Rosh Hashanah

or Rosh Ha·sha·na, Rosh Ha·sho·noh, Rosh Ha·sho·no

[ rohsh hah-shaw-nuh, -shah-, huh-, rawsh; Ashkenazic Hebrew rohsh hah-shaw-nuh; Sephardic Hebrew rawsh hah-shah-nah ]

noun

1. a Jewish high holy day that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri by Orthodox and Conservative Jews and only on the first day by Reform Jews.

Rosh Hashanah

/ ˈrɒʃ həˈʃɑːnə; ˈrɔʃ haʃaˈna /

noun

1. the festival marking the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri, and marked by penitential prayers and by the blowing of the shofar

Rosh Hashanah

1. The festival of the New Year in Judaism , falling in September or October. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur , and the eight days in between are special days of penitence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rosh Hashanah¹

First recorded in 1840–50, Rosh Hashanah is from Hebrew rōsh hashshānāh literally, “beginning of the year”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rosh Hashanah¹

from Hebrew rōsh hasshānāh , literally: beginning of the year, from rōsh head + hash-shānāh year

Example Sentences

I thought a lot about buba Sonia this weekend because it was Rosh Hashanah, a time when my own little family gets a taste of my decidedly modern attempts at traditional Jewish cooking.

From Fortune

Elli Kriel is prepping her kitchen for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.

From Ozy

The event is coming back to D.C. this weekend, where it will once again conflict with Rosh Hashanah.

From The Daily Beast

Zarif, for example, went on Twitter to offer Jews a Rosh Hashanah greeting.

From The Daily Beast

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, two bits of seemingly contradictory news emerged from the Jewish State.

From The Daily Beast

It is legitimate for a democracy like Israel to celebrate Passover and Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot and Hanukkah as national holidays.

From The Daily Beast

Holidays like Rosh Hashanah, which begins Wednesday night, are a big deal in the Gregory household.

From The Daily Beast

More About Rosh Hashanah

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday that marks the start of the Jewish New Year.

It’s celebrated at the beginning of Tishri, the first month of the Jewish calendar.

In Judaism, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world, and is considered one of holiest days of the year for Jews. It starts a period of penitence that culminates nine days later on Yom Kippur, which is considered the holiest day of the year and is devoted to atoning for sins (it is also called the Day of Atonement). This period is referred to as the High Holidays or the Days of Awe. 

Rosh Hashanah is observed differently within different sects of Judaism, but it’s often observed with penitential prayers, the blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn used as an instrument), and special services, including readings from a prayer book called the mahzor. Rosh Hashanah is a day of rest on which Jews are forbidden from doing work.

Rosh Hashanah is sometimes spelled Rosh Hashana, Rosh Hashonoh, or Rosh Hashono.

A traditional greeting for Rosh Hashanah is L’Shana Tova, which means “good year.”

When is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated each year at the beginning of Tishri, the first month of the Jewish calendar. Orthodox and Conservative Jews celebrate it on the first and second days of Tishri, while Reform Jews celebrate it only on the first day. Because the Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, the specific dates on which Rosh Hashanah falls change each year.

In 2023, Rosh Hashanah will begin on the evening of September 15. In 2024, it will begin on the evening of October 2.

More information and context on Rosh Hashanah

The first records of the name Rosh Hashanah in English come from the mid-1800s, but its origins are ancient. It comes from the Hebrew rōsh hashshānāh, meaning “beginning of the year.” (The word rosh means “beginning” and is also used in the term Rosh Hodesh, which refers to the beginning of a new month in the Jewish calendar.)

Rosh Hashanah is often observed as a time for somber reflection. According to Jewish tradition, the period that begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur is when God renders judgment, so many Jews use the time to pray and make amends for the wrongs they have committed.

A Rosh Hashanah ritual known as Tashlich involves participants gathering along the banks of a river or stream and symbolically casting off their sins and reciting prayers of repentance.

Some Jews wear new clothes on the day and use special table settings during the meal, which consists of food symbolizing positive wishes for the new year. Traditional dishes include challah and apples dipped in honey.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Rosh Hashanah?

• new year
• High Holidays
• Days of Awe
• Yom Kippur
• Tishri
• Jewish calendar
• repentance
• atonement
• Tashlich
• mahzor
• challah

How is Rosh Hashanah discussed in real life?

For Jews, Rosh Hashanah is often a time of somber reflection while also being a time to celebrate the new year.

Shana Tova! We wish everybody a happy new year! Stay safe and full of sweetness as we celebrate Rosh Hashanah! pic.twitter.com/FWzblF5SLL

— Jewish Museum London (@JewishMuseumLDN) September 18, 2020

Every end of summer I forget that it’s almost Rosh Hashanah and then when my grandma reminds me I get so excited because it means it’s almost apple cake time!!!!!

— Finding Allie 🐱☕️ 🏳️‍🌈 (@alliegator1004) August 14, 2021

realizing that I’ll be moving into my dreamy cozy new house right as Rosh Hashanah begins?? 🥺😭✨ and feeling very amazed and grateful for the growth and love I’m already receiving as I head into this new year 5782. It is, as they say, good vibes only

— Ellie (@lil_Elliephant) August 18, 2021

 

 

Try using Rosh Hashanah!

True or False?

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.