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What is Rosh Hashanah? The Jewish New Year

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4 Things Jews Do on Rosh Hashanah || Mayim Bialik

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There are many wonderful customs, symbols, and traditions associated with Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection and repentance.

1. Preparing during the Hebrew month of Elul

Preparation for both Rosh HaShanah and (the "Day of Atonement") customarily begins a full month before the holidays themselves, with the entire Hebrew month of dedicated to reflecting on the past year, and preparing to improving ourselves, our communities, and our world in the coming year. Learn more about how you can observe the month of Elul.

2. Celebrating at home

Jewish holidays begin in the evening, so many Jews begin Rosh HaShanah with a festive dinner with family or friends before attending services at a synagogue that night and again the following day.

On Erev Rosh HaShanah (the night the holiday begins), we recite the festival candle blessing and (blessing over wine). We also recite (the blessing over bread) as usual, but the challah - the special twisted loaf Jews eat on Shabbat and other special occasions - is round, rather than the oblong loaf we eat during the rest of the year.

This custom has several explanations: One is that the round shape reflects the ongoing cycle of years and seasons; another is that, as our thoughts turn to repentance and self-improvement, the round reminds us that the opportunity for , is always available to us. Another common interpretation is that the round challah resembles a crown, symbolizing the sovereignty of God - a common theme throughout the High Holidays. Learn how to make a round challah.

Throughout the centuries, Jews have commonly eaten apples - as well as challah, grapes, and other fruits - dipped in honey, which symbolizes the hope for sweetness and blessings in the year ahead. Learn more about the history of this Ashkenazic tradition. Some families also enjoy a pomegranate as a treat before the meal because, according to legend, the number of seeds in the pomegranate reflects the number of good deeds you will do in the coming year.

3. Celebrating in the synagogue

refers to the special penitential prayers Jews recite throughout the High Holiday season. Depending on the Hebrew calendar, Reform congregations generally observe Selichot in the hours before midnight on the Saturday night a week or two prior to Rosh HaShanah. The service, often conducted by candlelight, is a solemn preparation for the upcoming 10 days of reflection and self-examination. Learn more about Selichot and preparing for the High Holidays.

We learn from the (Leviticus 23:24-25) that Rosh HaShanah should be observed on the first day of the Hebrew month of . Many Jews take off from work and school to attend services, and often all the seats in the sanctuary are filled. Adjacent spaces, such as a social hall or auditorium, if available, also may be filled. If a congregation's sanctuary isn't large enough for all its members, High Holiday services may be held in a different location, such as a college auditorium, a hotel, or even a larger congregation whose services are also relocated elsewhere for the Days of Awe.

In recent years, a growing number of Reform congregations have adopted the practice of observing a second day of Rosh HaShanah. Conservative and Orthodox Jews in North America customarily observe two days of Rosh HaShanah, as do Jews in Israel, where stores, schools, and businesses close for the holiday.

Whether you observe one or two days of Rosh HaShanah, the holiday is known for the grand style of its prayers and rituals, including blowing the , in the synagogue. The liturgy places special emphasis on prayers that highlight God's sovereignty and judgment, along with our hope for God's forgiveness. We repeatedly recite the penitential prayer Avinu Malkeinu on Rosh HaShanah and throughout the High Holiday season. It is customary to extend wishes for a good year to friends and family. In Hebrew, the simple form of the greeting is "!"

4. Reading the Torah

Torah selections for Rosh HaShanah include Genesis 21, which tells of the birth of Isaac, and Genesis 22:1-19, the story of the , or "The Binding of Isaac." In those Reform congregations which observe a second day of Rosh HaShanah, an alternate Torah reading, Genesis 1:1-2:3, the story of the creation of the world, is often read on the second day of the holiday. The Reform machzormachzor מַחְזוֹר "Cycle;" High Holiday prayerbook; plural: machzorim.offers an additional alternate Torah selection, Genesis 18:16-33, the story of Abraham's arguing with God for justice of the innocent. The haftarah reading is from I Samuel and tells the story of Hannah. Alternate Haftarahhaftarah הַפְטָרָה Selection from the Prophets read or chanted after the weekly Torah portion; plural: haftarot readings include Isaiah 55:6-13, which urges us to "Seek the Eternal" and promises peace and joy, and Nehemiah 8:1-10, which tells the story of the public Torah reading on Rosh HaShanah in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

5. Blowing the shofar

Made from a ram's horn, the shofarshofar שׁוֹפָר Ram's horn most commonly blown throughout the month of Elul and during the High Holiday season.is one of the world's oldest wind instruments and has long played an important role as a ritual object in Jewish life. Its curved, bent shape symbolizes our humility as we stand before God to assess and consider our actions and behaviors during the past year.

