Rosh Hashanah — ראש השנה
Starts Friday evening at sundown on September 11th and ends at sundown on the 13th.
Summary
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and begins on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. It is observed for two days and begins the period known as the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance, which ends with Yom Kippur.
From an Orthodox Jewish perspective, Rosh Hashanah is much more than the beginning of a new calendar year. It is a day of judgment, prayer, reflection, and recognition of HaShem as King over the world. Jewish tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah HaShem judges each person and considers the year ahead.
The central mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah is hearing the sound of the shofar. The shofar calls us to wake up spiritually, examine our lives, remember HaShem, and begin the process of teshuvah.
At the same time, Rosh Hashanah is a Yom Tov and is observed with festive meals, family gatherings, synagogue services, special prayers, candle lighting, Kiddush, and traditional foods that express our hope for a good and sweet year.
What Rosh Hashanah Means
The words Rosh Hashanah literally mean “head of the year.”
The Torah refers to the day as Yom Teruah, a day of sounding the shofar. Jewish tradition also describes it as Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment.
Rosh Hashanah is therefore both serious and hopeful.
We recognize that HaShem is our Creator and King. We think about the year that has passed, the choices we have made, the people we may have hurt, and the ways we can become better.
At the same time, Judaism teaches that change is possible.
We are not expected to enter Rosh Hashanah pretending we have made no mistakes. We come before HaShem knowing that we are imperfect and asking for another year in which we can learn, improve, perform mitzvot, and grow closer to Him.
HaShem as King
One of the strongest themes of the Rosh Hashanah prayers is Malchuyot, the kingship of HaShem.
Rosh Hashanah is a time when we recognize that HaShem is not simply part of our lives. He is the Creator and King of the entire world.
Many of the prayers emphasize:
מלך על כל הארץ
“King over all the earth.”
This idea changes the way we think about the new year.
Instead of asking only what we want from the coming year, we also ask what HaShem wants from us.
How can we become better people?
How can we perform more mitzvot?
How can we strengthen our relationship with Torah?
How can we treat other people better?
Rosh Hashanah begins by placing HaShem at the center of those questions.
The Day of Judgment
Jewish tradition teaches that Rosh Hashanah is a day when HaShem judges the world.
The Mishnah teaches that all human beings pass before HaShem in judgment on Rosh Hashanah.
This is why the holiday has a serious tone even though it is also celebrated with festive meals.
We pray for life, health, peace, sustenance, and a good year.
One of the best known ideas associated with Rosh Hashanah is being written into the Book of Life.
A traditional greeting is:
לשנה טובה תכתבו ותחתמו
“May you be written and sealed for a good year.”
For a woman, the wording changes slightly according to Hebrew grammar.
The Shofar — שופר
The most important and recognizable mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah is hearing the shofar.
A shofar is usually made from a ram’s horn.
The Torah commands:
יום תרועה יהיה לכם
“It shall be a day of sounding for you.”
The shofar produces several different types of sounds.
Tekiah is one long, clear sound.
Shevarim consists of several broken sounds.
Teruah is a series of short, rapid sounds.
The different sounds have been compared to a call of awakening, crying, warning, and celebration.
The Rambam famously explains that although sounding the shofar is a Torah commandment, it also carries a spiritual message similar to:
Wake up from your sleep. Examine your actions. Remember your Creator.
For many people, hearing the shofar is the emotional center of Rosh Hashanah.
In a traditional Orthodox synagogue, many shofar blasts are sounded during the service, commonly totaling 100 blasts according to widespread custom.
If the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, the shofar is not sounded in an Orthodox synagogue that day. It is sounded on the second day.
Synagogue Services
Rosh Hashanah synagogue services are longer than ordinary Shabbat or weekday services.
A special prayer book called a machzor is used.
The prayers emphasize HaShem’s kingship, judgment, remembrance, teshuvah, and hope for the coming year.
The Amidah of Musaf contains three major themes:
Malchuyot, Kingship.
Zichronot, Remembrances.
Shofarot, Shofar.
These prayers speak about HaShem as King, HaShem remembering His covenant and His people, and the importance of the shofar throughout Jewish history.
The Torah is also read publicly during the morning service.
Unetaneh Tokef
One of the most famous prayers recited during Rosh Hashanah is Unetaneh Tokef.
It describes the seriousness of the Day of Judgment and asks us to consider the uncertainty of life.
The prayer includes the well known teaching:
ותשובה ותפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזרה
“Teshuvah, prayer, and tzedakah can lessen the severity of the decree.”
This is one of the central messages of the High Holy Days.
We cannot control everything that happens in life, but we can change how we live.
We can return to HaShem.
We can pray.
We can give and help others.
Teshuvah — תשובה
Teshuvah is often translated as repentance, but the Hebrew word more directly means “return.”
The idea is that a person can return to HaShem.
Teshuvah includes recognizing something we have done wrong, regretting it, admitting it before HaShem, and making a sincere effort not to repeat it.
When we have hurt another person, prayer alone is not enough.
We should try to apologize and make things right with that person.
