Rosh Hashanah, when all living things are judged, is often referred to as the beginning of the Jewish New Year. However, the Hebrew month of Nissan, in which Passover is celebrated, is the first month of the Jewish calendar.

Rosh Hashanah is actually only one of four symbolic Jewish new year celebrations. The Talmud identifies these as:

The first two days of Tishri were not called Rosh Hashanah until Talmudic times. Jewish leaders of the day may have been reluctant to promote large celebrations around a fall new year because moon festivals were common among pagan religions. Many Near Eastern religions, for example, celebrated divine coronation festivals in the Fall.

By the fourth century, B.C.E., when the Jews returned from Babylonian exile to build the second temple, Rosh Hashanah was well established. By the time of the Mishnah, the codification of Jewish oral tradition, Rosh Hashanah had developed a more serious tone. Now, having suffered the loss of the second temple, Rosh Hashanah emphasized the anniversary of creation, and of G-d as judge, dispensing mercy or justice to those who do or do not repent their sins.

The Torah refers to Rosh Hashanah as Yom Teruah, the day of sounding the shofar, the traditional ram's horn. It is also called Yom Ha'Din, the day of judgment as well as Yom Hazikaron, the day of remembering. Yom Hazikaron is a reference to the patriarch Abraham who offered his only son, Isaac, to G-d as proof of his obedience. As the result of his readiness to sacrifice Isaac, G-d caused a ram to appear and be killed instead. According to Jewish tradition, this sacrifice is believed to have occurred the first of Tishri.

Today, aside from liturgical additions and literary interpretations made by poets during the Middle Ages, the customs, traditions, mood and spirit of Rosh Hashanah remain basically unchanged.

Religious Meaning

Rosh Hashanah, the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, is unlike other religious, ethnic or cultural New Year celebrations.

For example, the first of January, the most famous of all new year celebrations, is marked each year by elaborate parties, music, food, countdowns till midnight and toasting. And, while Jews around the world celebrate New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, there is an awareness that the celebration is not their own. It is, rather, something adopted, separate from the deeply personal and awesome meaning of Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah is unique because it is both serious and festive. It is a time of spiritual renewal through prayer and deep personal reflection. It is also a time for families and friends to get together, make amends, ask each other's forgiveness and strive to make the next year better. Most important, it is the recognition of G-d as king and judge over all living things. It is also the realization that our behavior toward G-d and each other, is literally weighed and judged and ultimately sealed for life or death at the close of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Fortunately, according to our sages, there is a way to reverse a bad decree. An arduous, spiritual journey is undertaken requiring three key elements:

This journey, which is different and varies in difficulty for everyone, traditionally begins in Elul, (September in the English calendar) the Hebrew month preceding Rosh Hashanah.

Teshuvah, tfiloh, and tzedakah, may sound relatively easy, but they are not. The rabbis understood this, and to assist Jews everywhere, they designed a kind of road map, with the first of Elul as the starting gate, and the tenth of Tishri, Yom Kippur, as the finish line.

In between, there are many turns and twists and hurdles to jump. If you make it to the end with a pure heart and few false turns, you may cross the finish line and win the big prize: Divine forgiveness and inscription in the Book of Life.

Laws and Customs

Your spiritual journey begins in Elul, the Hebrew month preceding Rosh Hashanah which is usually the beginning of September.

During Elul it is custom to blow the shofar, the ram's horn, in the synagogue, during weekday services. The shofar, the most visible symbol of Rosh Hashanah, is a reminder of the animal that was sacrificed in place of the patriarch, Isaac. (See Heroes & Villains)

Shofar: The ram's horn undergoes a special cleaning process where it is treated and hollowed to produce three basic sounds:

Greetings: During Elul, Jews everywhere wish each other Shanah Tovah, a good year; or Le-shanah tovah tikatevu, may you be inscribed for a good year. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is customary to add Le-Shanah tovah tikkateivu ve-tehateimu, may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

New Year's Cards: The tradition of giving and receiving New Year greetings, written or oral, is another way Jews express good wishes for the coming year. New Year cards or letters are an excellent means of reconnecting with family and friends far and near. Many families use this time of year to catch up with each other and let friends and relatives know about some of their most significant achievements and upcoming events.

Remembering the Dead: Many families use this time of year to visit the grave sites of loved ones. There is the feeling in Judaism that the thoughts or prayers of the deceased can intercede on behalf of the living. This belief is particularly important between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when every little bit helps.

Slichot: As the month of Elul draws to an end, an important series of prayers is begun the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah called Slichot, which means forgiveness. Usually beginning around midnight, these prayers, which describe the 13 merciful attributes of G-d, are meant to prepare oneself for the upcoming holiday. The prayers, usually recited at the synagogue, are repeated daily, just before sunrise until Rosh Hashanah. It is also customary this month to recite Psalm 27 during prayer services.

This psalm pleads with G-d to help us before our enemies and illustrates our faith in G-d as our savior.

Hatarat Nedarim: Among traditional circles, the practice of hatarat nedarim, the absolution of vows, is observed. One person asks three others to act as their bet din, or religious court. In turn, each of the four asks the other three to act as their bet din. The point of this ritual, which can be found in the siddur, or prayer book, is to come before G-d on Rosh Hashanah without any baggage, free of unfulfilled promises and vows that could be held against you.

Candle Lighting: Finally, it is Erev Rosh Hashanah, the eve of the holiday, and at sunset, with family gathered at home, Rosh Hashanah is welcomed with the lighting of two candles.