The shofar is sounded throughout the Days of Awe, beginning during the month of Elul as a reminder of the upcoming High Holidays, and ending when its blast marks the conclusion of the final service on Yom Kippur.

The most common explanation for blowing the shofar during the Rosh HaShanah service derives from the story of the in Genesis 22, which we read on the holiday. According to the biblical story, Abraham substituted a ram for the boy, averting Isaac's death. Although the key message focuses on Abraham's faith and against human sacrifice, the story stands as one reason we blow a ram's horn on Rosh HaShanah.

You'll hear four different shofar "calls," each with a unique name, during the High Holidays: t'kiah (one long blast), sh'varim (three short blasts), t'ruah (nine quick blasts) and t'kiah g'dolah (one very long blast). These sounds suggest different approaches to the annual accounting of our activities during the past year ( cheshbon hanefesh), which we review during this season. The shofar blasts echo different rhythms and patterns in our daily lives. Watch this video to learn how to blow the shofar.

6. Performing Tashlich

is a ceremony generally conducted on the first day of Rosh HaShanah in which we symbolically cast our sins into a moving body of water, such as a river, stream, or ocean. When done together with a synagogue community, this ritual usually is performed in the afternoon, and includes the recitation of verses from Micah and Psalms. According to Micah 7:19, "God will take us back in love; God will cover up our iniquities, You will hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea." Watch this video to learn more about Tashlich.

This physical act inspires us to remember our actions, right our wrongs, and refocus ourselves for the New Year. Doing Tashlich with children is a wonderful teaching opportunity and a chance to enjoy some time outside together on this holy day. Customarily, bread has been used to represent our sins, but because it is not the most nutritional food for wildlife, some choose to cast stones, wood chips, or bird seed in place of bread. Learn more about performing this ritual in an environmentally friendly way.
Portions of this article were adapted from Jewish Living: A Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice, by Mark Washofsky.

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Rosh HaShanah Customs, Symbols, and Traditions

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There are many wonderful customs, symbols, and traditions associated with Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection and repentance. 1.

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What is Rosh Hashanah about exactly? What is a shofar? What traditional foods are served? What do "shana tova" and "gmar hatima tova" mean? How long does Rosh Hashanah last? Do I have to belong to a synagogue to go to Rosh Hashanah services? Is it possible to live-stream Rosh Hashanah services from my computer? Is it true that you are supposed to throw bread in the water on Rosh Hashanah? What prayers do we read on Rosh Hashanah? What sections of the Torah are read during Rosh Hashanah services? What is the prayer book for the High Holidays called, and are there any other special Hebrew terms I need to know during the holidays?
Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is simultaneously a time of great celebration and subtle trepidation. It is a day to celebrate our creation, but also a day of accounting and judgment for our actions. On Rosh Hashanah, we relate to God as the ultimate judge. The symbolic Book of Life is opened and we become advocates for our personal inscription in it. We review the choices we have made over the past year, our actions and our intentions, as we attempt to honestly evaluate ourselves. You may want to consult this list of questions to help in your introspection.

A shofar is a ram's horn that is blown like a trumpet during the Jewish month of Elul that leads up to Rosh Hashanah, at Rosh Hashanah services and at the end of Yom Kippur. The four sounds of the shofar - tekiah, shevarim, teruah and tekiah gedolah - remind many people of a crying voice. Hearing the shofar's call is a reminder for us to look inward and repent for the sins of the past year.

Traditionally Jews eat sweet foods - like apples and honey, challah and tzimmes - to symbolize a sweet new year. ( Here are some Rosh Hashanah recipes you may want to try.) Chicken and brisket are frequently served at Rosh Hashanah meals. In Sephardic tradition, a number of foods believed to signify our wishes for the coming year are eaten, such as pomegranates, leeks and pumpkins. All foods that can be eaten year-round are permitted. And the challah? It's round as a reminder of the never-ending cycle of life.

means "Have a good year." A similar expression is L'shana tova umetukah, which means "for a good and sweet year." Gmar hatima tova literally means "a good signing/sealing." This is a traditional greeting during the days from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, referring to the belief that on Rosh Hashanah our fates are written, or inscribed, in the Book of Life, and on Yom Kippur we are sealed in it.

