The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins Sept. 22, 2006 at sunset and lasts until nightfall on Sept. 24. One of the most important holidays of the Jewish religion, Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the High Holy Days, the 10-day period of self-reflection and prayer that culminates with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.
History
Unlike the typical western New Year celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is a solemn occasion marked by attending religious services at a synagogue and then sharing a traditional meal. In the Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, called Tishri.
Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year” and is determined by the new moon. First mentioned in the Bible (though under a different name) in Leviticus 23:24-25, the holiday commemorates the anniversary of the creation of the world and honors God’s sovereignty. Like many New Year celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity for a fresh beginning and foreshadows the year to come.
Traditions
This religious holiday comes with its own traditions and customs. One of the distinctive features of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the
shofar, a hallowed out ram’s horn. According to tradition, the blowing of the horn calls worshipers to prayer and serves as a symbolic "wake-up call." The
shofar reminds the faithful to wake up from their moral slumber and repent. There is one small exception to this rule. If the holiday falls on the Sabbath day, the
shofar is not blown.
Another tradition is the "casting-off of sins," called
tashlikh in Hebrew. This custom is a long-standing practice where worshipers throw small bits of bread into a natural, flowing body of water, like a river or the ocean. The practice symbolizes the casting off the sins of the previous year.
Food
What’s a holiday without the big holiday meal? Unlike Yom Kippur, which requires fasting, there are many traditional foods eaten during Rosh Hashanah. Often times, the Rosh Hashanah meal includes fish. Traditionally, the fish is placed at the head of the table so that the family may lead like the head of the fish, rather then follow like the tail. During this holiday, the
Challah bread, traditionally braided, is baked in a circular shape to symbolize the cycle of life and cyclical nature of the year. In some communities, the Challah is baked either in the shape of a ladder or with a ladder in the center. It foreshadows the belief that some may climb up life’s ladder in the coming year, while others descend. Another favorite dish is apples dipped in honey, a symbol for the wish for a sweet new year.
Sources:
"Judaism 101: Rosh Hashanah". Judaism 101. September 2006. 22 September 2006. http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
"Rosh Hashanah" Wikipedia: Rosh Hashanah. September 2006. 22 September 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah
