Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew for "head of the year") is the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first and second days of Tishrei (Tishri), the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, which falls in September or October.
This year, Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah from the evening of September 22 to the evening of September 24. This holiday marks the beginning of the countdown to the new Jewish year.
According to the Tanakh (the collection of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings), the first month of the year is considered to be Aviv, later named Nisan, which is when the Jews left Egypt. The holiday on the first day of the seventh month, Tishrei, is called the day of “sacred assembly,” a day when work is prohibited, and special rituals, like blowing the shofar and making sacrifices, are observed.
Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important Jewish holidays. On this day, Jews reflect on the creation of the world and humanity, assessing how they lived in the past year and considering what lies ahead. They contemplate whether their lives have been worthy and how they can improve.
The holiday lasts for two days and features specific rituals. One key commandment for this day is to blow the shofar, a ram's horn that produces a loud and powerful sound. According to the Torah, the first day of the seventh month should be a day of rest and remembrance, marked by the sound of the shofar. The only exception occurs if the holiday falls on a Saturday. However, since Rosh Hashanah lasts for two days, the shofar will still be blown on at least one of those days.
The community selects a person skilled in blowing the shofar to perform this ritual at designated moments during prayer, following traditional rhythms and melodies. During this time, everyone listens in complete silence. This act is central to the celebration of the New Year and is often referred to as “the day of blowing.” The sound of the shofar serves as a wake-up call, prompting Jews to stop, reflect, and remember.
When Jews hear the shofar, it reminds them of Abraham's sacrifice, where a ram was provided as a substitute on the altar. The shofar also symbolizes Abraham's faith. Its sound has resonated throughout significant historical events in Israel, during the receiving of the Torah, before battles, and during pivotal moments that called for the people to awaken their consciousness. Thus, the shofar's purpose is to remind Jews of their relationship with God, the judgments made on this day, encourage repentance, and recall the deeds of their ancestors.
Rosh Hashanah serves as a time of remembrance for the events of the past year. It marks the “beginning of God's Judgment,” making it essential for people to reflect and repent, as repentance is believed to be the only way to be saved from this Judgment. Therefore, the central theme of all Rosh Hashanah prayers is repentance, known as teshuva.
In Hebrew, teshuva means both “repentance” and “return.” This is because humans possess the unique ability to distinguish between good and evil and have the opportunity to act according to one of these principles. When a person engages in wrongdoing, they seem to “depart” from their true selves and the will of God. Thus, repentance is viewed as a return to one's true self and to the Creator. Rosh Hashanah is the day for individuals to “return.”
The festive meal is rich in customs and traditionally begins with Kiddush, a blessing recited over a glass of wine. On this day, Jews enjoy sweet foods to symbolize the hope for a sweet new year. During dinner, participants exchange good wishes with one another.
Another interesting ritual includes visiting a spring on the first day of Rosh Hashanah during daylight hours to read the words of the prophet Micah. These words call for the tossing of human sins into the “depths of the sea,” symbolizing a commitment to wash away the sins of the past year.
The first ten days following Rosh Hashanah are known as Yamim Noraim, or “Days of Awe,” and culminate in Yom Kippur, referred to as “The Day of Atonement.”