This is especially important during the days leading to Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah begins a period when Jews traditionally think more carefully about relationships, behavior, mitzvot, and the direction of their lives.
Lighting Candles
Rosh Hashanah begins in the evening, as Jewish holidays do.
Candles are traditionally lit before the holiday begins.
A blessing is said over the candles.
Because Rosh Hashanah lasts two days, candles are also lit for the second night according to the rules of Yom Tov.
Many families use this time to begin the holiday in a peaceful and meaningful way.
Kiddush and Festive Meals
Rosh Hashanah is a Yom Tov, so families traditionally have festive meals.
Kiddush is recited over wine or grape juice.
Bread is eaten after washing the hands and saying the appropriate blessings.
Many families use round challah instead of the braided challah commonly eaten on Shabbat.
The round shape is often understood as representing the cycle of the year, continuity, or the crown of HaShem.
Some families also dip the challah into honey.
Apples and Honey
One of the best known Rosh Hashanah customs is eating apple dipped in honey.
A blessing is made over the apple, followed by a short prayer asking HaShem for a good and sweet year.
The traditional wording includes:
יהי רצון מלפניך ה׳ אלהינו ואלהי אבותינו שתחדש עלינו שנה טובה ומתוקה
“May it be Your will, HaShem our God and God of our fathers, that You renew for us a good and sweet year.”
The honey represents the hope that the coming year will be filled with sweetness and blessing.
Simanim — Symbolic Foods
Many Jewish communities eat special foods called simanim on Rosh Hashanah.
Different foods are associated with prayers and hopes for the new year.
The exact customs vary widely among Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi, and other Jewish communities.
Some families eat dates.
Others eat pomegranates.
Some eat leeks, squash, black-eyed peas, beets, or other foods depending upon family tradition.
Some communities eat the head of a fish or another symbolic food while expressing the hope that we will be “the head and not the tail.”
These customs show the great variety within Jewish tradition.
There is no need for every Jewish family to follow exactly the same Rosh Hashanah menu.
Tashlich — תשליך
Another widespread Rosh Hashanah custom is Tashlich.
Tashlich is usually performed on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, although customs and timing can vary.
People gather near a natural body of water and recite prayers that include verses from the prophet Micah.
One of the important verses says:
ותשליך במצלות ים כל חטאותם
“You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
Tashlich is symbolic.
The water does not actually remove sins.
Teshuvah requires sincere change.
Tashlich gives us a physical way to reflect upon leaving wrongdoing behind and beginning again.
Avoiding Ordinary Work
Rosh Hashanah is a full Jewish holiday.
Under Orthodox halachah, ordinary weekday work is prohibited in a manner similar to other Yom Tov days.
There are differences between Shabbat and Yom Tov, particularly regarding certain activities connected with preparing food, but Rosh Hashanah is not treated as an ordinary workday.
For an observant Jew, the holiday is set aside for prayer, meals, family, Torah, reflection, and celebration.
A Serious Holiday That Is Also Joyful
Rosh Hashanah has a unique feeling.
It is not a sad holiday.
It is also not simply a party celebrating the arrival of another year.
There is seriousness because we recognize that we are standing before HaShem in judgment.
But there is also confidence, hope, and joy because HaShem has given us another opportunity to return to Him.
We dress respectfully.
We eat good meals.
We spend time with family and community.
We pray for a good year.
The seriousness and joy exist together.
The Ten Days of Repentance
Rosh Hashanah begins the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance.
These ten days begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur.
During this period, additional phrases are added to the Amidah.
People traditionally increase Torah study, prayer, tzedakah, and acts of kindness.
There is also a stronger focus on repairing relationships and correcting mistakes.
The idea is not simply to behave differently for ten days.
The goal is to use these days to begin changes that continue into the rest of the year.
Rosh Hashanah for Someone New to Jewish Observance
A person who has never fully observed Rosh Hashanah does not need to feel overwhelmed.
There is a great deal to learn, and even people who have attended synagogue for many years may not understand every prayer.
A person can begin with something meaningful.
Attend a Rosh Hashanah service.
Hear the shofar.
Eat a holiday meal.
Dip an apple in honey.
Say a prayer to HaShem.
Think about one thing you would like to improve.
Ask questions.
Learn why the holiday is observed.
Jewish growth does not have to happen all at once.
Rosh Hashanah itself teaches us that a new beginning is possible.
A Tevel Zion Lesson From Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah reminds us that HaShem gives us opportunities to begin again.
Some people enter the new year deeply connected to Jewish life. Others may feel distant, unsure, or completely unfamiliar with the synagogue service.
Everyone can still take part in the journey.
The sound of the shofar calls every Jew to remember who we are and to think about who we want to become.
You do not need to be perfect.
You do not need to know every prayer.
Start where you are.
Learn something new.
Do a mitzvah.
Make peace with someone if you can.
Remember HaShem a little more often.
Then take another step.
Rosh Hashanah is not only about looking back at the person we have been. It is an opportunity to decide what kind of person we want to become and to begin the new year moving a little closer to HaShem.
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