The Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, in Hebrew “head of the year”, is the Jewish New Year and the first of Yamim Nora’im or the “Days of Awe”.  This holiday typically occurs in the autumn and in 2012 will begin the sunset of September 16^th and continue until nightfall on September 18^th.  Although “Rosh Hashanah” is not directly mentioned in the Torah under that exact wording, the Mishnah contains the first known acknowledgement of Rosh Hashanah as the “day of judgment”.  In the Jewish faith it is told that three “books of account” are opened representing three different groups of people.  These three books record the fate of the wicked, righteous and an intermediate class.  It is described that those who are righteous are inscribed in the book of life and “sealed” to live, the intermediate class is given 10 days (the time span until Yom Kippur) to repent and the wicked are “blotted out of the book of the living forever.” 

We are now entering the Jewish year 5773 which will begin as previously noted on the sunset of September 16, 2012.  Rosh Hashanah takes place 163 days after the first day of Passover, which occurs earlier in the spring each year.  The Jewish calendar is based on a lunar cycle, meaning that the first day of every month originally began with the sighting of a new moon; however since the start of the 4^th Century the schedule has been modified so that Rosh Hashanah never falls on a Wednesday, Friday or Sunday as to accommodate the mandatory practice that the holiday never fall on the 3^rd 5^th or 7^th day of the week.  The Torah defines it as a one-day celebration however after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD; Jewish law states that Rosh Hashanah is to be celebrated for two days; mostly because of the difficulty involved in predicting the moon’s movements.

There are several customary procedures centered on Rosh Hashanah, some of which begin even a month before the actual celebration.  The month before Yamim Nora’im, Elul, is supposed to be a self-examination month having every Hebrew focus on how they should individually repent.  This process continues until, as previously stated, the ten days between the New Year and Yom Kippur and is thought to “wake-up” listeners and reminds them of their inevitable judgment.

Services as well are slightly different on Rosh Hashanah including the introduction of a special prayer book, the mahzor, and many prayers are elongated on this special day.  Furthermore, there are several symbolic foods that represent the beginning of a new Jewish year.  Some of these foods enjoyed on this day are dates, black-eyed peas, spinach and several other items including, in some cultures, the head of a fish to symbolize the “head of a new year.”  Some other foods that are served usually include apples and honey, which is explained as to symbolize a “sweet” New Year.  Enjoy this coming New Year and make sure to have a great Rosh Hashanah!

For great Jewish New Year gift ideas, CLICK HERE!