What is Rosh Hashanah and how is it celebrated?

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the first and second days of the Jewish calendar year.

“Rosh Hashanah” means “head of the year” in Hebrew, and the two-day holiday is considered a time to reflect and repent in anticipation of the coming year.

In 2022, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sunday, September 25, and lasts until Tuesday, September 27 at nightfall.

One of the most distinctive elements of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar’s horn, a ram’s horn. The blowing of the horn is used as a call to repentance during the holiday.

Hearing the shofar on both mornings of the holiday is a mitzvah except if the first day is Shabbat, in which case we only blow the shofar on the second day.

The first 30 shofar blasts are blown after the Torah reading during morning services, and up to 70 are blown during and immediately after) the Musaf service.

Its rabbinical customs include attending synagogue services, reciting special teshuva liturgy, and eating festive meals.

Eating symbolic foods, such as apples dipped in honey, has become a tradition in the hopes of evoking a sweet new year.