Sukkot, Hoshanah Rabah, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah 2023

For 2023, from sunset Friday September 29, through sunset on Sunday October 8 is a string of Jewish holidays including Sukkot, Shimini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

Sukkot, the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles, is a major holiday in Judaism, celebrating the harvest. 

The major festival days of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah come at the close of the festival (although technically they are separate holidays).

WHAT DATES ARE AFFECTED? THE QUICK VERSION

Jews of all denominations who observe the holiday spend the first morning of Sukkot at synagogue  or temple services. Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel also spend the second morning in religious services.  

Jews of all denominations may also attend services on Hoshanah Rabbah, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Many Jews of all denominations (especially those with children) may also attend celebrations and services at the synagogue or temple on the eve of Simchat Torah.  

For general purposes, we can view the week as having major celebrations at the beginning and end of the festival period. The breakdown for all of these dates is a bit complicated, so I have set these down in bullet points the days on which the different holidays fall in 2023 as follows:

Ø   Sukkot: Sunset September 29 continuing through sunset on sunset on Thursday October 5  NOTE: The first day is observed fully by many Jews of all denominations and the first two days by most Orthodox and many Conservative Jews as a major holiday

Ø   Hoshanah Rabah: Sunset Thursday October 5 continuing through sunset on Friday October 6 (technically, the last day of Sukkot)

Ø   Shemini Atzeret: Sunset Friday October 6 through sunset on Sunday October 7. NOTE: Since this is one of the four times of year for formally remembering the dead who have passed away (Yizkor), this holiday may carry strong significance to those who have lost loved ones.

Ø   Simchat Torah: Sunset Saturday October 7 through sunset on Sunday October 8.

Because the holiday of Sukkot continues for 8 days, throughout the week of Sukkot, evenings are often spent visiting the booths in other people’s houses. For planning purposes for those trying to accommodate employees or students, this should not interfere with evening schedules during the week, but might affect them on the key holidays noted below.

One should be careful not to assume that because one Jewish student or employee is not observing the holiday that this is the same with all of Jewish students and employees. While levels of observance vary on an individual basis, the fact that some Jews may not attend services does not diminish its importance as a holiday to those Jews who do observe the holiday.

For a more comprehensive discussion of the variations in practice see the “A More In-Depth Explanation” below.

A NOTE ON PRONOUNCIATION

There are several names for the holiday, which may be a bit confusing. In Sephardic Hebrew, Sukkot is pronounced “sue-COAT.” In Ashkenazic Hebrew, it is pronounced “sue-KOSE” (to rhyme with “two dose”). In Yiddish, the holiday is called Sukkos (to rhyme with “book us.”  

The spelling may also vary as the words are in Hebrew letters rather than Roman ones. Thus, some people may spell the same holiday Succot, Succos or Sukkes.

WHAT IS SUKKOT?

Sukkot is the Jewish Festival of Booths (or Tabernacles). The Bible indicates that Jews should dwell in booths during Sukkot:

“You will dwell in booths for seven days; all natives of Israel shall dwell in booths.” Leviticus 23:42

This practice is meant to recall the “sukkot” (Hebrew for temporary shelters or booths; singular “sukkah”) that the Israelites used during the Exodus from Egypt during their wandering in the desert on their way to the Land of Israel.  

This is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals of Judaism (when in the days of the Temple, Jews were required to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem). The holiday is especially closely associated with the Temple in Jerusalem as King Solomon dedicated the Temple on Sukkot.

Traditionally, Jews build their own sukkah outside their homes, temples and synagogues. The sukkah must be a non-permanent structure (so that it is a “temporary shelter”) and must have four walls at least part of which must include “schach” (plant material grown from the ground, such as branches, corn stalks, etc. with the requirement that the material not smell bad). It is also very common to decorate the sukkah (often with children’s artwork). Jews then spend all or part of their days in their Sukkot, and eat all or some of their meals in them.

Sukkot is a very festive and happy holiday, unlike the somber nature of the Jewish High Holidays which precede it. The holiday is a time for visiting friends in each other’s Sukkot, and many congregations have “sukkah hops” where people go from one sukkah to another over the course of one or more evenings during the holiday week.

