Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana History

Rosh Hashana (Hebrew: ראש השנה) signifies the beginning of the Jewish New Year and lasts for two days. During this time, Jewish people gather in synagogues and pray, celebrate with family and friends, and participate in various traditional customs such as eating symbolic foods. Some of the important aspects of the observance of Rosh Hashana include the blowing of the shofar, reciting special prayers, and reflecting on the past year.

The history of Rosh Hashana can be traced back to biblical times when the Jewish people observed it as a day of judgment. It was believed that on this day, God would judge all of humanity and determine who would be inscribed in the Book of Life for the upcoming year. In America, Rosh Hashana is observed in much the same way as it is in other parts of the world. Many Jewish people attend synagogue services, participate in traditional rituals such as Tashlich (symbolically casting away sins), and enjoy festive meals with family and friends.

Rosh Hashana usually falls in September or October and is observed according to the Jewish calendar. It is a time for Jewish people to come together and celebrate the beginning of a new year with hope and optimism. Rosh Hashana takes place on September 15th this year.

Top 10 Facts for Rosh Hashana (Begins) in 2026

• Rosh Hashana 2026 coincides with the start of the Jewish year 5787, a year that begins on the Hebrew calendar as the community reflects on themes of renewal and introspection.
• The holiday marks the beginning of the 'Ten Days of Awe,' a period of intense spiritual preparation that leads directly into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
• Synagogues across the United States traditionally feature the sounding of the shofar—a ram's horn—which serves as a powerful, ancient wake-up call for congregants to engage in self-reflection.
• During the celebratory meals, it is customary to dip apples into honey, symbolizing the collective hope and prayer for a sweet, prosperous new year ahead.
• Many Jewish communities incorporate the ritual of Tashlich, where individuals go to a body of flowing water to symbolically cast away their sins by throwing breadcrumbs or stones into the stream.
• The liturgy of the holiday is significantly expanded with the recitation of the Unetanneh Tokef, a haunting prayer that contemplates the fragility of life and the nature of divine judgment.
• Traditional holiday greetings, such as 'L'shana tova tikatevu,' are exchanged, wishing others to be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for the coming year.
• While not a federal holiday in the United States, many school districts, universities, and workplaces offer excused absences to allow students and employees to observe the high holy days with their families.
• Culinary traditions often include the baking of round challah bread, which replaces the customary braided loaf to represent the cyclical nature of the year and the continuity of life.
• The observance is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative of the Akedah, or the Binding of Isaac, which is read from the Torah to emphasize themes of faith, devotion, and divine mercy.

In the News and Trending in the US for Rosh Hashana

Top things to do in the US for Rosh Hashana

• Celebrate the Jewish New Year with a Rosh Hashana Concert. Popular concerts are held in major cities such as New York and London.
• Attend a local Rosh Hashanah service as a synagogue near you.
• Send New Year's Greeting Cards to your Jewish friends.
• One of the most common ways to celebrate Rosh Hashana is by hosting or attending dinners with family and friends where traditional meals are served.
• It's a custom to eat apples dipped in honey during Rosh Hashana as a symbol of the sweet new year.