What is the importance of Rosh Hashanah in night?

?

Asked by alie_ortiz18 on 17 Feb 22:52

Log in to answer

Answered by Jill D on 19 Nov 14:20

Rosh Hashanah is significant because it it the last day of the year. This is an important holiday for the Jews. Another way in which this day is significant, is the fact that Elie and his father both refuse to fast.... they are revolting against God because they believe he has abandoned them.

Night

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish festival that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. This holiday celebrates the creation of the world according to the Jewish faith. The term Rosh Hashanah loosely translates to the head of the year in the Hebrew language. Biblically, the holiday is referred to as Yom Teruah, which means “the day of shouting and blasting.” This celebration is the first among all the High Holy Days celebrated by Jews across the world. Jewish people believe that Rosh Hashanah celebrations are an appreciation of the day God created the universe and the first human beings, Adam and Eve. During the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the festival lasts for ten days in preparation for Yom Kippur and participation in activities. Similar to New Year’s celebrations across the world, people take this time to determine what they will do the following year and what God has planned for them over the period, following the strong Jewish belief that God determines the fate of all human beings.

Table of Contents

What is the origin of Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah traces its origin to the Hebrew new year which marked the start of the economic year of the agriculturally dependent ancient Near East. The economic year was majorly observed by those in the Middle East and to an extent also those in Northern Africa. Unlike Christians, the Jews had four primary new years. Nisan, which is a sign of the start of the year for the three Jewish pilgrimages, is celebrated between March to April based on the Gregorian calendar. It is also used to count the years of a reigning king. Another new year celebration is observed on Shevat (February) 15, marking the new year for trees, while Elul 1, which coincides with August based on the Gregorian calendar, celebrates the new year for the tithing of animals. On Tishri 1, Rosh Hashanah, the start of a new year is observed as a form of thanksgiving and the celebration of the creation of the universe, more specifically the creation of Adam and Eve—God’s first creation according to the Hebrew culture. The festival took place over two days, however, with time, it was reduced to one day among some communities.

According to the Hebrew tradition, God judges human beings during the ten days of preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Based on this tradition, Jews believe that it is at this time that God decides who will live and who will die during the year. There are claims that during Rosh Hashanah God inscribes the names of the righteous in the book of life and the wicked are condemned to death. Those who are condemned to death have between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to perform Teshuvah, which is repentance. Considering people are bound to commit evil deeds during the year, it is necessary for one to offer prayer, carry out good deeds, ponder over past sins, and make amends to broken relationships.

Essentially, the ceremony was passed down from generation to generation since the adoption of the counting of the years from the Egyptians. Samaritans, in their own understanding of the Torah, use the Biblical name of the festival, Yom Teruah and celebrate it as a ceremony but not at the onset of the new year on the first day of the 7th month (Tishrei). This is perhaps attributed to their strict interpretation of the scriptures rather than the understanding of the culture of the people in general. The festival is very colourful and is accompanied by its own unique cuisine, scriptures, and rituals. It is also considered a very personal ceremony as one has to assess their livelihood and ask for help directly from God. Considering the firm belief in fate, the traditions carried out are meant to divert the oncoming judgment and instead bring good tidings to them and those that they love.

What rituals are performed during Rosh Hashanah?

Various rituals are carried out during the ceremony; the rituals begin on the eve of Rosh Hashanah and extend for the entire 2 days that follow. Strict adherence to these rituals is vital in the event that one wants to receive blessings and forgiveness for their wickedness. These rituals include:

Blowing of the Shofar
Before the start of Rosh Hashanah, the shofar (ram’s-horn trumpet) is blown every day in the morning during the month of Elul. The sounds that are produced by the Shofar are supposed to make people wake up and prepare for the coming judgment that is coming their way. The shofar is blown throughout the week, and it is only during the Shabbat (Sabbath) that it is not blown. During the period that leads up to the day of reverence, prayers, referred to as the selichot, are often recited. These prayers are carried out to ensure one is prepared for the coming judgment. During the prayers, the shofar is blown several times with a total of around 100 blasts daily. Constantly blowing the shofar acts as a reminder of the importance of prayer and repentance for the people. It is important to note that the shofar is blown based on specific sequences which can either be long, short, and staccato blasts. These sequences indicate the Tekiah, the shevarim, and the Teru’ah, respectively. The actions of the blowing of the Shofar are noted in the book of Numbers 10:3, 10:5 and in Exodus 19:16, 19. The symbolic nature of the use of the Shofar is claimed to have roots from when the sheep took the place of Isaac when Abraham wanted to offer him to God. Additionally, according to some historians, this ritual involving Isaac took place on Rosh Hashanah.

The eve of Rosh Hashanah
Also referred to as Erev Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated on the first date of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Considering the Hebrew day ends in the evening, the prayers often begin during the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Elul. The celebrations start in the evening in anticipation of the ceremony. The mood changes and becomes very festive during this time and synagogue services are carried out. Orthodox men often immerse themselves in the Mikveh in preparation of the coming of Rosh Hashanah. During this period, one begins with ketivah V’chatima Tovah, which is a prayer offered for suitable inscription and sealing. This is done in preparation for the coming judgment and the desire for goodwill in the following year.

