2007年VOA标准英语-Israelis Mark Jewish New Year Amid Regional Ten

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
12 September 2007

Israelis are observing the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days on the Hebrew calendar. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the holiday season takes place against the background of growing tension on Israel's northern and southern borders.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men pray at Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, 12 Sep 2007

Israelis gathered in synagogues around the country to welcome Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is the beginning of the High Holy Days, culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in 10 days time. That is followed by the weeklong Feast of Tabernacles, an autumn harvest feast where observant Jews live in booths called Succot.

But the holiday season has been overshadowed by escalating¹ tensions between Israel and its northern neighbor, Syria. A week ago, Syria said its air defenses fired on Israeli warplanes that violated its airspace. And now, media reports are emerging with details of the incident.

The reports say Israel launched an air strike deep inside Syria, targeting weapons supplies from Iran or a missile base. The New York Times said Israeli jets recently spotted² possible nuclear facilities in Syria. Israeli officials have not commented, but the reports have raised fresh fears of another Mideast war.

Israeli soldiers unload a large group of detained Palestinians from a truck following an army operation in the Gaza Strip, 06 Sep 2007

In addition, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been launching daily rocket attacks on Israeli border towns, prompting threats of retaliation³ from Israel.

The High Holy Days are a time of reflection, so recent events are weighing on the minds of Israelis. Barry Mevorach immigrated⁴ to Israel from New York a few years ago. He spoke⁵ to VOA about his concerns.

"I don't think we're going to see peace," he said. "I think we're going to see an increase of violence on the northern border, an increase in the Gaza area."

And tensions on two fronts make many Israelis nervous.

"There's such a division in the north area and in the Gaza area that the dilution⁶ of the military strength is something that we've got to be very concerned about in Israel at this time," he noted⁷.

Despite these concerns, Israelis dip apples into honey on Rosh Hashanah, a tradition symbolizing⁸ hope for a sweet new year.

1 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

2 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

3 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 dilution   

n.稀释，淡化

参考例句：

• There is no hard and fast rule about dilution.至于稀释程度，没有严格的规定。
• He attributed this to a dilution effect of the herbicide.他把这归因于除草剂的稀释效应。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 symbolizing   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This symbol later evolved into a common hieroglyphic symbolizing victory. 这幕场景后来逐渐演化为象征胜利的普通象形文字。 来自时文部分
• Mooncakes reunion, is symbolizing the Mid-Autumn festival will feed. 月饼象征着团圆，是中秋佳节必食之品。 来自互联网