At religious services in the synagogue or temple, Jews hold daily processions called “Hoshanot” in which they recite prayers for a good harvest while ritually shaking a lulav and etrog which make up the “four species” of plants. The lulav is comprised of three of these four plants: one palm branch, two willow branches and three myrtle branches that are bound together. The etrog is a specific type of yellow citrus fruit (Citrus medica) often called in English a citron. In Ashkenazic Hebrew, the fruit is called an esrog and in Yiddish, an esrig. Not all of these fruits are of equal value, and a perfect etrog is something many Jews highly value. There are many specifications on the nature of what is and is not a kosher etrog, and among those what does and does not constitute a perfect etrog. The use of the four species has a symbolic meaning as a way to rejoice in the harvest. The specific species themselves are symbolic of the whole person carrying them: the palm represents the spine;  the myrtle, the eyes (they have eye-shaped leaves), the willow the mouth (its leaves are thought to be mouth-shaped), and the etrog, the heart.

Variations on these basic customs exist from country to country among Jews. For example, Moroccan Jews often decorate their lulav with silk ribbons and a bell. Moroccan Jews traditional also have an empty chair in the sukkah for Elijah the prophet (who is supposed to announce the coming of the Messiah).

For a more comprehensive discussion of the variations in practice see the “A More In-Depth Explanation” below.

WHAT IS HOSHANAH RABAH

The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabah (literally, the “Great Hosannah”).  This last day of Sukkot has special prayers with a procession around the synagogue or temple that circles seven times followed by the beating of the willow branches of the lulav on the ground. Because of the special prayers, some Jews who may not have attended services on the interim days of Sukkot may attend on Hoshanah Rabah.

WHAT IS SHEMINI ATZERET?

The day immediately following Hoshanah Rabah is a separate holiday called Shemini Atzeret (or Shemini Atzeres). This is the eighth day of Sukkot and the Shemini Atzeret actually means “eighth day of assembly). On this day, people leave their sukkot and eat in their houses again. This holiday also includes the prayer for rain Tefillat Geshrem. One of the four annual Yizkor services said by Jews to remember the dead are also said on Shemini Atzeret.

WHAT IS SIMCHAT TORAH?

Literally meaning “rejoicing in the Torah,” Simchat Torah is one of the most joyous celebrations in Judaism. Traditionally, Jews read the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) from beginning to end in portions throughout the year.  This is the day that the end of the Torah is read and the beginning of the Torah is begun again.  It is a day of festive singing and dancing to honor the Torah.

Simchat Torah is celebrated with having as many people reading sentences from the end and beginning of the Torah scrolls and with singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls. In many cities, the celebrations are carried on with dancing and singing in the streets while holding the Torah scrolls. 

In Israel itself, Simchat Torah is combined with Shimeni Atzeret on the same day. Outside of Israel, the two holidays are celebrated separately one after the other.

THE MORE IN-DEPTH VERSION

In response to feedback from earlier holiday messages, I was asked to share that for all Jewish holidays, observance among the main Jewish religious movements varies both in level of practice and in interpretation of how long the main observance opening part of the holiday lasts. Generally speaking, though, the first day of Sukkot is a major festival day for all Jewish movements. I want to emphasize that, as with all of these religious postings and regardless of the religion involved, I am not passing judgment or suggesting as either correct or incorrect any practice of observance. The purpose of these religious observance posts is simply to give a bit of general background on our religiously diverse campus and to inform those who may not be aware of them so that they can accommodate faculty, staff and students who wish to observe them. 

Regarding the differing stances for Sukkot, I will try to summarize some (though not all) of the major differences in observance.

For Orthodox Jews and Conservative Jews, the first two days of Sukkot are observed as one long day (as with Rosh HaShanah). For most (although not all) Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, there is no "long day" so that the first day lasts one day only.  This long day does not apply to those celebrating the holiday in the land of Israel. In Israel, only one day is observed in place of the long day, regardless of denomination. 

For Orthodox Jews and many Conservative Jews, no manner of work can be done on the holiday.It should be noted that within the Orthodox community, length and manner of observance is not seen as a point of personal interpretation. For most Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, length and manner of observance, by contrast, may reflect personal interpretation. For many Conservative Jews, the length and manner of observance similarly are not seen as subject to individual interpretation, but considerable allowance is made for the actual (vs. the ideal) practice of observance.   

