What is Rosh Hashanah and when is it?

Rosh Hashanah 2023 (5784) begins Friday evening, September 15. Literally "Head of the Year,"  the holiday celebrates the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve as recounted in the Book of Genesis. Rosh Hashanah falls on the first two days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, which coincides with September-October on the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish New Year's celebrations include candle lighting, blowing the shofar, and festive meals with a wealth of dishes representing themes of renewal and prosperity, such as apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year.

How do Jews typically celebrate Rosh Hashanah? How is it going to be different this year?

Rosh Hashanah celebrations tend to center around festive meals, with the table set with a broad array of symbolic foods that tie into themes of starting afresh. For instance, pomegranates are typically served as a symbol of prosperity, while a round Challah bread represents the circle of the year and the seasons. Many Jews also attend services on Rosh Hashanah, where the shofar is blown. This year, in light of the Covid-19 situation, many people will be sharing meals via videochat, and more progressive synagogues will likewise stream services.

What is a Rosh Hashanah seder?

While the word seder is typically associated with Passover, the word simply means "order" in Hebrew and refers to a ceremonial meal with set dishes and steps. There are several holidays other than Passover when it is traditional to hold a Seder, and one of these is Rosh Hashanah. The Rosh Hashanah Seder consists of reciting relevant liturgical texts and serving various foods that represent some aspect of the holiday, such as renewal, the cycle of seasons, prosperity, etc.

What foods do you eat at a Rosh Hashanah seder?

There are many foods that are traditionally eaten at a Rosh Hashana seder, which either visually or linguistically tie into themes related to the Jewish New Year. For instance, the sweetness of apples dipped in honey represents our wishes for a sweet new year, while the traditional dish tsimmes features carrots, "gezer" in Hebrew, which shares a root with the word for judgment. Some other classic items include a round Challah bread and a fish head (not usually eaten) to represent the circle of seasons.

What prayers do you typically say on Rosh Hashanah?

There are a number of prayers associated with Rosh Hashana. Perhaps the most well-known is U-Netane Tokef, "We Shall Ascribe Holiness to This Day," which discusses various aspects of God's judgment of human beings on this day. Another famous Rosh Hashana prayer is Avinu Malkeinu, "Our Father, Our Lord," a plea to God for mercy. In addition, Rosh Hashana has a special Kiddush that mentions themes of remembrance, the shofar, and God's sovereignty. As with most holidays, we also say Shehechiyanu, a blessing to celebrate special moments that only come once a year or less.