Rosh Hashanah 2024 – Shanah tovah um’tukah – Have a good and sweet year.
Rosh Hashanah 2024 begins the evening of Wed, Oct 2nd – Fri, Oct 4th
Brief Facts about Rosh Hashanah:
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- Means “Head of the Year” in Hebrew
- Marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year
- Considered a “day of judgment” a time for reflection and repentance
- It is celebrated over two days, usually in September or October
Commemoration:
- Commemorates the creation of the world and celebrates God creating the first humans, Adam and Eve.
- It is a time to review one’s relationship with God, recall responsibilities as God’s chosen people, and prepare for the coming year.
Judgment:
- Judaism teaches that Rosh Hashanah is when God judges all humanity, considering a person’s good and bad deeds over the past year to decide what the next year will be like for them.
Significant Rituals/Traditions
- Blowing the Shofar, the ram’s horn, which is mentioned in the Bible as a ceremonial tool in the Temple and a signal horn for war.
- Eating symbolic foods: Popular foods include apples dipped in honey, challah bread, pomegranate seeds, and the head of a fish or ram.
- Other traditions People often attend synagogue and refrain from work during Rosh Hashanah.
- “Shanah Tovah” is a greeting that means “Good Year”
Find out more about Rosh Hashana 2024 at Britannica.com.
