ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

 The Jewish New Year 5774 begins this year on the evening of September 4th, and continues until sundown on September 6th.
Unlike most other holidays, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days in both Israel and the diaspora. It is the joyous beginning of a period known as the Days of Awe. The two days of the New Year were described by Talmudic sages in Aramaic as "Yoma Arichtah", meaning, "one long day."

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How do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah?

Jews around the world will gather together with family and friends for a festive meal which includes a variety of delicious foods. Ashkenazi, or western European Jews enjoy apples and honey for a sweet year, wine for sanctification and a special round challah (plaited sweetbread eaten on the Sabbath) with raisins, another symbol of sweetness and the round nature of the year. Sephardic Jews, of Middle Eastern and Spanish origin, hold a traditional "Rosh Hashana Seder" which includes fruits such as dates and pomegranates as well as vegetables, including leek, beans, black eyed peas, spinach and beets. In both traditions a whole fish, including the head, symbolizing the "head of the year", is served as well.

At this festive meal the "Shechecheyanu" prayer is recited, in which we give thanks for new and different experiences. Many will attend synagogue in the evening to welcome the holiday, as well as the following morning. In the month of Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe, the shofar, the rams' horn, is sounded at morning services. It gives worshippers a moment of reflection. Penitential prayers known as "slichot" are also recited throughout that month.
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, many people perform the ritual of "Tashlich" - reciting prayers near a flowing body of water, casting out the crumbs and dust in their pockets into the water as a symbolic casting off of their sins.

Rosh Hashanah is a wonderful holiday filled with joy and celebration. Learn more about this holiday’s customs and history by watching our special “"How to celebrate Rosh Hashanah” video!

As always, we invite you to come join our Biblical Hebrew courses, to get a full picture of everything wonderful Israel has to offer!

 Shana Tova U'Metukah - Wishing you a happy and sweet new year!

Eli Eli Dahan, M.A
Eli_Dahan@eTeachergroup.com

About the video teacher

Eli completed his MA at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2007, focusing on Bible study. For the last two years, Eli has taught our Biblical Hebrew courses from levels A to D. He also writes our newsletter, our blogs and our articles on Biblical and Modern Hebrew. During the day, Eli teaches Bible, Jewish Philosophy and Mathematics at the Beit Hinuch high school in Jerusalem. He’s a homeroom teacher for eleventh grade students as well as the school's social coordinator, responsible for all the supplementary educational programs there. Eli is married and has three children; he likes to dance and hike the Israel Trail.