- The words Rosh HaShanah mean “Head of the Year,” Jewish New Year.
- The number of the year changes on Rosh HaShanah. This year, we change from 5778 to 5779.
- Rosh HaShanah is the first of the month of Tishri in the Jewish calendar.
- Rosh HaShanah is the first of the ten “Days of Awe” that culminate with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
- Rosh HaShanah, with Yom Kippur ten days later, are often referred to as the High Holy Days.
- On Rosh HaShanah, we remember the Creation of the world and we look ahead to the Judgment of God.
- Traditionally we eat sweet things on Rosh HaShanah: apples, honey and such to express our desire for a sweet year ahead.
- The mitzvah for Rosh HaShanah is listening to the shofar.
- Rosh HaShanah is marked by feasting and solemnity.
- Many if not most Jews try to be in synagogue on Rosh HaShanah.
- One of the themes of Rosh HaShanah is the “Book of Life.” It is an ancient metaphor expressing the idea that we don’t know what lies ahead of us, but that God knows all.
- The traditional greeting for Rosh HaShanah is L’Shanah Tovah Tikateivu (l’sha-NAH toe-VAH tee-ka-TAY-vu) which means “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year.”
- A shorter form of the greeting is Shanah Tovah which means “[Have a] Good Year”
- A very short greeting for the day is “Goot yom tov!” Yiddish for “Good holiday!”
- On Rosh HaShanah we hear the sound of the shofar [ram’s horn.]
- On Rosh HaShanah, we make a special effort to make teshuvah, to repent old sins and to forge new ways of living.
- Many Jews around the world celebrate two days of Rosh HaShanah.
- This year, Rosh HaShanah starts at sundown on September 9, 2018.
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