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Rosh Hashanah (rohsh hah-shaw-nuh) is the Jewish New Year! This year, it falls on October 2 to 4. Soon after follows the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur (yawm kee-poor), or the Day of Atonement. These days are known as the High Holidays.
There are many great ways to get your family involved in these Jewish holidays — most you don’t even have to go anywhere! My two children don’t always have the attention span for long services at the synagogue, as much as I might want to go, but there are lots of ways to celebrate at home.
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Rosh Hashanah Traditions
Rosh Hashanah is a fun holiday because it is a big celebration of the New Year! On Rosh Hashanah, our families eat round challah bread to symbolize the eternal lifecycle. We have apples dipped in honey in hopes for a sweet New Year.
Our family also blows the shofar, the ram’s horn, to welcome in the New Year. Click here to listen to what it sounds like.
It is a great idea to get the kids involved in the celebration by having them help bake a honey cake, paint bubble wrap yellow to look like honeycomb, or read some books about the holidays. Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah by Sylvia A. Rouss is a great one.
PBS Kids has a list of picture books that celebrate Rosh Hashanah for young readers. When you click the link, it will take you to a page where you can borrow the book from a local library near you.
For moms and dads, brush up on your high holiday reading with a pick from this list: 9 Books to Prepare You for the High Holidays on My Jewish Learning website.
Tashlich Ceremony for Rosh Hashanah
We have gatherings and feasts during these times to celebrate the new year. One of these gatherings is called tashlich (tash·lik). On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (provided that it is not Shabbat), it is customary to go to a body of water, such as an ocean, river, pond, etc., and perform the tashlich ceremony. It involves ceremonially casting our sins into the water by throwing rocks or crumbs of bread into the water.
Celebrating Yom Kippur
There are 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We use those days as a time of reflection and prayer.
Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism, and will be celebrated October 11 – 12 this year. Many spend the day in the synagogue and fast for 24 hours. Children and pregnant mothers are not required to fast, but can still participate in the prayers and services throughout the day. There is a big breakfast at nightfall on Yom Kippur.
Although Yom Kippur is the most solemn day of the year, it is infused with an undercurrent of joy. It is the joy of being immersed in the spirituality of the day, and expressing confidence that our repentance and sins will be forgiven and seal our verdict for a year of life, health, and happiness.
These two holidays are very important in the Jewish religion. It is a time to celebrate the New Year but also reflect on everything we learned in the past year.
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Additional Resources
For even more fun ideas, and to learn more about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, here are some resources:
- High Holidays from Everyday Jewish Mom
- Kids Guide to Rosh Hashanah
- My Jewish Learning: Celebrate Rosh Hashanah
- My Jewish Learning: Celebrate Yom Kippur
- The Nosher: Rosh Hashanah Recipes
- What is Rosh Hashanah?
- Yom Kippur 2024
