Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is currently being celebrated by the Jewish community. Unlike the conventional New Year on January 1, Rosh Hashanah is determined by the Hebrew calendar.
The holiday began on October 2 and will continue until the evening of October 4. Following Rosh Hashanah, the next significant observance is Yom Kippur, which serves as a period of reflection and atonement, considered the holiest day in Judaism.
Rosh Hashanah, translating to “Head of the Year,” marks the start of the year 5785 in the Hebrew calendar. This festival honors the creation of the world and the emergence of Adam and Eve. During Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to blow the shofar, a ram’s horn, on both mornings of the holiday, symbolizing repentance. The observance begins on the first day of Tishrei, which usually falls during September or October.
Celebrations involve prayer, gatherings at synagogues, acts of repentance, and traditional meals. A staple of the holiday is “Challah,” a semi-sweet braided bread, and blessings are often recited over candles. Attendees typically refrain from creative work and other activities during this time.
Common greetings during Rosh Hashanah include “Have a Good and Sweet New Year” or the Hebrew phrase “shanah tovah umtukah,” which means “may you have a good and sweet new year.” The greeting can be abbreviated to “shanah tovah,” meaning “a good year.”
Yom Kippur, which takes place this year on October 11-12, follows Rosh Hashanah and is regarded as the holiest day for the Jewish faith. This day represents the final judgment from God for the year, emphasizing the importance of repentance. The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the “10 Days of Awe,” a time when individuals are believed to be judged for their actions. Jewish tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, God records the fate of individuals in the “book of life,” and those who embody both good and bad have until Yom Kippur to repent, or “Teshuvah.”