Kiddush: A special kiddush, a blessing usually said over wine or grape juice, is recited before Sabbath and holiday meals. This special blessing differs slightly from other holidays and is usually chanted with a special melody. It emphasizes Rosh Hashanah as the beginning of creation, the day of remembrance, and the day of shofar blowing.

Challah: Challah is a traditional Jewish bread. Unlike the Sabbath, when it is customary to make a bracha, or blessing, over two, twisted loaves, on Rosh Hashanah, the blessing for bread, is made over two round challah loaves. One reason is that a round challah symbolizes a crown, a reminder of the kingship of G-d, the holiday's most important theme. Another explanation is that the round shape is a symbol of the circle of life and our hope that our lives will continue without end.

Some bake their challah with a ladder on top as a reminder that G-d decides who will ascend and descend the ladder of life. A lesser known custom is baking challah in the shape of a bird as described in Isaiah: 31:5 As hovering birds, so will the Lord protect Jerusalem.

Apples and Honey: Of the many popular foods eaten during Rosh Hashanah, few are more anticipated than the dipping of apples into honey. On Rosh Hashanah, the honey, which is eaten raw, is spread on challah instead of salt, which is used on Sabbath and other Holiday festivals. Many families set aside a silver or special container in which to place the honey.

During the High Holidays, many cooks make a special effort to make recipes with honey, such as honey cakes or tzimmes, a sweet stew. During kiddush, a special blessing is recited before and after the apples are dipped into honey.

Hiddur Mitzvah: It is custom to set the holiday table with one's finest, from the table linen and flowers, to dishes and glass ware. Families often buy new clothes for each other and wear them the eve of Rosh Hashanah. This custom is derived from an important Torah principle, called Hiddur Mitzvah, to enhance the act or ritual, which simply means taking the extra time and effort to make what you are doing more beautiful and special.

Therefore, Kiddush, recited over wine, is made over your most special, treasured goblet, something you keep all year and may only take out on Sabbath and holidays. The two, traditionally round challot, an egg or white bread, may rest on a special board or silver tray and are covered with a special embroidered cloth or with something you or your children have made.

Likewise, the blessings for apples and honey are made using a special honey dish, only used on Rosh Hashanah. In the spirit of hiddur mitzvah, you may want to use non-drip creamed honey or flavored honey, like cinnamon, for a special touch. Or, try various seasonal apples, like Winesap, Gala, Red Delicious, Jonathan, Stayman, Cortland and McIntosh, for delicious honey dipping.

New Fruits: In Sephardic households, Jews of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent, often begin their holiday meal with a whole fish, including the head, as a wish for prosperity, fertility and good luck in the coming year. Other Sephardic Jews serve covered baskets of fruit so nobody knows what is inside, just as nobody knows what the new year will bring.

This custom spread to other Jews around the world and we now wait until Rosh Hashanah to make blessings on new, or unique fruits. Figs, kumquats, persimmon, kiwi, Asian pear, pomegranates, and papaya, are examples of fruits not usually used during the year. The blessings on new fruits are traditionally recited the second night of Rosh Hashanah.

Special Foods: Another unique, cooked dish eaten on Rosh Hashanah is tzimmes, which literally means a mixture, and is made from carrots, cinnamon, yams, prunes and honey. The carrots are traditionally cut in the shape of coins, another symbol of wealth for the new year. It is customary, however, to avoid eating nuts since the Hebrew letters of the word egoz, or nut, have the same numerical value as the Hebrew word for sin.

Tashlich: The afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to perform a ritual known as tashlich. The ritual involves walking to a river or any body of water and reciting specific prayers.

The prayer is accompanied by either the emptying of one's pockets or the tossing of bread crumbs, symbolizing the casting-off of our sins, which are carried away by the water. If the first day occurs on the Sabbath, tashlich is postponed until the second afternoon of Rosh Hashanah..

The Synagogue: Next to home, the synagogue is the most important place on Rosh Hashanah. Over the next two days, the entire community will spend the majority of time praying at the synagogue or temple.

Central Prayers: Three central prayers dominate the davening on Rosh Hashanah:

Unetaneh Tokef, usually sung solo by the cantor or shaliach tzibur, is a dramatic hymn written by a rabbi in the Middle Ages who was tortured for refusing to convert of Christianity. In it, he vividly describes the moment in which each individual is judged. At this time in the service, the entire congregation is silent, as the prayer is chanted slowly.

The Musaf Amidah, also known as the service for the sounding of the shofar, is divided into three blessings:

Each blessing is centered around ten verses, three from the Chumash, the five Books of Moses; three from Ketuvim, writings; and three from Nevi'im, prophets; and one again from the Chumash. They all reflect three of the most significant themes of Judaism.

The themes of birth after barrenness, deliverance after exile, and rescue from sacrifice are the main themes of these readings.

Days In between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Days of Awe: Also known as the Ten Days of Repentance, these are the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In Hebrew, they are called Aseret Yemay Tshuvah, and offer another chance for spiritual renewal.

Fast of Gedaliah: On the third day of Tishri, Jews observe a minor fast known as the Tzom Gedaliah, the fast of Gedaliah. This commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, the last governor of Judea following the destruction of the first temple, in 586 B.C. His death marked the end of Jewish rule and led to the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. It is one of four fast days relating to the destruction of the temple.

Shabbat Shuvah: The Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return. Besides its special haftorah, this Sabbath is usually marked in synagogues with a lengthy Davar Torah, or sermon, about repentance. This custom started in Eastern Europe when rabbis spoke twice a year - once on Shabbat Shuvah, and once on Shabbat Hagadol, the great Sabbath, which takes place one week before Passover.

Copy taken from www.everythingjewish.com by Amy J. Kramer.