Rosh Hashanah – meaning and customs

The beginning of every Jewish year is in the first day, which is also called Rosh Hashanah, the seventh month according to the book of Leviticus, as written:

"דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ, יִהְיֶה לָכֶם שַׁבָּתוֹן--זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה, מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ. כָּל-מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ; וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם אִשֶּׁה, לַיהוָה"

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no manner of servile work; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD" (Leviticus 23, 24-25)

In this day, the people of the world acknowledge in the kingship of The Lord, and they are making an anointment of him over the world. One tradition is telling us that the first man had been created in that day (the other is telling us that it was in Nisan).

According to the Talmud in Rosh Hashanah three books are opened – the book of the righteous, the book of the evils and the book of those in the middle. The only book that needs to be discussed over there in heavens is the last one. Rosh Hashanah is the judgment day for all the people of the world – I hope that you all will do good in the year to come, Shanna Tova.

Next time we will discuss on the customs of Rosh Hashanah.

Main phrases of the post + transcription + translation

Hebrew Transcription Translation

מִנְהָג minhāg Custom

חֹדֶשׁ hōdeš Month

תִּשְׁרֵי tišrēy The first month of Jewish calendar

רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה Rō'š haššānāh The Jewish new year

יוֹם הַדִּין Yôm haddîn Judgment day

Eli@eteachergroup.com