Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year with reflection and tradition

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, marks a period of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal. Often referred to as the ‘head of the year,’ the holiday involves various religious customs and symbolic traditions across the global Jewish community.

Central to the observance is the sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn used to awaken the soul to introspection. Many families celebrate with symbolic foods, such as dipping apples in honey to represent the hope for a sweet year, and eating pomegranates or fish heads to symbolize abundance and leadership.

The holiday also initiates the ‘Days of Awe,’ a ten-day period of soul-searching that culminates in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Observances vary by tradition, including Sephardic and Ashkenazi customs, and range from communal synagogue services to intimate family meals and specialized retreats focused on Torah learning and connection.