Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה — literally “head of the year”) is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It marks the Jewish New Year and begins the period of reflection and repentance known as the High Holy Days or Days of Awe (in Hebrew Yamim Nora’im). On this holiday, Jewish people around the world gather with family and community for prayer, festive meals, and introspection about the past year and hopes for the one ahead.

🌅 What Rosh Hashanah Is

• Meaning: It commemorates the creation of humanity (Adam and Eve) and serves as a time to reflect, pray, and seek forgiveness.

• Beginning of the Jewish New Year: Although Jewish tradition observes several “new years” for different purposes, Rosh Hashanah is the civil new year and starts the year in the month of Tishrei on the Hebrew calendar.

• High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah starts the ten‑day period culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement — a deeply sacred time focused on repentance and renewal.

• Shofar Blowing: A key ritual is the blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn), which serves as a spiritual wake‑up call and symbol of renewal.

• Festive Foods: Traditional festive meals often include symbolic foods — for example, apples dipped in honey to represent wishes for a sweet new year and round challah (bread) for a full, round year.