Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana History

Rosh Hashanah, which translates to "Head of the Year," is a Jewish observance that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is an important time for self-reflection, repentance, and self-improvement, with a focus on strengthening relationships with God and fellow human beings. Central to the observance of Rosh Hashanah are several traditional customs, including the blowing of the shofar (a ram's horn), attending religious services, and sharing festive meals with family and friends.

The roots of Rosh Hashanah can be traced back to ancient times, with mentions in the Hebrew Bible. In Australia, Rosh Hashanah is significant for its diverse Jewish community, which has a rich history dating back to the early 19th century. For Australian Jews, Rosh Hashanah provides an opportunity to not only carry on religious and family traditions but also to reconnect with the broader Jewish community and strengthen cultural ties with the global Jewish diaspora.

To mark Rosh Hashanah, Australian Jews participate in a variety of customs and traditions. Synagogues hold services and communal celebrations, featuring the blowing of the shofar and special prayers. Families gather for festive meals, where traditional foods, such as apples dipped in honey, challah bread, and other symbolic dishes, are shared to signify hopes for a sweet and prosperous new year. The date of Rosh Hashanah falls on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, which generally coincides with September or October in the Gregorian calendar, depending on the year.

Rosh Hashana facts

• In synagogues it is common for 100 notes to be sounded with a Ram's horn as a call to repentance.
• For Rosh Hashana, many Jews 'cast off their sins' to a running water stream/sea containing fish (the Tashlich custom). This is to symbolically purge one's body of sin and cast the sins onto the fish.
• The Sydney and Melbourne Jewish communities both have long-standing traditions of hosting communal Rosh Hashanah dinners open to the public. These dinners provide opportunities for people who may not have a family to celebrate the festival with, to come together and mark the event as a community.
• The blowing of the shofar, a traditional ritual associated with Rosh Hashanah, has been adapted in Australia to suit local conditions. In many cases, the shofar-blower must practice in secret, due to the strict noise pollution laws in some Australian cities.

In the News and Trending in Australia for Rosh Hashana

Top things to do in Australia for Rosh Hashana

• Celebrate the Jewish New Year with a Rosh Hashana Concert. Popular concerts are held in major cities such as New York and London.
• Attend a local Rosh Hashanah service as a synagogue near you.
• Many Jewish communities in Australia gather near bodies of water on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah to perform the Tashlich ceremony. During this ceremony, participants cast bread crumbs into the water to symbolize the casting away of their sins.
• In the lead-up to Rosh Hashanah, Jewish community centers and synagogues in Australia often offer classes, workshops, and lectures on subjects related to the holiday, such as its history, customs, and spiritual significance.