Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is the New Year in Judaism. It is also called Yom Teruah, which means "day of blasting." It is the first of the High Holy Days, special days for prayer and reflection. Rosh Hashanah starts the Ten Days of Repentance, which end with Yom Kippur, a day of atonement.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days. It begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish year. It marks the start of the civil year and reminds people of when Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were created. During Rosh Hashanah, people sound the shofar, a ram's horn, to remember this special time.

Customs during Rosh Hashanah include eating foods that symbolize hopes for a sweet year and going to synagogue for special services. One popular ritual is called Tashlich. In this ritual, people go to water to ask for forgiveness and symbolically throw things like stones or pieces of bread into the water.

Etymology

Rosh Hashanah means "head of the year" in Hebrew. It is the Jewish New Year. The words come from the Hebrew language. "Rosh" means "head," "ha" means "the," and "shana" means "year."

The Bible does not use the name Rosh Hashanah. It calls this special day "a memorial of blowing [of horns]" and "day of blowing [the horn]". In one part of the Bible, the phrase "rosh hashanah" is used, but it means something else and might refer to a different special day or time of year. In Jewish prayer books, Rosh Hashanah is also called "the day of remembrance."

Origin

Rosh Hashanah began as a way to mark the start of the year for old farming societies in the ancient Near East. It was linked to the cycle of planting and harvesting crops. Many people who spoke Semitic languages began their New Year in autumn, which was important for farming. Other ancient cultures, like the Persians or Greeks, started their year in spring for similar reasons.

Some think Rosh Hashanah is connected to the Babylonian festival Akitu because they share some similarities. The Akitu festival happened in two months and was linked to stories about the creation of the world. Another idea is that the holiday marks the day Adam and Eve were created, and this tradition was passed down through generations.

The Four "New Years"

Rosh Hashanah starts the new year in the Hebrew calendar. There are four special "New Years" in Jewish tradition, each marking the start of a year for different reasons.

Rosh Hashanah, in the month of Tishrei, is the new year for counting regular years, special Sabbatical years, Jubilee years, and for dates on legal papers. It also celebrates the creation of humans. Even though the Jewish months start counting from Nisan, Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the new year and falls in the seventh month.

The first of Nisan begins the church year and marks the start of three important festivals. The first of Elul was the new year for counting animals, and Tu BiShvat, in the month of Shevat, was the new year for counting trees and their fruits.

Religious significance

Rosh Hashanah is a special day in Judaism. On this day, people believe that everyone’s actions are reviewed. It is like a big check-up for the world. Many think that God decides whether the world will continue for another year.

During Rosh Hashanah, people think about their actions and hope for a good year ahead. Special prayers are said to honor God and ask for forgiveness. The sounds of the Shofar, a ram’s horn, remind people of important things and help make the world better.

Shofar blowing

Main article: Shofar blowing

The most famous part of Rosh Hashanah is blowing the shofar, a special musical instrument made from an animal horn. During the Rosh Hashanah prayers, the shofar is blown many times. It is not blown on Shabbat.

Blowing the shofar is a call to wake up. It reminds people to think about their actions and to make things right. The sounds of the shofar ask everyone to remember to care for one another.

Prayer service

On Rosh Hashanah, special religious poems called piyyutim are added to the regular services. A special prayer book, the machzor, is used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During the prayers, a ram's horn called the shofar is blown, and even young children often come to hear it.

One well-known poem is Unetaneh Tokef, recited during the prayers. Another special prayer, Avinu Malkeinu, is also said on Rosh Hashanah. The prayers talk about kingship, remembrance, and the shofar, with verses from the Torah, Ketuvim, and Nevi'im. The shofar is sounded during these prayers, except on Shabbat. In some communities, people wear a white robe called a kittel during the daytime prayers.

Customs

Rosh Hashanah is a special holiday in Judaism. It marks the start of the new year. It is part of a ten-day time called the Days of Awe, which ends with Yom Kippur. Before Rosh Hashanah is the month of Elul. During Elul, many religious Jewish people think about their actions and ask for forgiveness.

One custom is blowing the shofar, an ancient ram’s horn, each morning in Elul. The sound of the shofar helps people prepare for the special days ahead. Special prayers called selichot are also said before Rosh Hashanah. The evening before Rosh Hashanah is called Erev Rosh Hashanah. Some people have special rituals, like saying promises after prayers.

Rosh Hashanah meals have special foods with meaning. For example, apples dipped in honey are eaten to hope for a sweet year. Many families have a special meal called a Rosh Hashanah seder where they say blessings over different dishes.

Another tradition is called tashlikh. On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, many people go to a place with flowing water. They say prayers and throw pieces of bread or small stones into the water. This is a way to let go of mistakes from the year.

During Rosh Hashanah, people greet each other with special wishes. A common greeting is “Shanah Tovah,” which means “Have a good year.” Some people also say, “Shanah Tovah Umetukah,” meaning “Have a good and sweet year.” These greetings show care and hope for a happy new year.

Duration and timing

Rosh Hashanah is a special holiday in Judaism. The Torah says it lasts one day, starting at sundown. But because it can be hard to know exactly when the new moon happens, many Jews celebrate it for two days.

Orthodox and Conservative Jews usually celebrate the first two days of Tishrei, a month in the Hebrew calendar. In Reform Judaism, some places celebrate just one day, while others keep two days to feel connected to Jews around the world. Karaite Jews, who follow only the Torah, celebrate only one day.

Rosh Hashanah usually happens around the autumn equinox and is about 163 days after Passover. In the Gregorian calendar, it can fall between September 5 and October 5.

Gallery of Rosh Hashanah greeting cards

Here are some beautiful Rosh Hashanah greeting cards from different times and places:

• United States, 1900
• Austria, 1904
• United States, 1908
• Austria, 1910 (Wiener Werkstätte)
• Austria-Hungary/Germany, 1914
• Tel Aviv, 1927
• Poland, 1931
• Montevideo, 1932
• Israel, 2012
• France, undated. (Jewish Museum of Switzerland)