Most Orthodox and Conservative and some Reform and Reconstructionist Jews build their own personal sukkah by their home. Some Orthodox Jews interpret the commandment to dwell in booths literally and may actually spend all or much of the week in their sukkah, even sleeping in them  (barring inclement weather).  Many other Jews who build their own sukkot have one or more of their family meals there and spend as much time in them.

It should be noted that many Reform and Reconstructionist Jews do not build their own sukkot, instead using the sukkah built at their temple or synagogue. This is the case too for Jews of all religious streams who can not build a sukkah where they live for one reason or another. At many college campuses, for example, the local Hillel Jewish Student Association builds a sukkah for students living on campus.

SUKKOT RECIPES

Sukkot centers on eating something within the sukkah itself. As a result, several traditions have developed around special Sukkot meals.

Sukkot is a harvest festival. As a result, the foods eaten often reflect fruits and vegetables of some sort to symbolize the harvest. In particular, stuffed vegetables or main dishes and desserts made with fruit are common for the holiday.

Holishkes

Among the most common dishes of Eastern European origin are holishkes or meat-stuffed pepper. Holishkes are appropriate for two reasons. First, they make use of harvest vegetables. Second, when two holishkes are placed side by side, they look like the Torah scroll. A recipe for holishkes can be found on the Eastern European About.com site at

http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/maincourses/r/Jewish-cabbage-holishkes.htm

Bourekas

Among Turkish Jews, it is customary to eat bourekas, or oil-crisped pastry pockets stuffed with harvest vegetables. A particularly common version for Sukkot are bourekas stuffed with sweetened squash or bourekas can be found on the Jewish Recipe Trader site at
pumpkin.  One recipe for pumpkin-stuffed

http://www.jewishrecipetrader.com/display.php?recipeid=269

Etrog jam

Among Syrian Jews, the etrog is made into jam. Many Jews of Syrian origin still maintain this custom even after persecution and expulsion in the latter half of the 20th Century. Sadly, of the roughly 200,000 Jews who lived in Syria for 500 years from the time of the Spanish expulsion (1492) until the founding of the State of Israel (1948), only an estimated 80 Jews remain in Syria. Still, the thriving Syrian Jewish communities of New York (80,000), Israel (70,000) and Panama (10,000) carry on the customs of this venerable Jewish community. Indeed, within Israel, the use of etrog jam is becoming common throughout the country for many non-Syrian Jews as well. A recipe for etrog jam can be found at

 http://www.amideastfeast.com/recipes/etrog-jam/

Sukkot apple cake

A common Sukkot dessert among Jews is apple cake as the apples represent the harvest. In fact, eating apples themselves is also fairly common. One recipe for a traditional Sukkot apple cake can be found on the Kosher Food About.com site at 

http://kosherfood.about.com/od/desserts/r/applecake.htm

CONCLUSION

As with all of the religious summaries provided in these posts, I do not intend to indicate what is or is not a proper way to observe this or any other holiday. The intention here is merely to be superficially informative.

Chag Sameach! Happy Sukkot!

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Sukkot on the Net

http://www.holidays.net/sukkot/

Judaism 101

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm

About Judaism,com:

http://judaism.about.com/od/sukko1/Sukkot_Feast_of_Tabernacles.htm

and

http://judaism.about.com/od/simchattorah/a/all_storah.htm

Union of Reform Judaism

http://urj.org/holidays/sukkot/

or
http://urj.org/holidays/simchat/

and

http://tmt.urj.net/archives/3israelconnections/100604.htm

Chabad .org

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm

and

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/357073/jewish/In-a-Nutshell.htm

Board of Jewish Education (Australia).org

http://www.bje.org.au/learning/judaism/kids/holydays/sukkot.html

Jewish Roots: Different Sukkot Customs:
http://jewishroots.net/library/holiday-articles/different_sukkot_customs.html

 NOTE ON THE CLIPART

The clipart used here (unless noted otherwise) is free to download. You can find it at

