Becoming Jewish - Rosh Hashanah

Summary: Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (literally "head of the year"), is a Biblical holiday that occurs on the first and second of Tishri (September or October). Rosh Hashanah is the day that G-d created man. Rosh Hashanah is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue. where the regular daily prayers are expanded. There is a special prayer book called the Machzor used for Rosh Hashanah. Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d's sovereignty. Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river (generally this means casting bread into the water), symbolically casting off our sins. The common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

Candles are lit and blessings are said on the first night and the second night in order to help usher in the Holy Day. Kiddush (blessing over wine/grape juice) is said as well as the blessing over the challah (braided bread). Slices of the challah and apple slices are dipped in honey, representing sweetness and hope for the new year.

Additional Information: Rosh Hashanah: Head of the Jewish Year :: Rosh Hashanah :: High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah :: Making the New Year Sweet :: Rosh Hashanah

Family Activities: Rosh Hashanah Word Puzzle :: Tzivos HaShem: Rosh Hashanah :: High Holidays Family Activities

Blessings
[light candles]
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the Holy Day light.

[Shehehayanu]
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

[Kiddush]
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has chosen and distinguished us from among all others by adding holiness to our lives with His mitzvot. Lovingly have You given us the gift of this Day of Remembrance, a day of the shofar sound, a day of sacred assembly recalling the Exodus from Egypt. Thus You have chosen us, endowing us with holiness from among all peoples. Your faithful word endures forever. Blessed are You, Hashem, King of the universe who hallows the people Israel and the Day of Remembrance.

[ritual washing of hands]
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe Whose mitzvot add holiness to our lives and Who gave us the mitzvah of washing hands.

[blessing over challah]
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe Who brings forth bread from the earth.

[blessing over challah/apple dipped in honey]
May it be Your will, Hashem, our G-d and G-d of our ancestors, to renew this year for us with sewwtness and happiness.

Selichot is the first service of Rosh Hashanah that takes place the Saturday before Rosh Hashanah. Prayers and requests for forgiveness, said throughout the Ten Days of Awe, are heard for the first time. This service usually takes place at or near midnight.

Services are held during both days of Rosh Hashanah. A special siddur (prayerbook), called the Machzor, is used during these services. Special prayers and pleas for forgiveness are recited in addition to the regular weekday and Shabbos prayers. The shofar (typically a ram's horn) is sounded during the services (except on Shabbos).

Tashlich, a special service, is typically held on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. This service is meant to represent a casting away of sins. The community gathers are a body of water (typically a stream or creek) containing fish where people empty their pockets of crumbs and recite blessings.

GUILT IS A GIFT
By Rachel-Esther bat-Avraham

Guilt can be defined as being remorseful and regretting trespasses that one has committed. Guilt is a gift to mankind from G-d. Guilt permits mankind to live together in harmony. Guilt permits mankind to treat one another as one would want to be treated. As the great sage Hillel said, "What is hateful unto you, don't do unto your neighbor. The rest [of the Torah] is commentary. Now go and study." Following this advice is an excellent way to avoid guilt and living peacefully with one's neighbor.

Rosh Hashanah (the head of the year) is the beginning of the Jewish calendar year. This is the day that G-d created mankind. This is also the day that Jews all over the world begin a time of serious introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in one's life during the new year. The day is spent in the synagogue where special prayers are said that focus on G-d's sovereignty.

Asking forgiveness for one's trespasses is more than simply saying a prayer and asking G-d for forgiveness. There are five steps to asking for forgiveness from one's fellow man.

One must realize that he/she has trespassed against another.
One must regret what he/she has done.
One must ask for forgiveness from the person against who he/she transgressed (or his/her family in the case of a death).
One must make restitution to the person (or his/her family in the case of a death).
One must honestly make attempts to not commit the same trespass in the future.

Only after these steps may a Jew ask forgiveness from G-d. Guilt is a gift to mankind. Guilt permits one to follow these steps, ask for forgiveness, and correct the trespasses that have been committed. May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

Page Updated: 03/07/10