Rosh Hashanah is Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days which end on Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah comes 163 days after the first day of Passover. That can be anywhere from September 5 to October 5.
Rosh Hashanah 2020
This is the beginning of the Jewish year 5781.
We celebrate from sundown on Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20
Rosh Hashanah 2019
This is the beginning of the Jewish year 5780.
We celebrate from sundown on Sunday, September 29 to sundown on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.
New York City schools are closed Monday and Tuesday, September 30 and October 1.
Rosh Hashanah Traditions
Rosh Hashanah is the day when God created Adam and Eve.
According to tradition, the world was created on Saturday night, October 6, 3761 BCE. This is according to Maimonides, the Córdoba Spain-born Sephardic scientist, physician, philosopher, author of the Mishneh Torah, and Nagid (leader) of Egypt’s Jewish community (ca. 1135-1138 – 1204).
Traditions vary between Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and even in regional practice.
The most important Rosh Hashanah tradition is to hear the sound of the Shofar (a ram’s horn) on Rosh Hashanah mornings. For this we go to synagogue.
Some traditions practice Tashlikh, the ritual casting of sins into water. Some of us walk to flowing water and empty our pockets into the river. Some of us put small pieces of bread in our pockets beforehand to enhance the symbolism.
In the evening, women light candles and recite blessings.
Rosh Hashanah is a holiday feast. We eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize our wishes for a sweet new year. The many seeds of pomegranates symbolize fruitful wishes.
Shanah tovah