Amazing Animations

http://www.amazing-animations.com/animated-judaism.php

and at

FREE-Bitsela.com at

http://free-bitsela.com/

The opening "Happy Sukkot" image is from
http://www.thornhillshul.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/su_happy.gif

The closing Sukkot banner is from:
http://www.netglimse.com/images/events/sukkot/sukkot_banner.jpg

The Hoshana Rabbah image is from: http://www.yutorah.org/sukkot/

The food images are as follows:

Holishkes: About.com Eastern European Food: http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/maincourses/r/Jewish-cabbage-holishkes.htm

Bourekas: Jewish Recipe Trader: http://www.jewishrecipetrader.com/display.php?recipeid=269

Etrog jam:A Mideast Feast: http://www.amideastfeast.com/recipes/etrog-jam/

Sukkot Apple Cake: About.com Kosher Food: http://kosherfood.about.com/od/sukkot/a/succoth_trad.htm

Autumnal Equinox, 2012

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. This is celebrated as a one of the four Major Sabbats in the eight points of the Wheel of the Year by people practicing Wicca, neo-Druidism and Paganism.  This holiday marks the time at which day and night are in total balance, and is accompanied by personal efforts of members of these faith to find a similar balance in their lives.   

While this is a significant holiday for these faiths, it is not normally a day that would require the absence from class or work of faculty, staff or students. That said, the holiday is a time in which believers may wish to celebrate with family and could affect extra activities beyond the normal class or work day.

Different Approaches Toward the Autumnal Equinox

The Autumnal Equinox has several other names. These include the Harvest Moon or the Harvest Home for general usage. For Wiccans and many neo-Pagan groups, the preferred name is Mabon. For other neo-Pagan groups, the name preferred is Alban Elfed.  For neo-Druids, the preferred name is Mea'n Fo'mhair. 

The separate holiday of  Michaelmas in Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian and Lutheran Christianity comes at the same time of year but is separate from these other holidays.  

Relationship to Michaelmas

The separate holiday of  Michaelmas in Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian and Lutheran Christianity comes at the same time of year but is separate from the other holidays discussed here. Still, Wiccans, neo-Pagans and neo-Druids teach that Michaelmas actually was an attempt by the early Church to co-opt earlier pre-Christian worship practices associated with the Autumnal Equinox. 

When Christianity first spread in the Celtic regions, the Roman Catholic Church placed great emphasis on Michaelmas which, falling on September 29, came near the same time. In this tradition the Archangel Michael came to represent the power of light over darkness, an important attribute as the length of daylight began to shorten.  

After Michaelmas, British custom
holds that it is unlucky to harvest berries

Religious services honoring the Archangel Michael are still practiced in some Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran congregations, especially in the United Kingdom.  

A folk custom still in evidence in the parts of the British Isles warns that it is unlucky to harvest blackberries after Michaelmas, as they have been cursed at that time by Lucifer.  This custom that it is unlucky to harvest in the woods most likely has its origin in the woodland offerings of the autumnal harvest in pre-Christian Britain.

Mea'n Fo'mhair and the Neo-Druid Tradition

For neo-Druids and some pagans, the holiday is called Mea'n Fo'mhair.

The woodland harvest offerings described above are still practiced by neo-Druids and modern pagan  

Woodland offering, Germany

(largely in British, Irish and German traditions but with increasing practice in the US, Canada and New Zealand).  In this tradition, neo-Druids gather in wooded areas and  give offerings of the fall harvest (not only of berries but also of pine cones, acorns, apples and cider) to honor the Green Man of the Forest.   

Alban Elfed and the Neo-Pagan Tradition

In some neo-Pagan traditions, the holiday is known as  Alban Elfed  or the “Light of the Sun.”  In this tradition, woodland offerings are proferred but to “The Lady” who is also called the “Spirit of the Land.”

Mabon and Wicca

The autumnal equinox holiday with the largest following is that associated with the religion of Wicca where it is called Mabon.  Unlike many other Wiccan holidays, no corresponding name exists in ancient pagan traditions. Instead, the name was coined by the US Wiccan leader Aidan Kelley soon after the formation in 1967 of the  NROOGD  (New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn), one of the most important popularizers of the Wiccan faith.  Kelley’s adoption of the name Mabon was to honor the early Welsh pagan divine son deity Mabon fab Mellt.   

