Table of Diversity Weekly: Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish observance literally meaning 'head of the year' and is recognized as a New Year's celebration. According to the ADL, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 'are sometimes referred to as the Jewish High Holidays. They mark a period known both as the 'Days of Awe' and the 'Ten Days of Repentance,' during which Jewish people are supposed to reflect on the sins they have committed during the past year. Rosh Hashanah combines the joy of a New Year celebration and its theme of renewal with the seriousness associated with confronting one's failings and seeking forgiveness both from God and from those one has wronged.'

To my Jewish brothers and sisters- Shana Tova!

This week's edition of A Healthy Dose of DEI is all about Rosh Hashanah! Learn what it means and how you can recognize this observance in your organization.

Monthly subscribers get access to activities for going from awareness to action to ensure your organization makes space for Jewish people to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

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A brief history of Rosh Hashanah, the kickoff to the Jewish New Year. -National Geographic

"Food, sound, prayer, reflection, celebration. Jewish people around the world will soon wish one another 'Shanah tovah' (Hebrew for 'good year') during Rosh Hashanah, the observance of the Jewish New Year.

The holiday, which takes place this year between sundown on September 6 and sundown on September 8, kicks off the Jewish high holy days. Here's what you need to know about how the holiday is celebrated- and the history of the traditional blowing of the shofar horn.

Origins and Meaning of Rosh Hashanah

Jewish people welcome the new year in September or October, not January, in observance of the lunisolar Hebrew calendar. Rosh Hashanah begins on the first day of Tishri, the first month of the calendar's civil year and seventh month of its religious year. Given that the Hebrew calendar is more than week shorter than the Gregorian calendar and, according to tradition, originated with the biblical creation of the universe, this holiday will mark the beginning of the year 5782 for Jews worldwide.

Hebrew for 'head of the year,' Rosh Hashanah is a chance not just to celebrate and look ahead, but to consider the past and review one's relationship with God. It also marks the first day of a period known as the Ten Days of Awe, or Days of Repentance, during which a person's actions are thought to be able to influence both God's judgment and God's plan for that person. These high holy days culminate in Yom Kippur, a time of atonement that is considered the holiest day of the year.

Though the holiday has been celebrated for thousands of years, its origins are murky. Jewish scripture lays out the month and days of a similar festival but does not call it Rosh Hashanah. In the biblical passage Leviticus 23:24-25, God tells Moses that the people of Israel should observe the first day of the seventh month as a day of rest and mark it with the blast of horns.

At some point, the horn- blowing holiday became associated with the new year. The earliest reference to Rosh Hashanah in a rabbinic text comes from the Mishnah, a Jewish legal text that dates from A.D. 200."

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What Is Rosh Hashanah and How Is It Celebrated? -Readers Digest

"Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important, but perhaps the least understood, of the Jewish holidays.

Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the 10-day period in the Jewish religion known as the 'High Holidays' (of High Holy Days). It may be one of the most well known of all Jewish holidays, but it's also steeped in mystery. This is largely because 'Rosh Hashanah' isn't directly referenced (at least not by name) in the Torah (the five books of Moses, or the Old Testament), which essentially defines Jewish law and worship. And the indirect references that the Torah does seem to make to it provide only the most minimal guidance as the why it's a holiday and how it is to be observed. As we'll see, even when, precisely, it was to being was up to some debate back in ancient times.

What Rosh Hashanah isn't

Because so much of Rosh Hashanah was left to scholarly interpretation, trying to explain what it is might be better accomplished by beginning with what it is not. Most people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, think of Rosh Hashanah as the celebration of the 'Jewish New Year.' However, Rosh Hashanah is neither a celebration, per se, nor the first day of the new year. It is, however, the first day of a 10-day period of personal reflection and atonement known as the 'Days of Awe'.

It wasn't originally called 'Rosh Hashanah'

The Hebrew 'Rosh Hashanah' literally means 'the head of the year.' That may go a long way toward explaining why the holiday is treated as the 'Jewish New Year.' However, the holiday didn't acquire the name, 'Rosh Hashanah' until the second century. Until then it was referred to by other names (which we'll discuss a bit later), but it originated as a nameless command from the Torah to observe a day of rest on the first day of the seventh month of the year, which was to be deemed sacred and memorialized by a burnt offering and a 'sound.'

