Hatboxes glossary: Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה‎, "head of the year") commemorates the creation of Adam and Eve as recounted in the Book of Genesis.  It is the first day of the seventh month on the Jewish calendar, Tishri, and it falls in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. Rosh Hashanah was established as a holiday in Leviticus 23:24–25.

The Talmud identifies three other New Year's Days on the Jewish calendar—the ecclesiastical new year on 1 Nisan in the northern spring; the cattle tithing new year on 1 Elul, one month before Rosh Hashanah; and the northern wintertime New Year of the Trees on 1 Shevat (according to Rabbi Shammai; Rabbi Hillel called that one on 15 Shevat).

Observance of Rosh Hashanah features sharing wishes of a sweet new year to family and friends, often symbolized by apples dipped in honey.

© 2012 Kent Darwin. All rights reserved.

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