Rosh Hashanah 2023: Jewish New Year arrives at sundown Friday night
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on Friday, September 15, 2023, and concludes at sundown on Sunday, September 17, 2023. It is a two-day holiday that marks the beginning of the Hebrew year 5784.
Rosh Hashanah is a time for introspection and reflection. It is also a time to celebrate new beginnings and to hope for a sweet and prosperous year ahead.
What to do on Rosh Hashanah
There are many ways to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Some of the most common traditions include:
- Attending synagogue services
- Lighting candles
- Eating symbolic foods, such as apples dipped in honey, pomegranates, and fish
- Blowing the shofar, a ram's horn trumpet
- Spending time with family and friends
Symbolic foods on Rosh Hashanah
The symbolic foods eaten on Rosh Hashanah are meant to represent good wishes for the new year. For example:
- Apples dipped in honey represent a sweet new year.
- Pomegranates represent fertility and abundance.
- Fish represents prosperity, as the Hebrew word for fish ("dag") sounds similar to the Hebrew word for "grain" ("dagan").
Rosh Hashanah greetings
A common Rosh Hashanah greeting is "L'Shana Tova!" which means "Happy New Year!" in Hebrew. You can also greet someone "Shanah Tova Umetukah!" which means "Happy and Sweet New Year!"
Tips for celebrating Rosh Hashanah
If you are new to celebrating Rosh Hashanah, here are a few tips:
- Attend synagogue services, if you are able.
- If you are not able to attend synagogue services, there are many resources available online and in libraries that can help you learn more about the holiday and its traditions.
- Prepare a holiday meal with symbolic foods.
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Take some time for introspection and reflection.
Conclusion
Rosh Hashanah is a special time of year for Jews all over the world. It is a time to celebrate new beginnings and to hope for a sweet and prosperous year ahead.
Comments
Post a Comment