Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana History

Rosh Hashana (Hebrew: ראש השנה) signifies the beginning of the Jewish New Year and lasts for two days. During this time, Jewish people gather in synagogues and pray, celebrate with family and friends, and participate in various traditional customs such as eating symbolic foods. Some of the important aspects of the observance of Rosh Hashana include the blowing of the shofar, reciting special prayers, and reflecting on the past year.

The history of Rosh Hashana can be traced back to biblical times when the Jewish people observed it as a day of judgment. It was believed that on this day, God would judge all of humanity and determine who would be inscribed in the Book of Life for the upcoming year. In America, Rosh Hashana is observed in much the same way as it is in other parts of the world. Many Jewish people attend synagogue services, participate in traditional rituals such as Tashlich (symbolically casting away sins), and enjoy festive meals with family and friends.

Rosh Hashana usually falls in September or October and is observed according to the Jewish calendar. It is a time for Jewish people to come together and celebrate the beginning of a new year with hope and optimism. Rosh Hashana takes place on September 15th this year.

Rosh Hashana facts

• In synagogues it is common for 100 notes to be sounded with a Ram's horn as a call to repentance.
• For Rosh Hashana, many Jews 'cast off their sins' to a running water stream/sea containing fish (the Tashlich custom). This is to symbolically purge one's body of sin and cast the sins onto the fish.
• Jews typically wear new clothes on Rosh Hashanah and eat new fruits that have not yet been tasted in the season. Customary foods include round hallah bread with raisins, pomegranates, pumpkins, carrots, and honey cake.
• On Rosh Hashanah, it is believed that the fate of all Jews and Gentiles is defined by God for that year. Jews greet each other with many Happy New Year wishes. It is customary to therefore greet people with a wish for a happy New Year and to 'be inscribed for a good year' - meaning to be allocated by God a full year of healthy life.
• New Year prayers include many passages relating to the sovereignty and dominion of God over the entire world. One of these prayers is recited daily and is called Aleinu leshabei'ach (it is our duty to praise God). However, on Rosh Hashanah, during this prayer, Orthodox Jews bow down to accept the full Sovereignty of the Lord.

In the News and Trending in the US for Rosh Hashana

Top things to do in the US for Rosh Hashana

• Celebrate the Jewish New Year with a Rosh Hashana Concert. Popular concerts are held in major cities such as New York and London.
• Attend a local Rosh Hashanah service as a synagogue near you.
• Send New Year's Greeting Cards to your Jewish friends.
• One of the most common ways to celebrate Rosh Hashana is by hosting or attending dinners with family and friends where traditional meals are served.
• It's a custom to eat apples dipped in honey during Rosh Hashana as a symbol of the sweet new year.