Traditionally Jews observe two days of Rosh Hashanah. In 2020, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, Sept. 18 and ends at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 20. However, many Reform congregations observe only the first day. But the holidays don't end there: Yom Kippur falls 10 days later, followed by Sukkot and Simchat Torah.

No, although in most synagogues you will need to purchase High Holiday tickets in advance. If the cost is prohibitive, you can usually negotiate a lower rate. In addition, a number of congregations and other Jewish institutions offer free services, but you may need to do a little research to find them. Some suggestions to get you started are listed here.

While traditional Jews do not use technology on Rosh Hashanah, a growing number of non-Orthodox congregations are broadcasting High Holiday services, especially this year because of Covid-19. Many also stream Shabbat services and make previous services available for streaming anytime on their site or YouTube channel. Learn more about streaming High Holiday services here. You can also learn about how to get the most out attending a Zoom prayer service here. My Jewish Learning is also offering speed services and special classes during the holiday, which you can register for here.

Yes, during the Tashlich ceremony, usually held on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews symbolically cast off their sins by throwing pieces of bread into a body of water.

While some of the liturgy is similar to other weekday or Shabbat services, much of it is unique, and several of these prayers are repeated later on Yom Kippur. Arguably the most famous part of Rosh Hashanah services is the blowing of the shofar, and the most famous prayer is Unetanah Tokef, which inspired Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire." A close second is " Avinu Malkeinu," which means "our father, our king."

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, most synagogues read Genesis 21:1-21:34, the section where Sarah and Abraham, after years of struggling with infertility, are blessed with a son, Isaac, after which Sarah banishes Hagar, the handmaid who is the mother of Ishmael. The second-day reading, Genesis 22:1-24, continues where the first day left off, with the story of the Akedah, Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac. (In Reform congregations that observe only one day of Rosh Hashanah, only Genesis 22 is read.)

The prayer book for the holidays is called the Mahzor, and yes, there are numerous words and terms associated with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. You may find our Rosh Hashanah glossary and Yom Kippur glossary helpful.
Want to learn more about the High Holidays? Sign up for a special High Holiday prep email series.

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Rosh Hashanah FAQ: All About the Jewish New Year | My Jewish Learning

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What is Rosh Hashanah about exactly? What is a shofar? What traditional foods are served? What do "shana tova" and "gmar hatima tova" mean? How long does Rosh Hashanah last? Do I have to belong to a synagogue to go to Rosh Hashanah services? Is it possible to live-stream Rosh Hashanah services from my computer?

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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are festivals that ask us how we have lived thus far. Have we drifted? Have we been travelling to the wrong destination? Does the way we live give us a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfilment? Judaism is the satellite navigation system of the soul, and Rosh Hashanah is the day we stop and see whether we need to change direction.

Time is short. Down here on earth we only have one life to live; and unlike money, time lost can never be regained. Judaism is the world's oldest and most elaborately refined time management system, designed to ensure that we live for the things that matter, that bring meaning and value and joy.

Here are some life-changing principles I have learned from our faith, offered in the hope that they may help you as you reflect on the year that has passed and the one that is to come.

Together with Elaine and my team, I wish you and your families a shana tova u'metukah. May this year be a sweet and meaningful one for us all.

There are banks and accountants to tell us how to invest our money. Judaism tells us how to invest our time. That, according to the Rambam, Maimonides, is what Rosh Hashanah is about. The shofar, he says, is God's wake-up call. Without it, we can sleepwalk through life, wasting time on things that are urgent but not important, or that promise happiness but fail to deliver it.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are festivals that ask us how we have lived thus far. Have we drifted? Have we been travelling to the wrong destination? Does the way we live give us a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfilment? Judaism is the satellite navigation system of the soul, and Rosh Hashanah is the day we stop and see whether we need to change direction.

Time is short. Down here on earth we only have one life to live; and unlike money, time lost can never be regained. Judaism is the world's oldest and most elaborately refined time management system, designed to ensure that we live for the things that matter, that bring meaning and value and joy.

