Happy Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew for “Head of the Year,” is one of the most important Jewish holidays to celebrate the new year. Rosh Hashanah 2023 begins the evening of Friday, September 15 and ends in the evening of Sunday, September 17. (In the Reform Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah will end on the night of September 16).

Rosh Hashanah is meant to be a time of relaxation, celebration, and feasting. It is customary to eat sweet foods on Rosh Hashanah as a symbolic way of ushering in a sweet new year. Jews dip apples and round challot (Jewish bread) in honey, and sometimes also enjoy honey cakes and other sweet desserts.

There are several greetings which are commonly used both on Rosh Hashanah itself, and in the days before and after the holiday. The most basic is l’shanah tovah, which means “for a good year,” or simply shanah tovah, “a good year”.