Over the coming weeks, Jewish communities worldwide will come together to celebrate the High Holy Days, starting with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Celebrations of Rosh Hashanah typically include attending synagogue services where the shofar, a sacred ram’s horn, is blown, as well as the traditional eating of apples and honey. The apples symbolize hopes for a fruitful year, while the honey represents the wish for sweetness in the year ahead.
Another important ritual during Rosh Hashanah is tashlich, where participants throw pieces of bread into running water to symbolically release their sins from the previous year. This holiday not only marks the creation of the world but also initiates the “Days of Awe,” a ten-day period that leads up to Yom Kippur.
This year’s observances will be especially poignant for many, as the midpoint of the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur falls on October 7, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and sparked an ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, is known for its somber atmosphere. On this day, Jewish adults typically fast for approximately 25 hours, beginning at sundown the evening before. However, anyone whose health may be endangered by fasting is exempt and is encouraged to eat and drink.
Rosh Hashanah for 2024 will commence at sundown on Wednesday, October 2, and conclude at sundown on Friday, October 4. It falls on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. The Jewish calendar is lunar-based, which can result in the High Holidays appearing at varying times in the Gregorian calendar, though Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur always occur on the same dates in Judaism.
When greeting someone for Rosh Hashanah, the phrase “Happy New Year” is appropriate. Many Jews greet each other with “Shanah tovah,” which translates to “Good year.”
Rosh Hashanah is not recognized as a federal holiday in the United States.
Yom Kippur 2024 will begin at sundown on Friday, October 11, and end at sundown on Saturday, October 12. Unlike Rosh Hashanah’s festive tone, Yom Kippur is more solemn, so saying “Happy Yom Kippur” is inappropriate. Instead, consider saying “Have an easy fast” or “Meaningful fast,” acknowledging the significance of the day’s fasting. Another traditional greeting is “G’mar chatima tova,” meaning “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for good,” reflecting the belief that one’s destiny is determined on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur.