Rosh Hashana (Day 2) in Israel

When did the Rosh Hashana (Day 2) in Israel start?

About Rosh Hashana (Day 2) in Israel Holiday

As the sun begins to set on the second day of Rosh Hashana in Israel, the holiday of renewal, repentance, and thanksgiving rings out in a chorus of joy and celebration. Thousands of years ago, on this very day, Abraham was ordered to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It was on this very day that God created the world, and this day continues to mark the beginning of a new year of hope and triumph.

As Israelis from near and far gather to tunes of the shofar, family and friends exchange food and offshoot wishes, exchanging hugs of joy and the blessing of the new year. It is a time to reflect on what we are grateful for, celebrate the life we’ve been given, and cherish the year ahead.

Rosh Hashana is a special time for all Israelis, but it has a unique, yet powerful, meaning here in Israel. As a holy land held sacred by multiple religions and full of centuries of history, Israelis understand the significance and gravity of the day - a day of awe and renewal - and the importance of providing hope for a better future for all.

No matter what changes or challenges the future may bring, the Israelis of this day and age remain integral in sustaining the spirit of Rosh Hashana though out the generations. Here in Israel, we come together as a community to celebrate this momentous occasion. So, all of us here in Israel stand united, with heavy hearts, yet strengthened by faith, hopeful for this new year.

Rosh Hashana (Day 2) in Israel: A Comprehensive Look

History and Origin

Rosh Hashana (Day 2) in Israel is celebrated as a holiday in the Jewish calendar. It is referred to as the Jewish New Year or the Day of Remembrance and is a date of the Exodus from Egypt. According to tradition, this is the day when God spoke to Moses, telling him to lead the Israelites out of the country.

Rosh Hashana is considered to be the most sacred day of the year in the Jewish faith and is regarded as the beginning of a new year. It is called “Yom Hazikaron” (Day of Rememberance) to remember the beginning of God’s covenant with Abraham, the founding father of the Jewish people.

The holiday has its roots in the Bible, when in Exodus, God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai about the Covenant between the Jewish people and God. It is also associated with the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem. From that day on, the Jewish people would remember their sorrow for the destruction of the temple every year on Rosh Hashana.

Rosh Hashana marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. It is also the day on which the world was judged for the past year, to determine what will happen in the coming year. In that context, it is also known as ‘Yom Hadin’, or the ‘Day of Judgment’.

Significance and Meaning

Rosh Hashana has a profound spiritual significance for the Jewish people. It marks a time of spiritual renewal and of introspection. During the two days that the holiday is celebrated, Jews seek to turn inward and reflect on their past actions, with a focus on atonement.

The holiday is seen as a reminder of God’s greatness and his decision to forgive the sins of the Israelites. For this reason, the primary religious observance is the blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, which symbolizes a call to repentance. The other traditional observances include eating a special holiday meal that contains apples and honey, praying, fasting and exchanging the traditional greeting of “L’shanah tovah”.

The holiday is also associated with the idea of immortality and the continuation of life despite adversity. This is symbolized by the traditional foods that are eaten, the practice of uplifting the spirits through prayer and the recitation of special prayers known as the Akedah.

Traditions and Celebrations

Rosh Hashana is celebrated over a two-day period and takes on different forms of observance from region to region in Israel. However, some of the most common observances include special prayers and services, eating traditional foods, and celebration of the day with family and friends.

Special prayers are recited during the first two days of the holiday. These prayers include the ‘Shema’, the ‘Kedushat Levi’, and the ‘Hayom Harat Olam’. There are also special sections from the Torah that are read and studied.

A traditional meal is also a part of the celebrations. This meal often includes foods that symbolize sweetness, such as apples and honey, in order to symbolize our hopes and aspirations for the coming year. In addition, a symbolic fish dish is eaten to symbolize fertility and the continuation of the cycle of life.

During the holiday, family and friends gather for festive meals and to celebrate the holiday. Gifts and traditional greetings are exchanged, and people often wear their finest clothing for the holiday. In some households, it is traditional to invite a number of guests to share in the holiday meal.

