Rosh Hashanah

Honey drizzling into a dish near two red apples on a red surface.

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.

Latest Rituals

“May you be as a baby yet unborn, / floating in Mother Ocean”
four people, some wearing kippot, at the edge of a lake throwing breadcrumbs to perform the tashlikh ritual
“I propose that we add an element to the traditional tashlikh ceremony, symbolizing our power: fire.”
group of people sitting around bonfire under night sky, their faces glowing
“And the ram spoke to Abraham saying: go back and comfort Sarah”
white ram shown at a distance under huge blue sky with white clouds
“May this be the year we choose / to live our lives fully”
Person walking on a path toward the sunrise, with a mountain in the background.
“may reflection, introspection and soul-searching / help us discover our sacred purpose”
a person stands on top of a cliff with arms outstretched looking out at a cloudy sky tinged with orange light
“We stand on the edge of possibility and loss”
A person walks on a foggy forest trail surrounded by tall trees and mist.
“Evening and morning, ritual and rite, / making order out of chaos”
Leaves transitioning from green to red arranged on wooden planks with fallen leaves scattered around.

Bringing mindfulness to the act of welcoming guests through a chant and series of ritual intentions

a person is setting a table

Envision your breath as a stream of clear light flowing from you into the shofar. 

a person blowing a shofar with eyes closed

“Have I authored the stories of my Life?”

Person with long hair runs through a field at sunset, with the sun casting a warm glow.

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