The Jewish New Year is celebrated on Rosh Hashanah, also known as the “Head of the Year” in Hebrew. During Rosh Hashanah, Jews all over the world seek God’s forgiveness for the errors they made the previous year and vow not to repeat them in the future.
What exactly is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur, the day after Rosh Hashanah, marks the end of the Ten Days of Repentance. It is traditionally commemorated through fasting and introspective prayer. The day closes with the blowing of the Shofar, a ram’s horn.
What are the dates for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in 2023?
Rosh Hashanah in 2023 begins at nightfall on Friday, September 15th, and concludes at sundown on Sunday, September 17th. Yom Kippur begins on the evening of the next Sunday, September 24, and ends on the evening of the following Monday, September 25.
How is Rosh Hashanah observed?
Rosh Hashanah customs frequently feature unique dishes, rituals, and mitzvot (commandments), and family festivities might differ. Many people attend synagogue services when a special service is held with messages of hope and repentance for the next year.
The practice of Tashlich, in which individuals symbolically throw away their sins by tossing pieces of bread into flowing water, usually a river or a pond, is an important aspect of Rosh Hashanah.
What Do Jews Eat on Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah is incomplete without the consumption of symbolic delicacies. Fish is a classic meal, representing fertility and abundance. Some people eat the head of a fish to represent leadership rather than following.
Many Jewish families also like dipping challah bread in honey, which represents the promise of a nice year ahead. Pomegranates are another popular fruit since their multiple seeds signify the new year’s many gifts.
Happy Rosh Hashanah!
Because Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, typical greetings include “Shanah Tovah,” which means “Happy New Year” in Hebrew. Another variant is “Shanah Tovah Umetukah,” which translates as “A Good and Sweet Year.”
“Chag Sameach” (pronounced khag sah-MAY-akh) is the Hebrew equivalent of “Happy Holidays.”
These messages send our best wishes for a happy and productive new year.