It should be noted that while Wicca (and with it the name Mabon) has been growing most rapidly in popularity among these tradition, in the UK and Ireland, many neo-Druids strongly oppose the term as a neologism. As a result, while it would be appropriate to wish a Wiccan a “Happy Mabon,” this may not be as appreciated for some neo-Druids and modern pagans.

Traditions

Cornucopia

The Cornucopia is the traditional

symbol for the Autumnal Equinox



Both in ancient Druidic tradition and in modern neo-Druidic, pagan and Wiccan practice, offerings are often proffered in a horn of plenty called a cornucopia. As a result, Cornucopia is another name some practitioners use for the holiday.

As as side note, this is the same cornucopia that has been co-opted in the US tradition for the Thanksgiving symbol in November, itself an oddity since by this time the harvest has long been passed.

Altars

In most traditions, altar offerings of the harvest are proferred. In Wicca, altar offerings are customarily at home. In neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic traditions altar offerings are customarily set in the woods or forest.

Wiccan Mabon home altar, USA

In all three beliefs, the altar is normally set with symbols of the closing harvest. This includes dried corn and sheaves of wheat. Typical fall harvest items such as squash and gourds as well as nuts in their shells, root vegetables are also common offerings.

In many traditions, practitioners use agricultural implements (or lacking that, images or miniature agricultural implements) to complete the altar set-up. These usually involve baskets but also might include scythes and sickles.

In Wicca in particular, symbols of balance -- such as an evenly set of hanging scales -- are also used on the altar to symbolize the balance of day and night in the equinox.

Traditional Foods

In all of the autumnal equinox traditions -- Wiccan, neo-Pagan and neo-Druidic -- believers traditionally both make offerings of harvest foods as well as eat food and drink associated with the harvest.

Mother Bread

Seasonal harvest items such as root vegetables and squash are common foods for the holiday. Nuts and things made with nuts are also commonly featured.

To incorporate the grains of the autumn harvest, bread (often called "mother bread")  is often a central food eaten during the holiday. One recipe for "Dark Mother Bread with Honey" is at

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=+Mabon+recipe&view=detail&id=285A7AEEAF86C2C853E48D92C2F5F136CA60DADB&first=1

Finally, cider, juice and wine made from berries and apples are also common reflections of the harvest. 

Conclusion

In my discussion of this holiday -- as with my handling of all others on this blog -- I am not attempting to indicated that one practice or another is proper or improper. My hope is only that this serves as a brief overview for general informational purposes. As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). 

May you have a balance in your life on this Autumnal Equinox.

Further Reading

Ellie Crystal, Crystal Links, "Autumn Equinox," http://www.crystalinks.com/autumn.html

P. J. Deneen, "Pagan Holidays: Autumn Equinox, Mabon, September 21,"  http://www.squidoo.com/autumnequinox

Janet Farrar and Stewart Farrar (1988). Eight Sabbats for Witches, revised edition. Phoenix Publishing.

Ireland's Druidschool, "Celtic Druid's Autumn Equinox," http://www.druidschool.com/site/1030100/page/874527

Mystic Familiar, "Alban Elfed -- Autumn Equinox," http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/witchcraft/alban_lfed.html

Spell Research, "A Mabon Outline," http://spellresearch.com/spellbook/1993/10/12/a-mabon-outline.html

Tryskelion.com, "Mabon rituals," http://www.tryskelion.com/tryskelion/mabon6.htm

Wicca Chat, "Mabon," http://www.wicca-chat.com/witch_sabats/mabon.htm

Patti Wigington, About.com: Paganism/Wicca: "All About Mabon," http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm

 

Clip Art Sources

Autumnal Equinox opening clip art: http://www.freewebs.com/clairewitch/HappyAutumnalEquinox.jpg

Autumn Equinox with pentagram: http://www.squidoo.com/mabon-sabbat

St. Michael medal: http://www.netglimse.com/images/events/michaelmas/michaelmasallangelsday_head.gif

