Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish year. At this time we celebrate the creation of the world and our place in it. Rosh Hashanah has two other names which reflect the nature of the day. It is called Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance, for on that day God remembers us and we remember God and our actions of the previous year, as well as those who have entered and those who have gone from our lives.

It is also called Yom Hadin, (the Day of Judgment). It is a day of judgment because legend tells us that on this day God begins to write in the Book of Life, inscribing us for the year ahead. God weighs our deeds and considers our actions during the year that has passed.

Rosh Hashanah is an extraordinary opportunity to stop, reflect on the year and evaluate one’s current position in life, within self and relationship.

Tradition

Shofar - the blowing of the shofar is said to represent the wordless cries of the Children of Israel. The Rabbis have detemined that each set of blasts should include 3 blasts of teru’ah (9 short blasts), preceded and followed by tekiah (1 long blast). The full pattern of blasts includes shevarim (3 short blasts) and becomes tekiah teru’ah tekiah, tekiah shevarim tekiah, tekiah shevarim teru’ah tekiah, tekiah shevarim teru’ah tekiah.

Food - At Rosh Hashanah we eat sweet foods, especially apples dipped in honey, in hope of a sweet year ahead. We also eat round challah representing the cycle of the year and life and ensure that no salt (bitterness) is on it.

Prayer - as well as attending services, thanking God for the goodness of the year that has passed and asking for a good, sweet year ahead at home we light candles and make kiddush.

Please see days and times of all High Holyday 5772 services here.