Greetings
There are different greetings for different genders and different times. On the first night of the ceremony, the males are wished Leshanah Tovah tikatev vitichatem while the women are wished the Leshanah Tovah tikatevee vetichatemee which translates to “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”. During other times of the day, the most common greetings are Memar chatimah Tovah, which means a suitable inscription and sealing. At noon the address that is commonly said is the Gemar Chatimah Tovah which means it is an excellent final sealing since the judgment is presumed to have already happened. One common phenomenon in the festivals greeting is the use of the words ‘good year’. Ultimately, the addresses are very significant in that a person has to ensure that the right addresses are given for different situations that one may be facing.

The lighting of candles
During the evenings of the two Rosh Hashanah days, girls and women light up candles on each evening. During the lighting ceremonies, the women are also expected to recite some blessings. On the second day of the festival, a candle is lit using an existing flame. As they light the candles, the females are supposed to be thinking of what they are eating as well as what they are wearing. During the time the Shehecheyanu blessing is recited. It is a violation to light the candles after sunset as it violates the rules of Shabbat. Different towns have different times for carrying out this ritual due to the variation of sunrise and sunset, depending on regions or locations. The lighting of candles is not only a must during Rosh Hashanah, but is also used to mark all other ceremonies observed.

The Tashlikh
The Tashlikh is a ceremony that is carried out on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah. This ritual is observed by both the Ashkenazic and the Sephardic Jews. The prayers that accompany this ceremony usually are recited near natural flowing water and ones’ sins are symbolically left in the water when one immerses themselves in it. Some of the observers do not get into the water but instead cast in bread to signify the sins that they might have committed in the year that has just passed. As per the Jewish tradition, the verse “And You shall cast their sins into the depths of the sea” is invoked. A short prayer that is usually found in the Machzor is then recited. The ceremony is very personal and each person has to recite the verse and read the prayer on their own. It is also crucial to note that when the celebration coincides with Shabbat, then it is postponed to the next day as it is believed that God rested and did not work on Shabbat. Unlike the rest of the rituals, the ritual is not performed by Jews residing in Spain, Portugal, and even some of the Yemeni Jews. In recent times, some groups of people prefer to perform the rituals in groups as opposed to one carrying it out on their own. This was triggered by the fact that the younger generation is not well aware of all the rituals associated with the ceremony. The scriptures of Isaiah 11:9 and Psalms 118 are familiar scriptures that relate to the tradition and how it is carried out. There is fear that the ceremony might lose its originality, and as such, the youth are often encouraged to participate in it.

Rosh Hashanah Prayers
During the climax of the holiday which is usually observed during the first two days, most of the time is spent in the synagogues where people thank God for the creation and the start of the new year. The evening prayers held are similar to those held during the other holidays while the ones held in the morning are significantly longer than usual. The holiday has a unique prayer book referred to as the Machzor, which contains all the prayers from the Torah. During the festival, the Torah is read in the morning, and the story of Isaac’s birth and the banishment of Hagai and Ishmael are reiterated. After this, the haftarah reading, which focuses on the birth of the prophet Samuel is read out at the different synagogues. Noticeably, both stories focus on the theme of children’s prayers being answered.

On the second day of the ceremony, the story of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son Isaac is read, and the Shofar is blown to indicate the remembrance of the ram. The story is specifically read out because it illustrates the level of devotion that Abraham had towards God. The story also highlights the love that God has for his own chosen people. The reading is followed by the chanters repetition of the Amidah, which is a type of silent prayer that is typically accompanied by Piyyutim (Jewish poem). The prayer is offered to God as a way of expressing thanks for good health and life that he has granted. More importantly, the prayer is also offered as a way of praying for the new year and other things that one may desire. The piyyutim makes the prayers longer than other prayers. However, this is not the only reason for the longer prayers, because usually the single middle blessing is generally divided into three additional blessings centered on the shofar, God’s blessings as well as his kingship. Notice that each of the three blessings contains its own Torah verses that are often read out, and the Shofar is blown after the reading of each.

The Rosh Hashanah feast
Just like the rest of the Jewish holidays, this festival is accompanied by a variety of foods that are eaten to symbolize different things. The breaking of bread and drinking of wine is frequent in most Jewish celebrations and is considered to be very symbolic. The bread used is typically baked into round challah loaves that are often sprinkled with raisins. Noticeably, the bread is dipped into honey instead of salt to express the desire of the people to have a sweet forthcoming year. This is only done during Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Shuvah and the meal cooked in pre-Yom Kippur during the Sukkot. In line with the desire for everyone to have a sweet new year, the people often dip an apple in honey and eat it before the main meal. Before one eats the apple, the marking of the ha’eitz blessing is standard and which is accompanied by the words “May it be your will to renew for us a good sweet year.” Another common tradition involves eating parts of the head of a fish to symbolize the desire to be the head, in terms of leadership during the coming year, and not the tail. This tradition also signifies the desire to succeed and enter into the new year with renewed strength and not lag behind in all the activities that individuals who partake in feasting on the head of a fish participate in. In most communities, people also consume pomegranates. As people feast on a variety of meals including the pomegranates, it symbolizes the desire to have as many blessings as the seeds of the pomegranate. In other places, the tzimmes is eaten. The tzimmes is a carrot based dish which is commonly referred to as the Merren (Yiddish for both carrot and increase) and is consumed to indicate that one’s blessings would significantly increase over the coming period.

