Here is a simple guide for those who are not Jewish to understand Rosh HaShanah and how we can be good neighbors to our Jewish friends during this holiday season.
What is Rosh HaShanah?
Rosh HaShanah, or Head of the Year, is considered the birthday of the created world and the new year for the Jewish people. It is a two-day holiday outside of Israel (only one day in the land of Israel) and is a time of both celebration and weighty introspection, to rejoice at a year now completed and to contemplate the year to come.
This holiday kicks off the Yamim Noraim, the Ten Days of Awe, which is a time period of reflection and repentance beginning with Rosh HaShanah and culminating with Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance. Rosh HaShanah is commemorated in both the home and the synagogue through prayer services.
Rosh HaShanah is celebrated in the home through a holiday meal, featuring apples and honey (apples are round, symbolizing the year that seamlessly begins and ends, while honey is eaten in the hope of a sweet year ahead), along with a challah in a round shape. Families gather to celebrate the new year and offer wishes to one another like Shanah Tovah, ”Happy New Year,” or Gut Yontif, which is Yiddish for “Happy Holidays.”
In the synagogue, the community gathers for evening and morning services over two consecutive days. The morning services include several additional sections beyond the regular morning prayers, such as the recitation of the Holy Name in front of the ark during the Torah service and a service for the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is made of a ram’s horn and serves as a wakeup call to the heart, to begin in earnest the process of repentance and a commitment to improving our ways for the year to come.
Outside the synagogue, some Jews also participate in a ritual called ”Tashlich,” when people throw crumbs of bread into flowing water, symbolizing their casting off of last year’s sins in the hope of a better year ahead. All these prayers and rituals are done with the hope that, metaphorically, God will inscribe our names in the Book of Life for another year ahead. This explains why one greeting includes the words: Shanah Tova U’Tikateivu, “May you have a sweet year and be inscribed in the Book of Life.”
When is Rosh HaShanah celebrated?
Rosh HaShanah is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which usually falls in the Gregorian month of September or October. The Hebrew calendar is a combination of the solar and lunar calendars (the Gregorian calendar is based on the solar calendar, adjusted regularly with the leap day, while the Muslim calendar is mainly based on the cycles of the moon). This means that Rosh HaShanah falls within the same season each year, but is not in complete sync with the calendars used in the US and around the world. Some people will say, “Rosh HaShanah is late this year.” But the truth is that it is on the same day of the Hebrew calendar each year; it simply aligns with the Gregorian calendar in different ways each year.
What greetings can I use?
Shanah Tovah, (Sha-NAH To-VAH) which means ”Happy New Year”
Shanah Tovah u’metukah: (Oo-Me-Tu-KAH) Adding “u’metukah” (and sweet) emphasizes the wish for a sweet new year, often referencing the tradition of eating apples and honey.
Gut Yontif, (Goot YON-tif) which is Yiddish for “Happy Holidays”
Chag Sameach, (CH=gutteral H, Chag Sa-ME-ach) which means “Happy Holidays”
How can I be a good neighbor during Rosh HaShanah?
There are a number of things that can be done to be a good neighbor to your Jewish friends during the Rosh HaShanah season.
First, if you work with or go to school with someone who is Jewish, it’s nice to wish them a holiday greeting. Don’t worry about messing up the Hebrew – the gesture is rare, and so it will be very appreciated! We also know how challenging Hebrew can be!
Know that they may need to be away from work or school during this time of year for one or two days at a time, over the course of the next few weeks! This is because Rosh HaShanah is the beginning of the High Holy Day season – a period of time containing no less than four different holidays, each celebrated a week or more apart. Each family and each Jewish denomination has different traditions for each holiday, so don’t be surprised if one family takes the day off from work or school to observe the holiday while another family comes to work and school as if nothing is going on.
Consider covering for them at work, or bring schoolwork home from school, knowing that they sometimes cover for you during Christian holidays or that you enjoy Christmas and Easter Break from school as a part of our national calendar. It is challenging to carve out special time when the rest of the world around you is continuing as normal. A little extra patience and understanding are always appreciated.
Please ask your Jewish neighbors questions about their religion and traditions. They will be so happy to share. The Jewish tradition is all about asking lots of questions anyway – it’s understood that asking questions is the best way to learn. It will not be considered rude; on the contrary, it will be received enthusiastically.
While most Shabbat services are open to anyone who wants to join them every week, many Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services are ticketed events. This is for two reasons: 1. The incredible number of community members that attend each service and the need for seats and parking; 2. The need for extra security on such a busy and public day. Most of the time, if you’re curious and want to attend, your friend will still love for you to join them. If you’d like to attend a service with a friend, please let them know well in advance (like in August) so they can make the necessary arrangements. Alternatively, consider joining online from home. Many services are live-streamed these days.
Gift giving is not a central part of this holiday. If gifts are given, it is usually in the form of honey or dates, which symbolize the hope for a sweet new year ahead. Happy New Year!