Rosh Hashanah — Hebrew for head of the year — is a two-day holiday that begins this year at sunset on Friday, Sept. 15, and continues through sundown on Sunday, Sept. 17.
The two-day celebration, which is sometimes referred to as the Jewish New Year, starts on Friday at sunset and heralds in the 10-day period known as the Days of Awe, a time when Jews contemplate, pray, and concentrate on the sweetness of God’s judgement and forgiveness. During this time, which is marked by the sounding of the shofar, prayers, and repentance, synagogues often see their largest audiences.
Because the Jewish calendar, which depends on the moon, wasn’t established until between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago, the occasion is celebrated across two days. At that time, the start of each month was decided by the Jewish court in Jerusalem.
What is Rosh Hashanah?
The Jewish New Year is observed on Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year” in Hebrew. Jews all across the world turn to the Hebrew Scriptures on Rosh Hashanah to ask God for forgiveness for the mistakes they’ve committed in the previous year and to serve as a reminder to themselves not to repeat them in the upcoming year.
How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?
Rosh Hashanah celebrations might vary from family to family, but they usually involve unique foods, customs, and mitzvot, or commandments. A unique service with words of hope and atonement for the coming year is held at a temple or synagogue, where a large number of people attend services.
During services, a shofar, or hollowed-out ram’s horn, is sounded to awaken any spiritual slumber and encourage worshippers to turn to God and consider their transgressions.
Giving to people in need, or Tzedakah, is a significant aspect of Rosh Hashanah. The idea is that if one performs nice deeds, God will take notice and grant them a prosperous new year.
As a centuries-old custom, some Jewish families throw breadcrumbs into bodies of water to represent casting off their sins.
What Do Greetings For Rosh Hashanah Mean?
The most typical salutation is “Happy New Year” because Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year. The Hebrew counterpart is “Shanah tovah,” which is pronounced “shah-NAH toe-VAH” and meaning “good year.”
L’shana tovah u’metukah, which translates to “for a good and sweet year,” is shortened to “shana tovah,” which means “for a good and sweet year.”
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