Rosh haShana - The Jewish New Year

“In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with blasts of horns [shofar], a holy convocation… and you shall bring an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” Leviticus 23:24, 25

The Torah doesn’t call it Rosh haShana, but it is known by different descriptions.

Leviticus 23:24 mentioned the “day of blowing horns (shofarim)”. This is sometimes translated as 'trumpets'. 

Ezekiel 40:1 calls it “the beginning of the year”; while in rabbinic literature they call it “day of judgment” and “day of remembrance”.

The Hebrew month of Elul (August/September) is the month of the “High Holy Days”. The period between Rosh haShana (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is also called “the ten days of awe”, because of the need for introspection and repentance.

Rosh haShana (literally meaning “head of the year”) heralds the Hebrew month of Tishrei (September/October) (Tishrei is Aramaic for “to begin”). This year it falls on September 29^th at sundown. 

It is celebrated for two days and is seen as a Day of Judgment. 

On the first day, the tashlich (“you will cast”) ritual takes place in which “sins” are symbolically cast into open water. People also throw bread and pebbles. The days of repentance begin with Rosh haShana and climax at Yom Kippur (October 9, 2019). Religious Jews believe that even though judgment is pronounced on Rosh haShana, during the following ten days they can mend their ways and alter judgment in their favor.

Rosh haShana is a day of rest, like the Shabbat. The sound of the Shofar (ram’s horn) is intended to awaken the people from their “slumber” and alert them to the coming judgment.

In Israel people greet each other with Shana Tova (Good Year) or Shana Tova uMetuka (good and sweet New Year). Often they add Gmar Chatima Tova (May you be inscribed in the book of life).

Apple and honey, symbolizing the sweet New Year is always part of the holiday food. Other symbolic food is a fish head (“head” of the new year) and a round Challah, to symbolize the year cycle).

In ancient times Rosh haShana was the beginning of the economic year, with emphasis on the agricultural seasons and the pilgrim’s festivals (Pesach, Shavuot and Succot). It was only celebrated for one day, instead of the modern two-day holiday. 

Rosh haShana is seen as the anniversary of God’s Creation. On this day mankind passes before the Creator, like sheep before the shepherd. Three books are opened – the Book of Life, which seals the righteous, who will live. The wicked are “blotted out of the book of the living” (Psalm 69:29) while those “in between” have till Yom Kippur to repent and become righteous.

  

Judaism’s many “New Years”

• 1^st of Nissan (March/April) - “Biblical New Year” after the Exodus from Egypt. Determined the length of a king’s reign. Start of the ecclesiastical Calender.
• 1^st of Elul (August/September) – Beginning of the year to tithe animals for the Temple.
• 1^st of Shevat (January/February) – this later changed to the 15^th (Tu beShevat) and was called the New Year of trees. Calculations were made for the tithes of the fruit harvest.
• 1^st of Tishrei (September/October) – civil Hebrew Calender, legal contracts.
• 1^st January – New Year on the Gregorian Calender.

  

Religious practices:

• Many orthodox men were a Kittel (Yiddish) which is a white robe, also traditionally worn by a bridegroom, symbolizing purity. Often it is also used as a burial shroud. Isaiah 1:18 “our sins shall be made as white as snow”. It reminds them of the white linen robe the High Priest wore during Temple ceremonies.
• This is an extra busy time for organizations to ask for donations, as charity is even more important during this period.