Rosh
Hashana Jewish Year 5777: Sunset October 2, 2016 - nightfall October 4,
2016
In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a
sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus
16:24
Rosh
Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri.
In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or
"first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish
New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity
between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American
midnight drinking bash and daytime football game.
There is,
however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American
one: Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making
"resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin
introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the
changes to make in the new year. More on this concept at Days of Awe.
The name
"Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible to discuss this holiday. The
Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom
Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in
Leviticus 23:24-25.
The
shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most
important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in
the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each
day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second
sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series
of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah
gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which
lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. Click the shofar above to hear an
approximation of the sound of Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah. The Bible gives no
specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the
shofar's sound is a call to repentance. The shofar is not blown if the holiday
falls on Shabbat.
No work is
permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue,
where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there
is a special prayer book called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these
holidays.
Another
popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a
symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. This was the second Jewish religious
practice I was ever exposed to (the first one: lighting Chanukkah candles),
and I highly recommend it. It's yummy. We also dip bread in honey (instead of
the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same
reason.
Another
popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). We walk
to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day
and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. Small
pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off. This practice is
not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. Tashlikh is normally
observed on the afternoon of the first day, before afternoon services. When the
first day occurs on Shabbat, many synagogues observe Tashlikh on
Sunday afternoon, to avoid carrying (the bread) on Shabbat.
Religious
services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d's
sovereignty.
The
common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year").
This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to
women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May
you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." More on that concept at Days of Awe.
