WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) — Rosh Hashanah — meaning “Head of the Year” — begins Sunday. It is a religious holiday marking the first day of the Jewish calendar where believers celebrate the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve.
Rosh Hashanah is a time to rejoice the completion of another year and a moment for contemplation of one’s life. Rosh Hashanah is the first day of Tishrei — the first month of the Jewish civil year.
The holiday lasts for two days and ushers in the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance, also known as the Days of Awe, which culminates into the fasting day of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, scheduled this year for Sept. 22.
Rosh Hashanah is also used to mark the anniversary of man’s first sin and his repentance.
The shofar, a musical instrument traditionally made from a ram’s horn, is central in the holiday’s observance. The horn is meant to symbolize a crying voice as a call for repentance that should remind believers to look inward and repent for sins committed in the past year.
A traditional meal during Rosh Hashanah is challah, a round bread often dipped in honey meant to symbolize the hope for a sweet New Year. Apples are also dipped in honey as per tradition.
A Tashlich prayer — meaning “to cast” — is usually performed on the first day of Rosh Hashanah to symbolically cast away sin. The prayer is traditionally performed next to a body of water, such as a river or sea, preferably one with fish.
Prayer next to water is meant to commemorate Abraham’s biblical trip to sacrifice his son Isaac, where the bible says Satan attempted to stop Abraham’s progress by materializing a river in his path. The bible says the river dried up after Abraham prayed.
Traditional greetings during Rosh Hashanah include Shanah tovah — “Good year” and Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem — “May you be written and sealed for a good year.”
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