Rosh Hashanah , a two - 24-hour interval holiday that marks the Jewish new year , occur each autumn — and it ’s the meter to give your Judaic friend , workfellow , coworkers and neighbors a common greeting : Shana Tova(pronounced ShaNAH ToVAH ) .
In 2024 , Rosh Hashanahbegins at sunset Oct. 2 and resolve at nightfall Oct. 4 . The vacation devolve on the first and second day ofTishrei , the first month of the Hebrew calendar . This aligns annually to particular date ranging from mid - September to early October on theGregorian calendar .
About Rosh Hashanah
Although Rosh Hashanah is know as a " new year " for masses of the Judaic faith , it is n’t celebrate with pyrotechnic or party - going . Rosh Hashanah , translated into English , means " the head of the class " and point a prison term of " intense moral and ghostlike introspection " that will cover for 10 daysuntil it culminates onYom Kippur .
Rosh Hashanah is often go under away as a time to pass with kinsfolk and friends , and to give to the less fortunate — an act eff astzedakah .
For many in the Jewish religion , Rosh Hashanah festivities really begin in the calendar month preceding the new year , when penitential prayer arerecited at synagoguesin anticipation . Traditionally , fasting was also common during the six days preceding Rosh Hashanah , although this practice has fall out of favour in modern clip .
Specifically during Rosh Hashanah — one of the mostimportant days on the Judaic calendar — it ’s appropriate to care people of the Jewish religion a picky salutation : Shana Tova ! This popular musical phrase means " happy new year " and directly translate to " good new yr " in Hebrew .
Traditional Rosh Hashanah Foods
Sometimes , variations of Shana Tova are also used as greetings during Rosh Hashanah . For example , on occasion , the Hebrew word for " sweet " may be added to the end of the salutation : Shana Tova u’metuka ( pronounced ShaNAH ToVAH oohMehTooKAH ) .
Wishing someone a " salutary and sweet year " may also be accompanied by one of nature ’s dulcet intellectual nourishment , includinghoney , apples , pomegranates or date .
Apples and Rosh Hashanah
The orchard apple tree , especially apple slices sink in honey , is one of the symbolic foods of Rosh Hashanah . In improver to being literally sweet , apples and dear have historically substantial origins for masses of the Jewish religion .
One of several origins is the story of Jacob , who , when he enter his father ’s collapsible shelter for benediction , was told by his father Isaac that " Behold , the redolence of my boy is like the sweetness of a field of operation , which the Lord has blessed . "
The mention of the sweet - smelling scent is conceive to have referenced the fragrancy of the scriptural Garden of Eden , and on Rosh Hashanah the great unwashed of the Jewish faith beg to find approval just as Jacob did;eating apples invokes the blessing .
Greeting Appropriately
Take caution , though ; Shana Tova is a nuanced greeting . " If you wish your neighbor , the motorcar reparation mechanic , a estimable year , this have in mind a year that is not as good for those who own and force back railcar . The car-mechanic surely has good intentions , but his living depends on other people having problems with their cars,“wrote Shmuel Rosner in a comment for the Judaic Journal .
" A skilful year is a year in which a sane balance is achieved between what is good for me and what is unspoiled for you , between what is good for the individual and what is dear for society , between what is good for a nation and what is good for the world . Shana Tova — a practiced year — is a year that must be less than perfect . Because nothing can be gross , neither for all of humanity , nor for all the fellow member of a sealed group — say , the Jews who will fete Rosh Hashanah . "
Other Jewish Holidays
In Jewish encyclopaedism , there are many important days on the calendar include , Rosh Hashanah , Yom Kippur , Passover and Chanukah .
