​Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year, a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

One  of  the  most  important  observances  of  this  holiday  is  hearing  the  sounding  of  the  shofar,  a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. A total of 100 notes are sounded throughout the day. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice, but one that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance.

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. A common greeting at this time is Shana Tova ("A good year").

Rosh Hashanah is followed by “Yom Kippur” – Day of Atonement – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.

Shana Tova!