…In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus 16:24 (Note: when any Bible holiday falls any day, that day becomes Shabbat / Sabbath, even if it is Tuesday).

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the midnight drinking bash on the last day of the secular new year. There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the secular one: Many people use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible to discuss this holiday. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Vayikrah / Leviticus 23:24-25.

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts 10 seconds minimum.

Rosh Hashanah

Click the shofar on the right to hear an approximation of the sound of Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar’s sound is a call to repentance. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayerbook called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year.

We also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason. Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlich ("casting off"). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. Small pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. Tashlich is normally observed on the afternoon of the first day, before afternoon services.

Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of God’s sovereignty. The common greeting at this time is L’shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is a shortening of "L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem" (or to women, "L’shanah tovah tikatevi v’taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." More on that concept at Days of Awe.

You may notice that the Bible speaks of Rosh Hashanah as occurring on the first day of the seventh month. The first month of the Jewish calendar is Nissan, occurring in March and April. Why, then, does the Jewish "new year" occur in Tishri, the seventh month? Judaism has several different "new years," a concept which may seem strange at first, but think of it this way: the secular "new year" starts in January, but the new "school year" starts in September, and many businesses have "fiscal years" that start at various times of the year. In Judaism, Nissan 1 is the new year for the purpose of counting the reign of kings and months on the calendar, Elul 1 (in August) is the new year for the tithing of animals, Shevat 15 (in February) is the new year for trees (determining when first fruits can be eaten, etc.), and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when we increase the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time).

Traditional Rosh Hashanah greetings

• Shana Tova is the traditional greeting on Rosh Hashanah which in Hebrew means "A Good Year."
• Shana Tova Umetukah is Hebrew for "A Good and Sweet Year."
• Ketiva ve-chatima tovah is a longer greeting on Rosh Hashanah. The Hebrew translates as "May You Be Written and Sealed for a Good Year."

Leading up to the date we establish a mindset of repentance – examining our lives for sin and seeking to improve ourselves in His will. On the day of Yom Teruah we gather with our congregations. We listen to the trumpets to awaken from spiritual slumber and seek His forgiveness, and His strength and guidance in repentance.

The theme of this Holy Day is repentance. The season of repentance begins 30 days earlier on Elul 1 and lasts for 10 more days until Yom Kippur. Each day of the season the shofar is blown and Tehillim (Psalm) 27 is read (we do not blow the Shofar between Rosh Hashanah till the closing of Yom Kippurim). The season is called the season of teshuvah. On Yom Teruah a series of blasts are blown for all people to hear and awake from spiritual slumber. Scripturally, the twin silver trumpets are the instruments blown on this Holy Day that falls on the first of the month.

In Biblical Times the people awaited the day with much anticipation. Since Yom Teruah occurred on Rosh Chodesh it’s actual date was uncertain until confirmation of the new moon sighting by two witnesses. This is why the day is often referred to as the day which only the Father knows. The day was spent in the Temple blowing the shofars and trumpets and doing the required sacrifices. The people were building themselves up for the day of Yom Kippur when their spiritual condition as a nation would be examined by God and they would be granted atonement or not.

Here’s what we do know about this holy day from Leviticus 23:

• It is to be celebrated on the 1st day of the 7th month (Tishri 1).
• It is to be a "day of complete rest."
• You are to have a "holy convocation."
• You are to sound the shofar, a ram’s horn.
• You are to present an offering made by fire. (We get to eat)

Sounds like a party, right? No work? Blowing horns? be there, and join us for services!

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