The 'sound'

The Torah's nameless references to the holiday we now call Rosh Hashanah can be found in the Old Testament books of Leviticus and Numbers. But precisely what was meant by 'sound' remained unclarified until King David wrote in his Psalms, 'Sound the shofar at the new moon, at the hiddenness of our festival.' A 'shofar' is a wind instrument made of a ram's horn, which makes a piercing sound.

Why the first day of the seventh month?

There's no particular consensus as to why Rosh Hashanah was meant to occur on the first day of the seventh month of the year. However, some scholars point to the fact that the number 'seven' is also associated with the day on which God rested after creating the universe. Seventh day, rest. Seventh month, rest. In any event, the first day of the seventh month of the year always coincides with the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, or harvest time."

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What Apples and Honey Mean at the Jewish Table- and How Modern Rosh Hashanah Recipes Are Taking Them to New Heights. -Woman's World

"Every religion has its unique food traditions, from making pancakes to rid one's kitchen of forbidden ingredients before Lent, to eating dumplings shaped like ancient currency to bring good fortune. Judaism is no different, and like Christianity, Taoism, and myriad other faiths, its culinary practices have cultural and spiritual significance.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year that marks a time of reflection on the previous year and hope for the new one. It is one of three 'High Holidays'- Yom Kippur and Sukkot are the others- that are typically celebrated in late September and early October (depending on the Hebrew calendar). This [Rosh Hashanah], Jewish people throughout the world will gather for a deeply symbolic meal with family and friends.

Like almost all of the Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah features its own set of delectable delights. Deliciously chewy challah bread is typically found on the dinner table, as well as traditional foods like matzah ball soup, brisket, and the oft-maligned gefilte fish- think 'fish meatloaf' if you've never tried it yourself. But the most potent and symbolic food in the annual Rosh Hashanah meal is probably the simplest: a plate of sliced apples served with honey for dipping.

What do apples and honey mean during Rosh Hashanah?

Dipping a crisp apple slice into honey symbolizes a sweet start to the new year. Rosh Hashanah is a time of both thoughtfulness and festivity, and the combination of apples and honey is (quite literally) a sweet way to welcome new beginnings with optimism. Apple and honey also taste distinctly like fall, which serves as a reminder of the fresh start that the season brings.

The presence of honey on the Rosh Hashanah dinner table has spiritual origins, too. It's associated with the 'honey wafer'- like manna (miraculously provided sustenance) described in the Jewish Torah (or Hebrew Bible). As a symbol of the divine's ability to provide, manna signifies the struggles and triumphs of the biblical era and can inspire rich contemplation.

Honey has resonance in Christianity as well. The bee is the emblem of Christ's forgiveness and justice (represented as the sweetness of a bee's honey and the sharpness of a bee's sting, respectively).

On top of that, honey is one of the oldest sweeteners- a natural substance that dates back to ancient times, and it serves as a reminder of the holiday's roots."

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Rosh Hashanah Customs, Symbols, and Traditions. -Reform Judaism

"There are many wonderful customs, symbols, and traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection and repentance.

1. Preparing During the Hebrew Month of Elul

Preparation for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the 'Day of Atonement') customarily begins a full month before the holidays themselves, with the entire Hebrew month of Elul dedicated to reflecting on the past year, and preparing to improving ourselves, our communities, and our world in the coming year.

2. Celebrating at Home

Jewish holidays begin in the evening, so many Jews begin Rosh Hashanah with a festive dinner with family or friends before attending services at a synagogue that night and again the following day.

On Erev Rosh Hashanah (the night the holiday begins), we recite the festival candle blessing and Kiddush (blessing over wine). We also recite HaMotzi (the blessing over bread) as usual, but the challah- the special twisted loaf Jews eat on Shabbat and other special occasions- is round, rather than the oblong loaf we eat during the rest of the year.

This custom has several explanations: One is that the round shape reflects the ongoing cycle of years and season; another is that, as our thoughts turn to repentance and self-improvement, the round challah reminds us that the opportunity for t'shuvah, is always available to us. Another common interpretation is that the round challah resembles a crown, symbolizing the sovereignty of God- a common theme throughout the High Holidays.

Throughout the centuries, Jews have commonly eaten apples- as well as challah, grapes, and other fruits- dipped in honey, which symbolizes the hope for sweetness and blessings in the year ahead. Some families also enjoy a pomegranate as a treat before the meal because, according to legend, the number of seeds in the pomegranate reflects the number of good deeds you will do in the coming year."

