Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year or Shana Tova is the biggest festival of the Jewish Community. Jewish people celebrate this day every year with great pomp. Rosh Hashanah marks the two-day celebration. This year, Rosh Hashanah will start in the evening of 6 September and will end in the evening of 8 September as per Hebrew Calendar. The first month of the Hebrew New year is known as “tishrei”. Let us tell you more about Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year like History, Meaning, Significance, How to Celebrate? Celebration and a lot more about.
How to Celebrate?
The day is not celebrated like the modern New Years. There is a tradition of attending synagogue services and reciting special liturgy about teshuva, as well as enjoying festive meals. On this day work is prohibited, and Jewish people spend much of the holiday attending synagogue. Eating traditional foods on this day is also now in trend. On this people eats apples dipped in honey.
Rosh Hashanah History, Meaning or Significance
The mention of Rosh Hashanah is at many places in the Tanakh or the “Hebrew Bible. According to beliefs, the day is being celebrated by Jewish people every year since the sixth century B.C. It is believed that God created the whole world on Rosh Hashanah. That’s why this day is also called to be the birthday of the whole world. After 10 days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur is observed. As per beliefs, between these ten days, God judges all creatures and decides whether they will live or die in the coming year as per their deeds. As a result of this, Jews people consider these days as a time for prayer, good deeds, reflecting on past mistakes and making amends with others.
Rosh Hashanah Customs and Symbols
Apple dipped in Honey: There is a tradition of eating apples dipped in honey after offering prayers to god.
Challah Bread: Jewish people love to eat traditional braided bread known as challah Vread, or Round Challah.
“L’shana tovah” or Shana Tova: This is a common phrase jewish people used to greet each other on Jewish New Year. L’shana tovah means “for a good year”.
Tashlich: This is also a great tradition of Jewish peoples, on Rosh Hashanah, there is the custom of throwing pieces of bread into flowing water for water animals.