X-ed out berries: http://www.guy-sports.com/fun_pictures/blackberry_no.jpg

Cornucopia: http://www.liberavox.it/home/images/stories/cornucopia_mabon.jpg

Woodland offering, Germany: http://www.jasra.de/Business/Schamanismus__Naturheilkunde_u/Der_Jahreskreis/Mabon/Altar01_klein.jpg

Wiccan Mabon home altar, USA: http://a.imageshack.us/img841/4228/mabon2003altar.jpg

Mother bread: http://www.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/1348192921_9343_Mabon%20marigold%20honey%20wheat%20bread.jpg

"Have a Blessed Mabon" closing clip art: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHEuXSBY0kzo-IvkghEIzDdJb-wIhoF_bxNgEP-EInN5SBFm7uefQZ04dQX-zaeOEhXIhVTIL8sXcP_5691UGklNzuqbMVvus2Meu6Sh3yBAqQvNVC0OGOxA-kNofc6ucOlxgZc5MM-I/s320/Mabon3.jpg

Rosh HaShanah 2019

The Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah, begins in 2019 at sundown on Sunday September 29 and concludes at sunset -- depending on practice -- at either on Monday September 30 or Tuesday  October 1.  For Orthodox and Conservative Jews, the holiday lasts for two days concluding at sundown on October 1. Many Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, however, observe the holiday only for one day (so for them, the holiday would conclude at sundown on September 30).

While definitions vary as to levels of practice from person to person, work is prohibited during the holiday. For Orthodox and most Conservative Jews, this is defined generally as no manner of work whatsoever (including school, telephone use, email, Internet surfing, etc.) during Rosh HaShanah.  Because some Jews observe only one day, it is easy to make the mistake that the second day is not as important to those Jews observing both days.  But for Conservative and Orthodox Jews, the two days are equally important and indeed can be understood as a single very long day.  

The Jewish New Year and Its Significance

Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year; the Hebrew means “Head of the Year.” This year is 5778 in the Jewish reckoning.

Unlike the secular New Year, Rosh HaShanah is a very solemn day as it is the day Jews ask God for forgiveness for sins of the past year.  Perhaps the only similarity to the secular New Year is that many Jews make resolutions to lead a better life in the coming year.  Most of the day is spent in the synagogue or temple.

Together with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) which occurs 10 days later (beginning this year on September 29 at sunset), Rosh HaShanah forms part of what are called the High Holy Days. The days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are known as the Yamim Noraim (or “Days of Awe”) which act as days of repentance.

Generally speaking, the High Holy Days are the most important days of observance in Judaism. Among observant Jews, traditionally, the weekly observance of the Sabbath on Saturdays is the most important Jewish holiday. In practice, though, for many Jews who do might not regularly attend weekly Sabbath services, the High Holy Days often take place of prominence.  (Please note that I am in no way attempting to take a stance on what is or is not proper observance for any religion in these updates, but rather simply trying to make the general community aware of the various religious practices as they affect activities for employees, students or others).   

While Rosh HaShanah, like all Jewish holidays, appears to wander in the secular calendar, this is only because the secular calendar is not consistent with the Jewish calendar. In the Jewish calendar, though, the holiday actually occurs on the same day of the Jewish calendar. 

Interestingly, Rosh HaShanah does not occur at the beginning of the Jewish calendar; rather, it occurs on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month (not the first).  This seeming inconsistency rests in the Jewish concept of four different yearly cycles described in the Jewish Talmud. Rosh HaShanah represents the new year for relationships among people (including legal contracts) as well as for animals. The day marks the anniversary of the sixth day in the Creation story in which God created Adam and Eve, the first people. There is considerable variance among Jews as to whether this anniversary of the creation of humankind is viewed as the literal date or simply a symbolic anniversary.

In the Jewish Torah (first five books of the Bible), the name “Rosh HaShanah” never appears for the holiday. Instead, the Torah refers to the holiday as either the Zicaron Terua or “remembrance of the blowing of the horn” (as in Leviticus 23:24) or as the Yom Terua or “day of the blowing of the horn” (Numbers 29.1). Even in the Jewish liturgy of prayers used for the day, Rosh HaShanah is generally referred to either as the Yom HaZikaron (the “Day of Remembrance”) or the Yom HaDin (“Day of Judgment”).