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Rosh Hashanah. -Inclusive Employers

"How to celebrate Rosh Hashanah in the workplace

Rosh Hashanah is a very sacred holiday in Judaism, so workplace celebrations should be planned carefully and not be tokenistic.

Here are a few ways to show your support for Jewish employees in the run-up to Rosh Hashanah:

Share Rosh Hashanah facts. Share facts and raise awareness about Rosh Hashanah. People can learn new things this way, and you can show your support.

Focus on Rosh Hashanah pronunciation. Concentrate and practice Rosh Hashanah's pronunciation with your team. It's a very important event for the Jewish community, so it's important to get the pronunciation right.

Explore symbolic food around Rosh Hashanah. It is traditional to eat sweet foods for Rosh Hashanah to encourage sweet new year. Some of the symbolic foods of Rosh Hashanah include apples and honey, date and honey cake and pomegranate. Consider researching Rosh Hashanah recipes for your team to try during a lunch break, or ask your coworkers to make some traditional Rosh Hashanah recipes at home. This would be a great opportunity to try new things while learning about their significance. You may also want to consider ordering traditional Rosh Hashanah foods from a local Kosher shop or online Kosher supplier.

Have a level of flexibility for your Jewish colleagues. Rosh Hashanah is a religious holiday, and Jewish colleagues will require time off and may wish to adjust their working hours to prepare. The amount of time off required and levels of observance are different for everyone. Maintain a level of flexibility and understanding for your coworkers, as well as support them during this time."

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The Meaning Behind 5 of the Most Popular Rosh Hashanah Traditions. -Time

"Rosh Hashanah ushers in the beginning of the Jewish year and is a holiday that celebrates the creation of the world, something that's reflected in its name, which means 'head of the year' in Hebrew.

Rosh Hashanah 2019 will begin at sundown and will continue through nightfall, marking the start of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of reflection and repentance that concludes with Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah starts on the first days of Tishrei (the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar), which usually places it in September or October, and many choose to celebrate the holiday on just one.

As the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest times for those who practice Judaism, with many popular traditions that are observed.

Ahead of the year's first High Holy Day, here's a look at the history behind five of the most popular Rosh Hashanah traditions.

Wishing Someone 'Shana Tova'

Those observing Rosh Hashanah often greet one another with the Hebrew phrase, 'shana tova' or 'l'shana tova,' meaning 'good year' or 'fora good year.' According to History.com, this is a 'shortened version of the Rosh Hashanah salutation 'L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem' ('May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year').'

Performing Tashlich at a Body of Water

According to Chabad.org, it's customary for some who observe Rosh Hashanah to go to a body of water to perform a Tashlich ceremony, which involves symbolically casting away their sins. Some people literally throw things like bread into the water, and some, following prayers, shake out the corners of their clothes. The ceremony is typically done on the first day of the holiday, unless the first day falls on Shabbat, in which case it's done on the second day."

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The Jewish Life- With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: Rosh Hashanah: Customs, Rituals, Ceremonies, and Practices

"The two days of Rosh Hashana are two of the most important days in the year. These festival days are celebratory and joyous, but are also dedicated to prayer, to introspection, and repentance. Rosh Hashana is a time when we try to strike a delicate balance of festivities and trepidation due to the Day of Judgement. In this unique podcast we examine the myriad customs, ceremonies, rituals, and practices of Rosh Hashana- we learn about their significance, we learn about the lessons contained within them, we learn about the various activities that we do to get in the right frame of mind for the Day of Judgement."

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This Jewish Life- With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe: The Judgment of Rosh Hashana

"In addition to the many other themes and motifs of the day, Rosh Hashana is called the Day of Judgment. The Mishnah tells us that on Rosh Hashana every human has an individual audience with the Almighty in the same way that a shepherd counts each sheep individually. The judgment is comprehensive: all of a person's income for the year is determined on this day. But the most important decree of Rosh Hashana is who will live and who will die.

In this podcast, we study a difficult statement in the Talmud regarding the judgment on Rosh Hashana. On the surface, this statement is quite inexplicable. Upon further analysis, however, we discover the central goal of Rosh Hashana, and, frankly, what we are trying to accomplish in our lives."

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Chabad.org. Rosh Hashanah: What's It Really All About?

"How the Jewish New Year is celebrated and what it tells us about every human being and our relationship to G-d."

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