Here are some life-changing principles I have learned from our faith, offered in the hope that they may help you as you reflect on the year that has passed and the one that is to come:

(1) Give thanks. Praying, we give thanks to God for all we have, and for life itself. This may sound simple but it is life-transforming. It makes us notice what otherwise we would merely take for granted. It helps us see that we are surrounded by blessings. We are here, we are free, we have family, we have friends, we have opportunities our parents did not have and our grandparents could not even imagine. Yes, we have problems, fears, pains; but they can wait until we have finished giving thanks; and once we have given thanks, our problems seem a little smaller and we feel a little stronger. There is medical evidence that people who have an attitude of gratitude live longer and develop stronger immunities to illness. Be that as it may, the psychological evidence is incontrovertible: giving thanks brings happiness even in hard times.

(2) Give your children values, not presents. Presents give delight for a day, values bring happiness for a lifetime. Give your children materialistic values and you will spoil them forever; nor will they thank you for it in later life. Give them ideals, teach them to love, respect, admire, train them to take responsibility and to give to others. Help them be at home in Jewish life and let them give you Jewish pride, and they will grow in stature until they walk tall, proud of what they are and thankful for what you helped them become.

(3) Be a lifelong learner. Learning Torah will exercise your mind and keep it young. It will stretch your soul and give it strength. Virtually all the classic texts of Judaism are today available in English translation. Better still, learn be-chevruta, 'with a friend', so that you can each be the other's personal trainer, helping one another to spiritual health. Even better than that, learn with your children. Daven with them. Send them to a Jewish school and let them teach you things you did not know. Help them to climb higher up the Jewish ladder than you did. That is parenthood, Jewish-style, and it is one of Judaism's most glorious insights.

(4) Never compromise your Judaism in public. If you want your children to stay Jewish, be consistent. Don't keep kosher at home but not outside. Don't have a simcha in shul and then a non-kosher function elsewhere. That gives children a mixed message, and children respond to mixed messages by concluding that you cannot be that serious about Judaism, so why should they? Consistency matters not just within the family but way beyond. Non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism. Non-Jews are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism. Those who make sacrifices for their faith usually succeed in passing it on to their children; those who don't, often don't.

(5) Forgive. Emotional energy is too precious to waste on negative emotions. Resentment, grievance and hate have no part in the inner life of a Jew. In chapter 19 of Vayikra, the Torah says, "Don't hate your brother (or sister) in your heart". Don't take vengeance. Don't bear a grudge. Those who forgive travel more lightly through life, freed of the burden of feelings that do no one any good.

(6) Don't talk lashon hara. The Talmudic Sages define lashon hara, 'evil speech', as saying negative things about other people even if they are true. They were harsh about it, regarding it as one of the worst interpersonal sins. Those who speak badly about others poison the atmosphere in families and communities. They undermine relationships and do great harm. They say, "But it's true," forgetting that lashon hara only applies to truth. If an allegation is false it is called motsi shem ra ('spreading a bad name') and is a different kind of sin. They say, "But it's only words", forgetting that in Judaism words are holy, never to be taken lightly. See the good in people - and if you see the bad, be silent. No-one whose respect matters, respects those who speak badly of others.

(7) Keep Shabbat. If Shabbat had not been created, someone would have made a fortune discovering and marketing it. Here is a one-day miracle vacation that has the power to strengthen a marriage, celebrate family, make you part of a community, rejoice in what you have rather than worrying about what you don't yet have, relieve you from the tyranny of smartphones, texts and 24/7 availability, reduce stress, banish the pressures of work and consumerism, and renew your appetite for life. It is supplied with wine, good food, fine words, great songs and lovely rituals. You don't need to catch a plane or book in advance. It's a gift from God via Moshe, and for more than 3,000 years it has been the Jewish private island of happiness. To get there all you need is self-control, the ability to say 'no' to work, shopping, cars, televisions and phones. But then, everything worth having needs self-control.

(8) Volunteer. Give of your time to others. There is no greater cure for depression than to bring happiness into the lives of others. Visit the sick. Invite someone lonely to your Shabbat or Yom Tov meal. Share your skills with someone who needs to acquire them. Join one of the many outstanding organisations in our community. Hebrew has a beautiful word for such acts: 'chessed', meaning love-as-deed, love-as-kindness. The great Jewish psychotherapist Viktor Frankl used to say, "The door to happiness opens outward," meaning that feeling low often comes from feeling alone. Bring the gift of your presence to someone else, and you will no longer feel alone.

