Teaching Team

Rosh Hashanah Observances

By Brian Reed  | Comments (1) | Posted on September 24, 2008

Rosh Hashanah is less than a week away (this year, it starts on the evening of Monday, Sept. 29 and continues through nightfall on Wednesday, Oct. 1). Reasons for doubling days can be found in a previous FFOZ blog found here. In order for people who are less familiar with the various customs and the like, I will offer a brief description of the order of the two days to better equip people.

On the day prior to Rosh Hashanah, many have the custom of reciting Psalms in order to better prepare themselves for this most auspicious time on the calendar. This leads up to erev Rosh Hashanah, just shortly before sundown on Sept. 29.

During the first night of Rosh Hashanah it is customary to great each other with the blessing, Leshanah tovah tikkatev vetechatem, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." The evening begins with the traditional candle lighting by the women of the house (if no women are present, a man should light the candle); candles are lit on both nights of Rosh Hashanah. The two blessings that are said each night may be found in standard machzorim (High Holiday prayerbook). One of these two blessings is the shehecheyanu, "who has granted us life, sustained us, and brought us to reach this occasion" (although this blessing is recited by the woman during the candle lighting, it will be said again over the kiddush).

After the ma'ariv (evening) prayers, it is traditional to have an evening meal. The meal is preceded by the recitation of kiddush for Rosh Hashanah which may be found in a machzor. After the kiddush, the blessing for bread is typically done over two challot (braided loaves); after the brachah (blessing), a piece is dipped in honey for all present at the table. Another custom is to eat various kinds of fruits at the evening meal. This is usually preceded by taking a slice of an apple, dipping it in honey, and reciting the brachah "who creates the fruit of the tree." The fruits that are eaten are sweet fruits; other sweet tasting foods are eaten at the meal as well. On the evening meal of the second night of Rosh Hashanah, one eats a seasonal fruit that he has not eaten during since the beginning of that season (the same brachah over fruit mentioned above is said over this piece as well). For the meat dish, kosher fish with the head on is typically served.

The next morning of both nights of Rosh Hashanah begin with the shacharis (morning) prayers at which the shofar is blown throughout the service at various points as indicated in the machzor. These blasts consist of a Tekiah which is a long uninterrupted blast. The second is a series of three average length blasts known as Shevarim; these sounds mimic the sound of one sobbing. The third in the set is the Terurah which consists of at least nine short staccato blasts.

Aside from the general order of prayers and the festive meals, other customs are observed during Rosh Hashanah and various other holidays mentioned in the Torah. These include the obligation of a man to buy a new garment or piece of jewelry for his wife. One is also obligated to feed the poor and needy and not to turn away from them.

Various Torah and Haftarah portions are read throughout the two days of Rosh Hashanah; these may be found in standard chumashim (a printed Torah).

About the Author: Brian Reed is a staff writer and researcher specializing in Messianic apologetics.

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