Shana Tova

September 29, for those of you that are not aware, is Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and a Day of Judgement. Shana Tova is the traditional greeting for Rosh Hashanah, it means good year.

Rosh Hashanah is both a solemn and a happy day. It's a time for introspection, the asking and the giving of forgiveness, resolving to to better in the new year, remembering God is King, and praying for a happy and healthy new year to come.

Jews are commanded to hear the Shofar or Ram's Horn, blown on Rosh Hashanah. It is blown during prayer services to remind them that God is King.


The origin of Rosh Hashanah is Biblical (Lev. 23:23-25): "a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts (of the Shofar, the ram's horn)." The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the Shofar) and Yom Zikaron Teruah (the day of remembering the sounding of the shofar).

Rosh Hashanah begins the ten days of repentance that end on Yom Kippur.


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