The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, starts at sundown on Friday.
You should be aware of the following.
The Jewish High Holy Days officially begin that night. On the first & second days of the Hebrew month Tishrei, Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah. The word “rosh,” which in Hebrew means “head,” denotes the start of the Hebrew year 5784.
By hearing the “shofar,” or ram’s horn, listeners respect the holiday. This is seen as a mitzvah, a righteous deed, and a mandate for the holiday.
Rabbi Shoshana Conover of Temple Sholom in Lakeview stated, “We hear it in order to have almost a “alarm clock” to say, here’s how we want to do things spiritually for ourselves to get this new year off right.” “In some ways, we do that to put ourselves back together for the start of the new year, to remember ourselves, to remember the best parts of ourselves.”
Oval-shaped challah bread is a common component of Jewish celebrations and meals. A special round challah is cooked for Rosh Hashanah.
According to Conover, the circle symbolizes the passage of time, and many cultures add sugar or cinnamon for a festive new year.
Rosh Hashanah custom calls for eating apples and honey to symbolize a lovely new year.
Conover explained, “What we want to do is to make sure that this time of year, we’re capable of dipping into the beautiful things that are all around us, including the fact that this is apple season.” To sweeten this year, “We love having apples and honey.”
You might say L’Shana Tovah to congratulate a buddy on the new year!