Geographical Spread

Rosh Hashana is celebrated throughout Israel. The holiday is a major holiday in Ashkenazi (European Jewish) communities, and has become increasingly popular in Sephardic (Middle Eastern Jewish) communities in recent years.

The holiday is usually celebrated for two days in Israel, but some communities may choose to extend the holiday to three days. In some communities in the Galilee region, the celebrations for Rosh Hashana will begin on the first day of the month of Tishrei, which is the month of the Jewish New Year.

The celebrations in Israel vary from region to region. For example, in Jerusalem, a special gathering is held at the Western Wall on the first day of the Jewish New Year. In other communities, a special ceremony is held to blow the shofar, which is a ram’s horn that is blown to mark the beginning of the holiday.

Modern Day Observations

Rosh Hashana is celebrated in modern times with many of the same traditions and observances that have always been part of the holiday. Special prayers are recited, special meals are eaten, and family and friends gather to celebrate the day.

In Israel, the modern observance of the holiday includes both traditional and contemporary elements. For example, many people gather for the traditional shofar ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, but in homes and synagogues, contemporary music is often played as well as the traditional melodies.

In addition, many communities take the opportunity to perform special acts of charity during the holiday, to honor the tradition of caring for others. This includes providing meals for the needy, collecting items for the poor, and giving to charitable organizations.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Rosh Hashana translates to ‘head of the year’, a reference to the beginning of the year according to the Jewish calendar.

• The shofar, or ram’s horn is traditionally used to sound a call to repentance on Rosh Hashana.

• The holiday meal traditionally includes apples and honey to symbolize hope for a sweet new year.

• On the second night of the holiday, it is traditional to eat a symbolic piece of fish. This is to symbolize the idea of continuing life despite adversity.

• Rosh Hashana is celebrated for two days in Israel, but in some communities, the celebrations may extend into three days.

• A popular custom on Rosh Hashana is the practice of ‘tashlich’, or spiritual cleansing, which is done by throwing bread or small stones into a running stream or river.

• On the second night of the holiday, it is traditional to recite the ‘Kedushat Levi’, or ‘Sanctification of the Levites’ prayer.

• On the first night of Rosh Hashana, it is traditional to eat a pomegranate, which symbolizes the abundance of the coming year.

• The traditional greeting for the holiday is ‘L’shanah tovah’, which means ‘for a good year’.

Holiday Wishes

• Wishing you a sweet and happy new year!
• May the new year be filled with joy and blessings.
• May joy, love, and peace fill your home this new year.
• Wishing you a year full of happiness and success.
• May the coming year be full of joy, blessing, and prosperity.

Holiday Messages

• Wishing you a year full of peace, joy, and prosperity.
• May you be blessed with health and happiness this new year.
• Wishing you a renewed sense of motivation and success this Rosh Hashana.
• May the coming year bring you moments of joy, love, and peace.
• May the New Year be a time of growth and fulfillment.

Holiday Quotes

• “On Rosh Hashana it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed – who shall live, who shall die, who shall be impoverished, who shall be enriched, who shall be degraded, who shall be exalted.” –Rabbi Moses Alshech

• “The blast of the shofar is a call to repentance, to wake up from the slumber of self-satisfaction and to begin the work of restoration.” –Rabbi David Jaffe

• “Rosh Hashana celebrates the coronation of the Creator as King of the Universe, and it is this recognition that creates the awareness of G-dliness in the world.” –Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

• “Rosh Hashana is the time of judgment, but if someone is careful to do mitzvot, the judgment will be transformed into mercy.” –Maimonides

• “A mountain is made of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching.” –Rabindranath Tagore

Other Popular Holiday Info

Rosh Hashana is often the time of year when people come together to renew relationships and start anew. It is seen as a time of renewal and reflection, and an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves and one another.

During Rosh Hashana, it is traditional to prepare special meals and distribute charity to the less fortunate. It is also traditional in some communities to wear new clothing, visit the graves of family members, give tzedakah (charity) and recite the prayers of repentance known as the ‘Slichot’.

In Israel, Rosh Hashana is an important holiday that is celebrated not just by religious Jews, but by many secular Jews as well. It is a time of unity and connection, and a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Jewish people.