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, which are 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 and begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish year. It marks the start of the civil year and is believed to be the anniversary 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, where 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 name for the Jewish New Year. The words come from the Hebrew language, where "rosh" means "head," "ha" is a word that means "the," and "shana" means "year."

The Bible does not use the name Rosh Hashanah. Instead, 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 has a different meaning 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

The New Year, Rosh Hashanah, started as a way to mark the beginning of the economic year for ancient farming societies in the ancient Near East. It was tied to the cycle of planting, growing, and harvesting crops. Many Semitic-speaking people began their New Year in autumn, which was important for farming, while other ancient cultures like the Persians or Greeks started theirs in spring for similar reasons.

Some believe 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 that this tradition was passed down through generations and later written about in the Talmud.

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 when people believe that everyone’s actions are reviewed. It is like a big check-up for the whole world. Many think that on this day, God decides whether the world will continue for another year.

During Rosh Hashanah, people spend time thinking about their actions and hoping 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, are heard as a call to remember important things and to make the world a better place.

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, usually 100 times each day. It is not blown on Shabbat.

Blowing the shofar is more than just following a rule; it is like 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, the shofar (a ram's horn) 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 include sections 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, marking the beginning of the new year. It is part of a ten-day period known as the Days of Awe, which ends with Yom Kippur. Before Rosh Hashanah comes the month of Elul. During this time, many religious Jewish people spend time thinking about their actions and asking for forgiveness.

One important custom is blowing the shofar, an ancient ram’s horn, each morning during Elul. The sound of the shofar is meant to wake people up and remind them of the important days ahead. Special prayers called selichot are also said in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah. The evening before Rosh Hashanah is called Erev Rosh Hashanah. Some people have special rituals, like saying certain promises after morning prayers or washing themselves in a special way to feel clean.

Rosh Hashanah meals often include special foods that have meaning. For example, apples dipped in honey are eaten to hope for a sweet year ahead. Other foods, like fish heads, represent hoping to be leaders rather than followers. Many families have a special meal called a Rosh Hashanah seder where they say blessings over different symbolic dishes. These dishes might include apples, dates, pomegranates, and other foods that have special meanings.

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 symbolically let go of any mistakes they made during the year.

During Rosh Hashanah, people often greet each other with special wishes for the new year. 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 friends and family that they care about them and hope the new year brings happiness.

Duration and timing

Rosh Hashanah is a special holiday in Judaism. The Torah says it lasts one day, which starts at sundown. But because it can be hard to know exactly when the new moon happens, many Jews celebrate it for two days. This tradition began after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

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 the two days to feel connected to Jews all over 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. In 2020, Ukraine made Rosh Hashanah a national holiday, joining Israel as the only countries to do so.

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)