A bird's eye view of Rosh Hashanah
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Beginnings

1. There are two beginnings to the Jewish calendar year, Nissan and Tishrei. These months reflect the dual nature of the Jewish calendar, the lunar and solar, respectively. Nissan is the month of the Exodus from Egypt and Tishrei is the month of the Creation.
2. All the months follow the phases of the moon, and the years are adjusted so that the festivals stay in their appropriate seasons.
3. There is a specific harmony and rhythm to the Festivals which serve to blend the physical and spiritual worlds, and to join nature with the human life-cycle.
   
   Before the Holiday
4. Before Rosh Hashanah we enter into into a mood of self-reflection and Teshuvah (repentance) and try to increase our good deeds.
5. Special penitential prayers (Selichot) are said in the early hours in synagogue.
6. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah there are many who participate in the ceremony of Hatarat Nedarim, the annulment of vows.
7. The obligations to honor and enjoy the Festival are fulfilled by preparations like bathing, haircuts, donning special (new) clothing and cleaning the house. A husband should buy new clothing or jewelry for his wife. Treats are given to the children.
8. Eruv Tavshilin. In order to allow foods prepared on Rosh Hashanah to be eaten on the Shabbat immediately following the festival, the halachah (Jewish Law) requires that two foods to be put aside before the festival (accompanied by a recitation) and eaten on the Shabbat.

   Rosh Hashanah
   

9. The festival of Rosh Hashanah lasts for two days, even in Israel where all other festivals are only one day. This year, Rosh Hashanah will begin on the evening of September 8th 2010. (5771)
10. Certain types of work (melachah) are forbidden. Exceptions include food preparation, carrying, transferring or increasing fire.
11. The woman of the household lights candles before sunset of the first night and a half hour after sunset on the second night of Rosh Hashanah and recites blessings over the candles.
12. The evening prayers (and consequent services) are conducted with special melodies and additional petitions that enhance the special atmosphere of the festival.
13. There is a special greeting for the first night of Rosh Hashanah:

     

    "Be inscribed and sealed for a good year!"

    To a man - "Leshana tova tikateiv v'techateim!"
    To a woman - "Leshana tova tikateivi vetichatemi!"

     

14. The festival is sanctified in words (Kiddush) over wine at night, and also during the day, before the meals.
    
    Special Foods
15. Foods representing joy and blessing (such as apple and honey) are eaten at the evening meals. Prayers are recited for a good year using puns based on the names and nature of the foods (simanim). These include: fish head, carrots, pomegranate and lettuce, raisins and celery).
16. Two festive meals are eaten each day.
17. Guests! Maimonides said it all! - "One who celebrates but closes his door to the less fortunate is engaged in the joy of the stomach and not the joy of a mitzvah."

    Central Themes:
    

18. The Silent Prayer (Amidah) of Rosh Hashanah has three essential components:

    • Kingship (Majesty)
    • Memories
    • Shofar (Torah/Sinai)

    There are ten verses for each component - three each from Torah, Prophets and Writings, plus one additional verse from the Torah.

    The Torah reading recalls, in particular, the story of the Binding of Isaac which reflects the theme of faith and recalls the horn of the ram offered up to God in place of Isaac.

    Laws of Shofar Blowing
    On Rosh Hashanah everyone should hear the shofar.

     

    • The commandment to hear the shofar blowing requires conscious intent to fulfill the mitzvah.
    • The shofar blower recites two blessings; the community must listen to the blessings and respond "Amen" to each one.
    • One should stand during the recitation of the blessings and for all of the shofar blasts.
    • It is forbidden to speak from the beginning of the first blessing until after the final shofar blast (at the end of Mussaf).

    When Rosh Hashanah ends
    

19. Havdalah. This year 2000 (5761), Rosh Hashanah will end on the evening of October 1st.
20. The first day of Rosh Hashanah also marks the first of the Ten Days of Penitence(Asseret Yemei Teshuvah) culminating in Yom Kippur. The Shabbat following Rosh Hashanah is called Shabbat Shuva (The Shabbat of Return).