Rosh Hashana, What Is It?

Rosh Hashana, literally head of the year, is accepted as the New Year within the Jewish calendar.

Jewish concept of a new year is somewhat different from Christian concept. Rosh Hashana is part of a longer period known as the High Holidays. It begins about a week earlier, includes Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkoth.

Since Rosh Hashana symbolizes the beginnings, a traditional belief has it that this day is the sixth day of Creation (the day man was created and all creating completed). Rosh Hashana is also seen as the day of God inscribing you into the Book of Life, which is sealed on Yom Kippur.

A period preceding Rosh HaShana is known as Shlihot (forgiveness). For many this entails getting up earlier than usual, as the shlihot prayers are usually said at midnight or before sunrise. There are areas in Jerusalem where this has become a great tradition, attracting Jerusalemites from all its neighborhoods.

Like all Jewish holidays Rosh Hashana begins at sundown, in this case marking the end of the month of Elul and the beginning of the month of Tishrei. It is generally celebrated for two days, partly because after the destruction of the 2nd Temple (70 CE) it became difficult to determine the exact day of the new moon.

Part of the celebrations is to hear the blowing of the horn, usually a ram’s horn, as was done in the days of the Temple to mark the beginning of holy days, including Shabbat. This blowing is known as the tekiot.

There are of course traditional foods linked to this holiday. Since Rosh Hashana begins with sundown, families join together to celebrate. As part of the blessings of the evening and the holiday, apple slices are dipped in honey, to symbolize the sweetness of the year to come.

For some it is also customary to add meat from the head of an animal or even a fish head, to mark beginning (rosh=head). Other foods eaten by many are dates and pomegranates. Often a special blessing may be said when serving pomegranate: May you have as many blessings in the New Year as there are seeds in the pomegranate.

Rosh HaShana is an official holiday in Israel, and so all places of work are closed, as well as shops, schools. It is considered as a shabbat.

Since all Jewish holidays follow the Jewish calendar there are always variations in the Christian calendar, but generally Rosh Hashana falls in September, to be followed by Yom Kippur and Sukkoth.