symbolizing the desire for a sweet new year.

"Connecting with friends and family is why Rosh Hashanah is one of the most popular card-sending occasions for those of the Jewish faith," said Pam Fink, senior editor of the L'Chayim To Life! brand from American Greetings. "As we each spend time this holiday season considering both the past and the future, we reach out to people in our lives and send warm wishes for a new year filled with good health and happiness."

American Greetings L'Chayim To Life! greeting card collection offers a full range of card creations as well as e-cards that feature contemporary and conventional designs combined with meaningful sentiments. The cards feature beautiful artwork of cherished Rosh Hashanah symbols, such as the shofar, or ram's horn, the dove of peace, apples and honey, and pomegranates, representing a multitude of blessings, along with heartfelt messages.

Rosh Hashanah cards from the L'Chayim To Life! collection can be found at participating drug chains, grocery stores and super centers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. Shoppers can also select from the variety of e-cards at AmericanGreetings.com. For more information, including store locations in your area, please visit us at www.corporate.americangreetings.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amgreetings and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanGreetings.

About American Greetings Corporation

For more than 100 years, American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) has been a creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships. The Company's major greeting card lines are American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus, and other paper product offerings include DesignWare party goods and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards. American Greetings also has one of the largest collections of electronic greetings on the Web, including cards available at AmericanGreetings.com through AG Interactive, Inc. (the Company's online division). In addition to its product lines, American Greetings also creates and licenses popular character brands through the American Greetings Properties group. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.6 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.

SOURCE American Greetings Corporation