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| Vol.
VI, No. I |
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Tishrei
5763 / September 2002
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Rosh in Hebrew
means 'head' and Shanah means 'year'. When it is written as Rosh
HaShanah it means 'head of the year,' and is the Hebrew name for the Jewish
New Year. Rosh HaShanah is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month
of Tishrei; in some congregations two days of Rosh HaShanah are celebrated.
It is important to remember that Jewish days start with the moon….at
night. When the sun goes down a new Jewish day begins. The evenings of
our holidays are referred to as 'erev'.
The sages and rabbis
who instituted the Jewish calendar tried to count the years from when
they thought the world was created. We have stayed with that counting
method, even though we know that the world is much older. It is the traditional
Jewish way of counting time. This Rosh HaShanah we begin the Jewish year
5763. Another name for Rosh HaShanah is Yom Harat Olam - the Day
of the Creation of the World.
Rosh HaShanah is celebrated
both at home and in the synagogue. At home, festive meals are prepared
and blessings are recited. Shana tovah - Happy New Year cards are
sent and received. The synagogue is the focal point for community gathering
and prayers. Rosh HaShanah is a time of inward reflection about the past
year and a time when one's behavior is judged. This is the basis of another
name for Rosh HaShanah - Yom HaDin - the Day of Judgement.
Special
Greetings for Rosh Hashanah:
Shanah
Tovah
- May it be a good year
L'Shanah Tovah Tikatayvu - May you be inscribed for a good year
(in the Book of Life)
The
Jewish Parent Page is a publication of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
Department of Jewish Education and Pacific Central West Council E-mail:
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Union of American Hebrew Congregations
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