Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, observed for two days starting on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated by Jewish communities worldwide, especially in Israel, with synagogue prayers, the blowing of the shofar, and festive meals symbolizing hopes for a sweet year.

• The shofar is blown in synagogue services throughout Rosh Hashanah
• Apples dipped in honey symbolize hopes for a sweet new year
• Tashlich involves casting away sins by water between Rosh Hashanah and Hoshana Rabbah
• Rosh Hashanah begins the Ten Days of Repentance leading to Yom Kippur
• It is observed for two days, starting at sundown on the first of Tishrei

What it is

Rosh Hashanah, meaning 'head of the year' in Hebrew, marks the beginning of the Jewish civil year and is one of Judaism’s most significant spiritual observances. It opens the Ten Days of Repentance, a period of reflection and self-examination that culminates in Yom Kippur. For many, Rosh Hashanah is a time to consider the past year, seek forgiveness, and set intentions for the year ahead. The festival is deeply rooted in themes of renewal, judgment, and the relationship between humanity and the divine, with prayers and rituals that invite both personal and communal introspection.

Where it comes from

Rosh Hashanah’s origins trace back to the Hebrew Bible, where it is described as a day of rest and trumpet-blowing, rather than as a New Year celebration. Its association with the new year and themes of judgment and creation developed in rabbinic literature, where it became the day for marking calendar years and commemorating the creation of humankind. The timing of Rosh Hashanah, in early autumn, reflects ancient agricultural cycles and may share roots with other Near Eastern new year festivals. Over centuries, Jewish tradition layered spiritual meaning onto the day, making it a cornerstone of the High Holy Days.

How it is celebrated

Rosh Hashanah is observed over two days, beginning at sundown. Central to the celebration is attending synagogue services, where special prayers are recited and the shofar—a ram’s horn—is blown in a series of evocative blasts. The shofar’s sound is both a call to repentance and a symbol of renewal. At home, families gather for festive meals featuring symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey, pomegranates, and round challah bread, each representing hopes for sweetness and abundance in the coming year. Another tradition is Tashlich, where people gather by flowing water to symbolically cast away their sins, often by tossing bread or stones into the water. The atmosphere is both solemn and hopeful, blending introspection with communal joy.

Joining in

Visitors in Israel or Jewish communities worldwide during Rosh Hashanah can expect to see synagogues filled with worshippers and hear the distinctive sound of the shofar. While the festival is primarily observed at home and in synagogue, some public spaces near rivers or seas may host Tashlich gatherings. If you are invited to a Rosh Hashanah meal, expect warm hospitality and a table set with symbolic dishes. Respect for the reflective and prayerful mood is appreciated, and modest dress is customary in religious settings.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Rosh Hashanah, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Rosh Hashanah on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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