Rosh Hashanah

Words "Rosh Hashanah" over a backdrop of apples and honey.

Holiday Traditions, History & Celebrations

6 Things to Know About Rosh Hashanah

1. What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah, meaning “Head of the year” or “First of the year,” is the Jewish New Year and considered one of the two holiest holidays of the Jewish calendar (along with Yom Kippur). To many Jews, the celebration represents the anniversary of the universe’s creation and initiates the 10 “Days of Awe,” or Yamim Noraim.

2. What are the Jewish High Holidays?

The Jewish High Holidays are the two holidays that fall within the Hebrew month of Tishrei–Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The time between the High Holidays represents the climax in a process of teshuvah, or repentance, that is initiated on the first day of the month Elul, and culminates on Yom Kippur.

3. When is Rosh Hashanah?

In 2024, Rosh Hashanah will start on the evening of October 2, and conclude the night of October 4, initiating the 5785th Jewish year. Rosh Hashanah begins each year on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, typically in September or October. The celebration lasts 2 days.

4. How Do Jews Observe Rosh Hashanah?

In Jewish spaces around the world, the New Year is ushered in with the blowing of the Shofar, a trumpet made from the horn of a kosher animal, typically a ram. For this reason, Rosh Hashanah is also known as “Yom Teruah” or the day of the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is traditionally blown 100 times in the morning, during both days of the holiday, in a pattern of 4 types of blasts: tekiah (the long blast), shevarim (three short blasts), teruah (nine abrupt blasts), and tekiah gedolah (a very long blast). The blowing of the shofar announces the beginning of the New Year and to some Jews it also serves as a reminder that G-d is king.

On Rosh Hashanah, instead of using a Siddur, the weekly prayer book, observant Jews use the Machzor, a special prayer book used for the High Holidays. The word “Machzor” means “cycle.”

Another religious custom observed on Rosh Hashanah is Tashlich, which was popularized in the 13th century. Tashlich occurs on the first day of the holiday and involves an individual symbolically casting away their sins (usually in the form of bread crumbs) into a body of water. The ceremony is coupled with the recitation of psalms and prayers.

5. What Foods Are Eaten on Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is famously celebrated by eating apples and honey. Honey symbolizes hope for a sweet new year and apples are eaten because ancient Jews believed they contained healing properties. During Rosh Hashanah, many Jews say a prayer over apples, honey, and round challah–different from the traditional braided challah to represent the cycle of life, or to some Jews, the crown of G-d.