(9) Create moments of joy. It can be as simple as a walk on a spring day, or watching an internet video of an old song that brings back warm memories, or paying someone an unanticipated compliment, or giving someone a spur-of-the-moment gift. There is a place in Judaism for osher/ashrei, "happiness," but the key positive emotion in the Torah and the Book of Psalms is simcha, "joy." Ivdo et Hashem besimcha... serve God with joy. Happiness often depends on external circumstances but you can experience joy even in tough times. Like sunshine piercing the clouds, joy liberates the spirit and breaks the hold of sadness. Let yourself, in Wordsworth's words, be "surprised by joy." Joy means opening your soul to the radiance of life, refusing to let age or time dull your sense of wonder.

(10) Love. Judaism was the world's first, and is still the greatest, religion of love. Love God with all your heart, soul and might. Love your neighbour as yourself. Love the stranger, for you were once strangers. Love is the alchemy that turns life from base metal to gold; that etches our days with the radiance of the Shechinah, the Divine presence. True happiness, whether in marriage or parenthood, friendship or career, is always the product of love. Where love is, there is God, for when we love others, God's love flows through us. To live you have to learn to love.

Do any of these things and slowly, gradually, you will begin to notice a change in your life. You will be less pressured, less anxious, less hurried and harried. You will find you have time for the things that are important but not urgent, which are what you most neglect now. The result will be more satisfaction, fulfilment, joy. Your relationships will be better, especially in the home. People will respect you more. You will feel yourself blessed. This may or may not add years to your life, but it will certainly add life to your years. You will then feel to the full extent what it is to be written into God's Book of Life.

I wish you and your families a Shana tova u'metuka. May this year this a sweet and blessed one for us all.

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Investing Time - Ten life-changing principles from Rabbi Sacks as we approach Rosh Hashanah - Rabbi Sacks

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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are festivals that ask us how we have lived thus far. Have we drifted? Have we been travelling to the wrong destination? Does the way we live give us a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfilment?

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Apples dipped in honey is a well-known Rosh Hashanah treat, but there are others. In fact, apples and honey represents just one of the (Rosh Hashanah foods that hold symbolic meaning). There are a number of Simanim that serve as a reminder of the Jewish New Year's special significance.

Related:Using Rosh Hashanah to Get Kids to Try New Foods

Apples & Honey

Probably the most popular Rosh Hashanah treat, apples and honey are historically symbolic foods.

After all, Israel is known as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). As rabbi and author Shimon Apisdorf suggests, however, this may not be the only reason for the apples and honey tradition.

In his blogpost, " Seven Questions People Ask about Rosh Hashanah," Apisdorf explains that an apple tree grows differently than other fruit trees. "On most fruit trees the leaves appear before the fruit, thus providing a protective cover for the young fruit," he writes. "The apple, however, makes a preemptive move by appearing before the leaves. The Jewish people are compared to an apple because we are willing to live out our Jewish lives even if this seems to leave us unprotected."

Rabbi Apisdorf also suggests dipping apples in honey represents a symbolic bee analogy. "A bee can inflict pain by its sting, yet it also produces delicious honey," he writes. "Life has this same duality of potential. We pray that our choices will result in a sweet year."

Round Challah

It is traditional to eat challah on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays. On Rosh Hashanah, however, the challah is specially baked in a round shape to represent the unending cycle of life and creation, a cycle in which there is no beginning or end.

Many families add raisins and honey to their challah for an extra sweet Rosh Hashanah. When the challah is sliced at the meal, it is traditional to smear additional honey for even more holiday sweetness. (Read " Round Challah and Divine Desserts" from Aish.com, and make your own round challah.)

Pomegranates

Pomegranates have many seeds. These seeds symbolize the many merits we will create with our mitzvot in the coming year.

As writer Sybil Kaplan puts it in her Jewish Ledger article, " The Pomegranate: A Rosh Hashanah Symbol," the tradition of Kabbalah "recounted that there were 613 seeds in each pomegranate, equaling the number of mitzvot commanded by God."

