Holidays are a part of every culture and they are very important to most people. Holidays are celebrations that are meant to be shared with family and friends. Holidays may have religious or historical significance. For example, both Fourth of July and Thanksgiving have historical significance for both the United States and England. In addition, Rosh Hashanah, Purim, Yom Kippur, and Hanukah have religious significance for Jewish people. Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year. It is also literally translated as “head of the year.” The term Jewish New Year first appeared in the Bible in Ezekiel 40:1. The significance of Rosh Hashanah is that it is the Jewish New Year, according to the Hebrew calendar. Rosh Hashanah commemorates both the creation of the world and the birth and the binding of Isaac.

Rosh Hashanah extends over the first two days of the Hebrew month of Fishery, even in Israel where most Jewish holidays last only one day. Since days in the Hebrew calendar begin at sundown, the beginning of Rosh Hashanah also begins at sundown. This holiday is characterized by the blowing of a shofar which is a trumpet created out of a ram’s horn. In fact, the shofar is blown in traditional communities every morning for the entire month of Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah. The sound of the shofar is intended to awaken the listener from his or her “slumber” and alert them to the coming judgment. The traditional Rosh Hashanah greeting is Shana Tova which in Hebrew means a good year or Shana Tova Umetukah which means a good and sweet year. Because Jews are being judged by God for the coming year, a longer Rosh Hashanah greeting translates as May you be written and sealed for a good year.

The observances followed on Rosh Hashanah include praying in the synagogue and blowing the shofar. Also, there are festive meals that are eaten on Rosh Hashanah with round bread called challah and apples dipped in honey; other honey food dishes that could be served for the Rosh Hashanah are baked apples with honey and cinnamon, apple pie with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Brisket has been cooked with honey glazed carrots for the main course for the Rosh Hashanah meal. Jewish people have even eaten the Greek dessert called baklava on Rosh Hashanah because it contains sweet dough, honey, and nuts. A fish soup is also a very popular food dish for a festive Rosh Hashanah meal. The perfect beverages for the Rosh Hashanah feast would be either grape juice or grape wine. In addition, people might drink hot tea with honey during Rosh Hashanah.

In 2007, Rosh Hashanah will be celebrated starting at sunset on September 12th and will end at sunset on September 14th. In addition in 2008, Rosh Hashanah will start at sunset on September 29th and it will conclude at sunset on October first. Did you know that the highest and holiest Jewish holiday is Yom Kippur which follows Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is a wonderful and sweet September Jewish holiday. I was born on September 15th during Rosh Hashanah in 1970; I think that is why my middle name is Honey although I am also a very sweet person. Happy Rosh Hashanah!