L’shanah tovah! Rosh Hashanah, also commonly known as the Jewish New Year, began the evening of Sunday September 13th 2015 and ends the evening of September 15th. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” or “first of the year.” It is now the year 5776 according to the Jewish Calendar.
The Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. The shofar, an instrument made of a ram’s horn, is typically blown on Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue, with a total of hundred notes played each day.
Yom Kippur follows Rosh Hashanaha and is known as the Day of Atonement. For Yom Kippur typically it is common to fast, pray, and repent. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are considered two of the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur begins the evening of Tuesday September 22nd 2015 and culminates the evening of Wedensday September 23rd 2015.
The New Year means there is to be no work and most of the day is spent in the synagogue. Typical foods include apples dipped in honey, a symbol of the sweet new year, and bread dipped in honey. The common greeting, L’shanah tovah, translates to “for a good year.”
