A key celebration in the Jewish calendar is about to get under way this week which kicks-off the start of a series of autumn festivals for those who practise the faith.
One of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah is the new year festival usually held on the first day of Tishri which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar.
It is marked at the start by the blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn trumpet) and signalling the start of the ten days of penitence, prayer and introspection culminating in Yom Kippur.
We take a look at when it is marked, how and why.
When is Rosh Hashanah in 2024?
The date of Rosh Hashanah changes each year but is 163 days after the first day of the Passover and is usually (but not always) determined by the new moon closest to the autumnal equinox.
The earliest date on which it can fall is 5 September and the latest is 5 October.
This year it will be marked from sundown on the evening of Wednesday 2 October ending on nightfall
What is the significance of Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a 10-day period of repentance and reflection (Days of Awe) leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered to be holiest day of the Jewish year.
The two-day celebration of renewal is a chance for those in the faith to reflect on their deeds good and bad.
It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah God makes a judgement and writes names into one of his three books.
These are:
- the Book of Life – for those who are good
- the Book of Death – for those who are evil
- an intermediate book – where most people’s names are written
And so during this period, Jews will do things to try and influence in which book their name may eventually appear.
This can be doing charity work or attending a cleansing ceremony called the Tashlich (casting off), in which their sins are cast out and people ask for God’s forgiveness.
How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?
The most well-known ritual of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, a musical instrument made from an animal horn which is believed to create the sound of repentance.
It is blown at various points during the Rosh Hashanah prayers and it is customary to have a total of 100 blasts on each day.
Jews will spend time in the synagogue, saying prayers and reading parts of the Torah.
Families will share meals together in the evening during Rosh Hashanah.
These are likely to include: apples dipped in honey (to symbolise a sweet, healing new year), dates, pomegranates, black-eyed peas, pumpkin-filled pastries called rodanchas, leek fritters called keftedes de prasa and a whole fish with its the head intact.
A round bread called challah is also served, symbolising the cycle of the year.
And they will greet each other with the phrase “L’shana tovah”, which means “for a good year”.
As part of the Tashlich ceremony, prayers are said near flowing water such as a river and many throw bread or pebbles into the water to symbolise the casting off of sins.