The Shofar



 Ram's horn shofar

The horn referred to above is called a shofar. The blowing of the shofar is a central part of the religious observance of the holiday of Rosh HaShonah (and concludes the service on Yom Kippur).

Traditionally among Jews of Eastern  and Central European origin, the shofar is made from a ram’s horn. This is also the majority choice among the Jews of the United States, Canada and Australia. 

Among those Jews using a ram's horn, one of the associations of the ram's horn is with the Biblical story of the ram that appeared to Abraham at the binding of Isaac in the Book of Genesis:

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.                                   -- Genesis: 22:13

Yemenite kudu horn shofar

That said, other animal horns such as those of antelopes are allowable. In fact, among Yemeni Jews, the shofar is customarily made from the long, curlicued horn of the kudu antelope.  This was also the practice among the Jews of Iraq for centuries until their expulsion in 1951.

Goat horn shofar

Among Italian Jews, the preferred shofar is made from a goat's horn. This was also the custom among the Jews of Spain before the Alhambra Edict which expelled them from the country in 1492 (it was only formally rescinded in 1968). In the years following the expulsion, thousands of Spanish Jews took this custom with them to the Low Countries and the New World where they had fled. As a result, today the goat's horn shofar is common in the Netherlands and present among some communities in South America.

Oryx horn shofar

Many Moroccan Jews today blow a shofar made of an oryx horn (where it has long been the traditional horn used) However, some Jewish communities use an oryx horn as a way of remembering of the suffering of the crypto-Jews of Iberia. Among the roughly 200,000 conversos (those who had converted before the expulsion eliminated that option in Spain or had been forcibly converted in Portugal in 1497) who remained in Iberia, several thousand continued to practice as secret Jews. The appropriate term for these people is crypto-Jews or secret Jews (and not as marranos meaning "pigs" in the Spanish of the time and marrãos which still means "pigs" in modern Portuguese ). Among crypto-Jews,  the preferred shofar was made of the long and totally straight straight horn of the oryx. This shape allowed them to carry the shofar surreptitiously held by their belt and down their trouser leg.

Taschlikh



Waterside taschlikh ceremony

On the first afternoon of Rosh HaShanah, Jews traditionally participate in the Taschlikh ceremony. The name comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to cast."

In this ceremony, Jews carry bread crumbs to a stream, river or other naturally flowing source of water. There they say prayers asking to “cast their sins into the waters” with the bread crumbs symbolically representing the sins.

Rosh HaShanah Foods

Rosh HaShanah, as with many holidays, is usually marked by eating traditional foods.

Round Challah

One of the foods most associated with Rosh HaShanah is the use of round challah.

The traditional Jewish bread used on holidays is called challah. Challah used each week on the Jewish Sabbath is normally baked in long, braided loaves. On Rosh HaShanah, though, the challah is made in totally round loaves. The circle of the loaves represents the continuation of life (which is part of the central prayers of the holiday). 

Apples and honey

Another notable food tradition for Rosh HaShanah is the eating of apples dipped in honey. This represents a wish for a sweet and abundant year to come with the honey standing for sweetness and the apples for abundance. 

Pomegranate

For many Jews (especially among Orthodox and Conservative Jews), on the second day of Rosh HaShanah people eat a fruit that is new to the season. This allows Jews to say a prayer of thanksgiving (called the shehechiyanu) for being allowed to reach a new season. A common choice for this fruit is a pomegranate since (in folk tradition) that fruit has 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments in the Torah.



Sea bass with honeyed apples

Finally, in some Jewish traditions, it is customary to eat fish on Rosh HaShanah. In this custom, the fish plays two symbolic roles. First, since the fish’s eyes are always open, it symbolizes total awareness. Second, because fish are plentiful, the meal represents the wish for a fruitful and plenteous year to come.

Because of the dipping of apples in honey, honey or apples (or both) is often used to prepare the fish. For example, one recipe for sea bass with honey and apples can found at:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-Apples/Detail.aspx



Traditional Rosh HaShanah Apple Cake

Finally, desserts and other sweets are an important part of the festive meal, symbolizing a wish for a sweet year to come.  These too tend to emphasize the traditional pomegranates, apples and especially honey.

