Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe). It weds seriousness with celebration and begins the 10 days of repentance that culminate in Yom Kippur. The new year focuses our attention on themes of judgment, repentance, memory, and the divine presence in the world. At the same time, Rosh Hashanah invites us to celebrate birth and creation on many levels. The liturgy suggests that Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world. Family-oriented services often include a birthday cake for the world—a big hit for kids of all ages! We dip apples in honey to emphasize the sweetness of starting the cycle of seasons once again, and eat round challot to remind us of the cycles of life. The Torah and Haftarah readings for the holiday also address birth and the preciousness of all human life. These stories remind us that the arrival of every child—each and every one of us—is a promise for a renewed world. We renew ourselves at Rosh Hashanah in order to reconnect with this promise and to help ourselves fulfill it in the year ahead.
Tashlikh ritual to be performed in the bathroom or using bowl of water
A call for self-care for the New Year
Meditation practice for forgiveness
“This year / I see you from a distance …”
A Rosh Hashanah seder for times of pandemic
Seder featuring symbolic foods for the New Year
On this Rosh Hashanah we crave connection
Walking in a labyrinth as spiritual preparation for the High Holidays
Mizrachi-Sephardi recipes, blessings & kavannot for 5781
Tashlikh ceremony using bird seed instead of bread crumbs to protect wildlife
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