Among the Ashkenazi Jews, it is common to see servings of gefilte fish and lekach, a tradition that is unique to this group. Other fruits and vegetables including dates, black-eyed peas, leek, and spinach are common though they do not carry any symbolic significance. Considering everyone would be wishing for a sweet new year, it is unlikely to find anyone consuming nuts or any vinegar-based meals. The gefilte is also not consumed together with the horseradish since none of the foods eaten are supposed to appear as being bitter.

Unlike the first night of the ceremony where one has apples dipped in honey, the second is quite different. One breaks bread and dips it in honey, and a new fruit is often eaten. Noticeably, the new fruit is often one that you have not eaten over the whole year or since its last season. This is done to indicate the dawn of new beginnings which are supposed to offer new and better experiences. Note that the round challah is served to people to show the cycle of the year and how the whole year will be sweet based on the honey that it has been dipped in. Libyan Jews also prepare a jam that is consumed during the festivities, perhaps influenced by the lack of fresh fruits around that time of the year that could be eaten as a substitute for the required dishes.

What is the significance of Rosh Hashanah?

The holiday is significant since it welcomes the ten-day period which leads to the holiest of the Jewish ceremonies, Yom Kippur. The sounding of the Shofar at the beginning of the festival is used to act as a wakeup call to all the people to remind them that the day of judgment is coming. The holiday serves as a period where people are expected to repent and go back to God in preparation of the day of atonement, Yom Kippur, which is only ten days away. During this festival, people are hence expected to make amends for all the errors that they have committed. Mainly, most Jews use the ceremony to seek forgiveness for the vows that they might have broken during the previous year.

To understand the relationship between Rosh Hashanah and repentance, one has to be aware of the belief that the wicked are written in the book of death while the righteous are contained in the book of life. However, most people would not be in either of the books unless they can seal their fate during the ten days that precede the day of atonement. During the prayers, one would be able to determine which side they belong to. The Jews associate the book of death with actual death and as such view unanswered prayers as a cause of death. To an extent, they pray to be exempted from the book of death during the entire year so that they may have an extended and sweet life.

The festival also acts as a commemoration of all creation and more specifically the creation of the first human beings, Adam and Eve. Therefore, the festival is considered an opportunity for human beings to appreciate all that God has created and show they care and respect all of God’s creations. Even though some Jews do not believe in the New Testament, they still refer to the book of 2 Corinthians 5:21 which states that “those who have placed their trust in the atoning work of Jesus Christ through his life, death, burial, and resurrection have their names inscribed in the book of life.” This scripture though has a different meaning among Christians as the atonement they believe in is associated with the end of the world as opposed to the Jewish festival that is carried out at the beginning of every Jewish new year. Some of the scriptures that are often read include the scriptures on the story of Abraham and how he intended to sacrifice his own son. Just like Abraham, those who celebrate this holiday believe that the Lord is always right and that we should serve him diligently without question in the same way that Abraham did. Additionally, the fact that God was able to offer a ram to the people is a testament to the provision that God is going to give them during the new year. The provision of the sheep is the reason why the shofar is still being used by religious Jews.

The ceremony is also viewed as a chance for all Jews to congregate in synagogues as the celebrations usually take up to 25 hours of being together, praying and asking for blessings. The fact that people can interact and seek forgiveness from each other and from God is a contributing factor to the harmony and peace that the people in the community seem to enjoy. Ultimately, the unique cuisine enjoyed during the season is a crucial contributor to the community.

When is Rosh Hashanah celebrated across the world?

Despite the numerous new years that the Jewish people have, this is the most significant since the beginning of a new period is counted based on the onset of Rosh Hashanah. The festival falls typically on the month of Tishri 1, which is the month of September according to the Gregorian calendar. Considering the holiday is one of the High Holy Days it is customarily celebrated by all Jews, and during its observation, people take a break from their usual tasks. The majority of the day is spent in the synagogue where the liturgy is expanded through the reading of a book commonly referred to as the Machzor. Other rituals follow this until the completion of the period of observance. The festival lasts for two days and is followed by other High Holidays. However, in some regions, the holiday is only observed for a day depending on the regional beliefs.

Today, the ceremony is accompanied by symbolic foods which have become part of the culture of the period and indicates the beginning of the planting season among the Jewish community. Over time the celebration has strived to maintain its traditional culture since it is considered a religious ceremony as it is mentioned in the Holy Book (Torah) which is read by the Hebrews. Rosh Hashanah is a crucial part of the culture and the history of the Jewish people and is set to continue being observed by Jewish believers in the foreseeable future. Across the world, this holiday is observed by those who believe in the Jewish religion. The holiday marks the first of the High Holidays, a ten day celebration which ends with the festivals of Yom Kippur.