This new year, consider a tasty pomegranate-based recipe. Chicago-based food blogger Sharon Matten offers a number of her "all-time favorite and delicious" pomegranate recipes in the Aish.com piece, " Cooking with Pomegranates."

Fish Head on The Table

Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year." Some families commemorate the "head of the year" with the tradition of placing a fish head on the table during Rosh Hashanah meals. On this holiday, we wish for a year ahead in which we lead with strength and determination rather than being at the tail end of things. "And God will make you as the head, and not as the tail, and you will be only at the top, and you will not be at the bottom" (Deuteronomy 28:13).

Australian-based Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum explains in his Chabad.org piece, " Head of the Class," the fish head serves as "a prop: a palpable reminder of the decisions made over the course of Rosh Hashanah, which affect the entirety of the coming year."

Can't quite bring yourself to put a fish head on the Rosh Hashanah table? The Jewish Daily Forward offers a few fish head-based recipes to consider as an alternative in Leah Hochbaum Rosner's piece, " A Fishy Tradition."

Carrots

The Yiddish word "meren" is translated as both the noun "carrots" and the verb "to increase." Carrots symbolize our hope that our merits will increase in the coming year. As such, many people maintain the tradition of preparing tzimmes, a sweet carrot-based stew for Rosh Hashanah.

Pri Chadash ("New Fruit")

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to eat a "new fruit," one that has not been eaten in the last year - or, as Rabbi Jill Jacobs puts it in her MyJewishLearning.com piece, "Rosh Hashanah Customs," a fruit "participants have not tasted for a long time."

"This tradition has become a way to literally taste the newness of the year, by enjoying an unfamiliar food," Jacob says. Indeed, families often take this holiday opportunity to enjoy a new or unusual fruit, such as dragonfruit or lychee. Moreover, many families complement the eating of a new fruit with the Shehecheyanu blessing, which gives thanks to God for granting us life, sustaining us, and enabling us to experience something new or special.

Each family has its own Rosh Hashanah traditions and customs. In whatever way your family celebrates, PJ Library hopes you get a taste of togetherness and enjoy a sweet new year.

More

Check out this video from Mayim Bialik, featuring The Maccabeats:

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Simanim: The Symbolic Foods of Rosh Hashanah

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Apples dipped in honey is a well-known Rosh Hashanah treat, but there are others. In fact, apples and honey represents just one of the (Rosh Hashanah foods that hold symbolic meaning). There are a number of Simanim that serve as a reminder of the Jewish New Year's special significance.

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As we approach Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the start of the Jewish year, here are ten short ideas which might help you focus your davening and ensure you have a meaningful and transformative experience.

Number one. Life is short. However much life expectancy has risen, we will not, in one lifetime, be able to achieve everything we might wish to achieve. This life is all we have. So the question is: How shall we use it well?

Number two. Life itself, every breath we take, is the gift of God. Life is not something we may take for granted. If we do, we will fail to celebrate it. Yes, we believe in life after death, but it is in life before death that we truly find human greatness.

Number three. We are free. Judaism is the religion of the free human being freely responding to the God of freedom. We are not in the grip of sin. The very fact that we can do teshuva, that we can act differently tomorrow than we did yesterday, tells us we are free.

Number four. Life is meaningful. We are not mere accidents of matter, generated by a universe that came into being for no reason and will one day, for no reason, cease to be. We are here because there is something we must do; to be God's partners in the work of creation, bringing the world that is closer to the world that ought to be.

Number five. Life is not easy. Judaism does not see the world through rose-tinted lenses. The world we live in is not the world as it ought to be. That is why, despite every temptation, Judaism has never been able to say the messianic age has come, even though we await it daily.

Number six. Life may be hard, but it can still be sweet. Jews have never needed wealth to be rich, or power to be strong. To be a Jew is to live for the simple things: love, family, community. Life is sweet when touched by the Divine.

Number seven. Our life is the single greatest work of art we will ever make. On the Yamim Noraim, we step back from our life like an artist stepping back from their canvas, seeing what needs changing for the painting to be complete.

Number eight. We are what we are because of those who came before us. We are each a letter in God's book of life. We do not start with nothing. We have inherited wealth, not material but spiritual. We are heirs to our ancestors' greatness.

Number nine. We are heirs to another kind of greatness: to Torah and the Jewish way of life. Judaism asks great things of us and by doing so makes us great. We walk as tall as the ideals for which we live, and though we may fall short time and again, the Yamim Noraim allow us to begin anew.

