Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a fall holiday and one of Judaism’s holiest days. The festival is a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life. It begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. Rosh Hashanah 2022 begins at sundown on Sunday, September 25, and ends at sundown on Tuesday, September 27. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of serious introspection that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion. Observant Jews consider Rosh Hashanah and the days surrounding it a time for prayer, good deeds, reflecting on past mistakes and making amends with others. The blasts of the shofar—a trumpet made from a ram’s horn—is the most potent symbol of the holiday. It is intended as a wake-up call to prepare for the Tishrei holidays. Traditional Rosh Hashanah feasts include serving round challah bread and eating apple slices dipped in honey, sometimes after saying a special prayer. Ancient Jews believed apples had healing properties, and the honey signifies the hope that the new year will be sweet.