Among the most typical Rosh HaShanah desserts is the honey or apple cake. A recipe for Rosh HaShanah apple cake can be found at


http://kosherfood.about.com/od/koshercakerecipes/r/apple-cake.htm

Conclusion

The simplest traditional greeting for Rosh HaShanah is L’Shanah Tovah (May you have a good year). The response back is the same.

Many other greetings are also used among Jews during the holiday and the Days of Awe between it and Yom Kippur. One common such greeting is  L’Shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim. This means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." This refers to the belief that one asks to be inscribed in the Book of Life on Rosh HaShanah and that this be sealed in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur. Using this greeting may be said in English, and its use would show a significant understanding of the holiday.

As always in these write-ups, I welcome your feedback. This is meant only to be informational and not to indicate that one or another practice is or is not acceptable.  Please feel free to send me corrections or things you would like me to include next time (and feel equally free to let me know if you find these worthwhile). 

I wish you all a L’Shanah Tovah!

Further Reading

Rabbi Raymond Apple, Oz Torah, "A Guide to the Rosh HaShanah services": http://www.oztorah.com/2010/08/a-guide-to-the-rosh-hashanah-services/

Barsheshet Rebak shofar makers, "Types of Shofars," : http://www.shofarot.com/index.php/the-shofar/typesofshofars/

Chabad.org, "The High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur": http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4830/jewish/How-is-Rosh-Hashanah-Observed.htm

Dinka Kumer, "What is Taschlikh?" http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/564247/jewish/What-is-Tashlich.htm

Jewish Outreach Institute, "Rosh Hashanah": http://www.joi.org/celebrate/rosh/index.shtml 

Judaism 101, "Rosh Hashanah": http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm

Ariela Pelaia, About.com/Judaism, "What is Rosh HaShanah?": http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/roshhashanah.htm

Torah.org, "Seven Questions People Ask About Rosh HaShanah,": http://roshhashanah.torah.org/learning/yomtov/roshhashanah/survival2.html

Rabbi Randy Wise, "Understanding the High Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" http://www.mariechapian.com/TeachingArchive/teachingarchive28.html

Clip Art Sources



Opening clip art image with shofar: http://wallpapers.dgreetings.com/images/wallpapers/rosh-hashanah/Rosh-Hashanah_Wallpaper_1024-768.jpg

Ram's horn shofar: http://www.shininglight.eu/shininglight.eu/originals/1330976499_Kosher-Shofar-Large-Ram-Horn-35-45cm-L.jpg

Yemenite kudu horn shofar:  http://www.shofarsfromafar.com/files/742858/uploaded/Shofar_Yemenite_3.jpg

Goat's horn shofar: http://www.noahsarkwinston.com/bible_land_gifts/22232

Oryx horn shofar: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefALVu65YWSqu2bvVI-SmUVHuOKBbb6ytOWUIVstnNrl8nc4r7kLd_7qZtuaVzru4B8HkAuagLw9QQ75fv9QIjDTSZ37-Cf4sCFQZgd8Sed8xsyJT53a-vVDlQeF99RdNpTMkv6S_hF4/s240/moroccan-shofar-11L.jpg

Tashlikh: http://sank63.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/tashlit-006.jpg

Round Challah: http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Rosh-Hashanah/Detail.aspx

Apples and honey: http://ingenieriaypaisajismo.com/uploads/posts/2011-05/1305204650_rosh-hashana-uk.jpg

Pomegranate: http://dailyfitnessmagz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pomegranate.jpg

Sea bass with honeyed apples: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sea-Bass-with-Honeyed-Apples/Detail.aspx

Traditional Rosh HaShanah apple cake: http://kosherfood.about.com/od/koshercakerecipes/r/apple-cake.htm

L'Shanah Tovah: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjEcXSbyH7rv0llivaLY-nzcQhN1MwchF29OEMgU-R3HVD0HGPLbOh76VuMVCf182ZGIiV1f7ghtFyQejBtO0P29Ln9fBZYA_ELePX8B5pGdORstB2uQlBmqG3OdJxaiD4vv5XxHQ9wPj/s1600/Presentation.jpg