And number ten. The sound of heartfelt prayer, together with the piercing sound of the shofar, tell us that that is all life is - a mere breath - yet breath is nothing less than the spirit of God within us. We are dust of the earth but within us is the breath of God.

So, if you can remember any of these ideas, or even just one, I hope it will help you to have an even more meaningful experience over Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Together with Elaine, I wish you and your families a ketiva v'chatima tova. May we, and all of Am Yisrael, be written in God's Book of Life for a year of blessing, fulfilment and peace. Shana tova u'metukah to you all.

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Ten Ideas for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - Rabbi Sacks

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As we approach Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the start of the Jewish year, here are ten short ideas which might help you focus your davening and ensure you have a meaningful and transformative experience. Number one. Life is short.

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Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride, written by Deborah Bodin Cohen and illustrated by Shahar Kober, is published by Kar-Ben Publishing.

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Sammy Spider's First Rosh Hashanah, written by Sylvia Rouss and illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn, is published by Kar-Ben Publishing.

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Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years

Last Sent to Families: August 2019

Synopsis

With each exciting Rosh Hashanah activity shown, little ones begin to explore the meaning and traditions of the Jewish New Year.

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Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years Last Sent to Families: August 2019 With each exciting Rosh Hashanah activity shown, little ones begin to explore the meaning and traditions of the Jewish New Year. Other Books Like This One What Other Families Say About This Book What Do You Think?

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Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years, 2 to 3 Years

Last Sent to Families: August 2011

Synopsis

With simple text, this book explains symbols and customs of Rosh Hashanah by comparing a child's birthday celebration with the rituals of the Jewish New Year. A birthday cake and honey-dipped apples or a shofar and party horns are just two of the comparisons.

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Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years, 2 to 3 Years Last Sent to Families: August 2011 With simple text, this book explains symbols and customs of Rosh Hashanah by comparing a child's birthday celebration with the rituals of the Jewish New Year.

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Last Sent to Families: August 2019

Synopsis

Summer has ended, apples are on the trees, leaves are turning color, and families are getting ready for a big holiday. How can kids tell when the new year has arrived? This book will show you.

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Last Sent to Families: August 2019 Summer has ended, apples are on the trees, leaves are turning color, and families are getting ready for a big holiday. How can kids tell when the new year has arrived? This book will show you. Other Books Like This One What Do You Think?

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Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years

Last Sent to Families: August 2019

Synopsis

How do we know Rosh Hashanah is coming? There are so many hints! In this story children point to all the signals that the Jewish New Year is approaching.

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Ages: 6 Months to 2 Years Last Sent to Families: August 2019 How do we know Rosh Hashanah is coming? There are so many hints! In this story children point to all the signals that the Jewish New Year is approaching. Other Books Like This One What Other Families Say About This Book What Do You Think?

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Last Sent to Families: August 2020

Synopsis

Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world, a day when God and all Earth's creatures celebrate, applauding the contribution that each and every one of us -- from the mightiest elephant to the smallest child -- can make.

Big Question

What small part do you play in this big world?

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Last Sent to Families: August 2020 Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world, a day when God and all Earth's creatures celebrate, applauding the contribution that each and every one of us -- from the mightiest elephant to the smallest child -- can make. What small part do you play in this big world?

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Shalom Sesame: Kids Talk About Rosh Hashanah

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"As long as the candle is still burning, it is still possible to accomplish and to mend." – Rabbi Yisrael Salante

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"When a person turns himself around, regrets his past and does good, that is such a powerful act that his sins become merits." – Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish

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“On Rosh Hashanah we are aware that God is judging us. But God is truly judging us every moment of every day. It is only on Rosh Hashanah that we, as a people, pause to reflect on this phenomenon.” – Michael Mascolo

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“If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.” ― Michel de Montaigne

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"Forgiveness provides hope, joy, and a bright future that nothing else can." - Paul Meyer

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"If [a person] were able to survey at a glance all he has done in the course of his life, what would he feel? He would be terrified at the extent of his own power." –Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

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“What's wonderful about life is you always have to start over. No many how many meals you've eaten, words you've spoken, breaths, you've taken, you always have to start over.” ― Marty Rubin

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Bashana Haba'a by Maccabeats, released 07 September 2020