Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of Tishrei and marks the Jewish New Year. The holiday is one of the most important observances in Judaism and begins a period of reflection, prayer, repentance, and renewal.

History of Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is rooted in Jewish religious tradition and is mentioned in biblical and rabbinic sources. The name means “head of the year,” and the holiday is associated with judgment, renewal, and the beginning of a new spiritual cycle.

In Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is also connected with the creation of the world and the idea of personal reflection before God. It begins the Ten Days of Repentance, which lead to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The Mishnah, an important Jewish legal text compiled around 200 CE, describes several new years in the Jewish calendar, including the first day of Tishrei. Over time, Rosh Hashanah became the central Jewish New Year observance.

Today, Rosh Hashanah is marked by synagogue services, the sounding of the shofar, festive meals, symbolic foods, and greetings for a sweet and good year.

Interesting Facts About Rosh Hashanah

• The shofar, usually made from a ram’s horn, is sounded during Rosh Hashanah services.
• Apples dipped in honey are eaten as a symbol of hope for a sweet new year.
• Round challah is often served to represent the cycle of the year and continuity of life.
• Many Hasidic Jews travel to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah to visit the burial place of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.

How Rosh Hashanah Is Observed

Attend synagogue services, listen to the shofar, and take part in prayers focused on reflection, repentance, and renewal.

Share a festive meal with family or friends. Traditional foods often include apples with honey, round challah, pomegranates, fish, and other symbolic dishes.

Some communities also observe tashlich, a ceremony in which people go to flowing water and symbolically cast away their sins.

When Is Rosh Hashanah in 2026?

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 11, 2026, and continues through nightfall on September 13, 2026.

Observations