Rosh Hashanah (Continued) - ראש השנה

Traditions/Procedures:

- Wishing each other Shana Tova (Happy New Year).
- Eating apple dipped in honey to signify a sweet new year.
- Having round challahs to symbolise the cyclical nature of life.
- To hear the shofar being blown, a Divine decree, which we accept without having to understand why.

Maimonides, a medieval Jewish philosopher, wrote that “It is as if it (the sound of the Shofar) tells us: Sleepers, arise from your slumber, and those who are dozing, awake from your lethargy. Review your actions, repent your sins and remember your Creator! …….”

- Wearing our best clothes to bring in the new year.
- The Machzor (Cycle) prayerbook is used for both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur rather than the Siddur.
- Lighting of the candles at home at sundown and saying theYomTov and She-heh-chi-yanu blessings:

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with commandments and commands us to light the festival lights.

BA-RUCH A-TA ADO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM A-SHER KI-DE-SHA-NU BE- MITZ-VO-TAV VE-TZI-VA-NU LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL YOM TOV.

בּרוּךּ אַתָּה יְי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךּ הָעוֹלָם אַשֶׁר קְדְּשָׁנוּ בּמִצְוֹתָו וְצִוִָּנוּ להַדְלּיק נֵר שֶׁל‏ יוֹם טוֹב.

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us and enabled us to celebrate this joyous occasion.

BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM SHE-HE-CHE-YA-NU VE-KI-YE-MA-NU VE-HIG-I-YA-NU LAZ-MAN HA-ZEH.

בּרוּךּ אַתָּה יְי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךּ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׂהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ הְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.

References:

Black, N.(Ed.) (1989) Celebration – The Book of Jewish Festivals, Jonathan David Publishers, Inc. New York.