Jewish New Year

The beginning of the seventh month (called Tishrei) of Hebrew calendar, is observed and celebrated as the Jewish New Year, and usually occurs in between the period September and October every year of the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish New Year is celebrated for ten days, starting from the Rosh Hashanah to the Yom Kippur.

This period of ten days is occupied with sincere and honest prayers, simple eating and living, enlightenments, well-wishing to others, reflecting and repentance over one's past mistakes and making firm resolutions to mend those in the coming new year, and wishing good luck and prosperity to all near and dear people, during this auspicious and purifying period of time. Hebrew calendar believes that, it was the month Tishrei when God created the whole Universe, and hence, the beginning of this month is celebrated as the beginning of Jewish New Year.

Both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are very auspicious, purifying, enlightening, and gracious occasions, and are the most religious High Holidays of the Jewish calendar. Wishing "L' Shanah Tovah", and sending Jewish New Year greeting cards and e-cards to friends, relatives, colleagues, and all well-acquainted people of professional and social contacts, are the common and traditional activities around the occasion of Jewish New Year.

Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, meaning the 'head of the year' in Hebrew, is the first and topmost auspicious and religious occasion of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the month Tishrei, and the Jewish New Year, and is celebrated with great sincerity, scrupulous conscience, and joys of new bright optimism, for two highly purifying days.

Performing sincere and honest Mahzorim prayers, repentance (called teshuvah), casting off the previous sins and mistakes (known as Tashlich), and Shofar blowing, are the traditional customs associated with the celebration of Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah.

The unique sound of Shofar blowing (frequent during the period of Rosh Hashanah) is believed to serve as the clarion call for awareness and enlightenment to the listeners. Food items of apples and honey are commonly consumed during the Rosh Hashanah festival. Rosh Hashanah will start in the evening of October 2 in the year 2024(corresponding to Jewish calendar 5772), and will last for two days (ie. to the evening of October 4).

The Jewish new year Rosh Hashanah is the holiest day of the year. It is the best time to look back at the mistakes made in the previous years and plan yourself in a better way in the year to come. Jews celebrate the new year for 10 days in the fall in which they make amends and prepare themselves for a better future ahead.