Rosh Hashana in United States of America

When did the Rosh Hashana in United States of America start?

The first recorded date of Rosh Hashana in United States of America being celebrated on September 23 was in the year 1790.

About Rosh Hashana in United States of America Holiday

Welcome to the United States of America for Rosh Hashana! This special celebration marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and one of the most significant holidays in the Jewish calendar.

This delightful holiday is celebrated with the familiar sound of the shofar, a ram's horn blown in the synagogue, and many symbolic foods such as apples and honey to represent a sweet New Year. The two-day holiday is a time of joy, reflection and prayer, with an emphasis on finding a better way to ask forgiveness and reconnect with friends and family.

Due to Covid-19, some traditional activities and celebrations may look different this year. Nevertheless, this joyous occasion can be still celebrated with meaningful traditions — physically-distanced gatherings and virtual tributes — that will make your celebration meaningful and unique.

We hope you will enjoy Rosh Hashana here in the United States of America. Wishing you and your family a Happy and Healthy New Year!

History and Origin of Rosh Hashana in United States of America

Rosh Hashana, which literally translates to ‘Head of the Year’, marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year – an important holiday for the Jewish faith. It is celebrated on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei, with the exact dates of the holiday being determined by the Hebrew calendar. While the exact origins of the holiday are uncertain, it is believed that it was first celebrated in the ancient kingdom of Judah during the First Temple period.

At the time, it was a harvest festival which marked the end of the agricultural year. It was celebrated with extensive offerings, bringing peace and prosperity to the kingdom. Rituals such as the blowing of the shofar (a ceremonial horn) were also performed, as they were believed to ward off evil spirits. The holiday was also known as ‘Yom Teruah’ (Day of the Sounding), in reference to the blowing of the shofar.

The holiday was observed as both a celebration and a day of remembrance, with Jews reflecting on their past year. They used it as an opportunity to reflect on their actions and make resolutions for the year ahead. The celebration rapidly gained popularity, and by the time of the Second Temple period, it had become a widely celebrated festival of the Jewish religion.

Significance and Meaning

Rosh Hashana is considered to be a very important and solemn holiday in the Jewish faith. It is a time of reflection, repentance and renewal, as Jews take a moment to reflect on the past year and make changes for the future. The two days focus on different meanings: the first day is spent reflecting on the past year, and the second day is a day of celebration, looking forward to the new year with hope.

The holiday also acts as a reminder of God’s authority over creation, and the importance of His commandments in leading a meaningful and fulfilling life. The traditional greeting for the holiday is “L’Shana Tovah”, which translates to “to a good new year”, reflecting the hope and optimism felt during this period.

Traditions and Celebrations

Due to its religious importance, there are a number of traditional observances associated with Rosh Hashana.

The first day of the holiday is marked by prayer, with worshippers reciting the Selichot – a series of prayers for forgiveness. The evening of the first day marks the beginning of the holiday feast, which usually involves eating a selection of symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey, fish and carrots.

The blowing of the shofar is also a well-known tradition of Rosh Hashana, with many Jews gathering together to blow the horn. This is believed to symbolize the ushering in of the New Year, and to represent repentance and the ultimate triumph of righteousness.

The holiday also involves the giving of charity, as a way of symbolizing repentance and thanksgiving. On the first day of the celebration, it is customary to visit the graveside of loved ones and pay respects. On the second day, Jews traditionally set aside time for the peace-making process, or ‘Shalom Zachar’, in which members of the family reconcile any disputes or misunderstandings.

Geographical Spread

Rosh Hashana is celebrated in many parts of the world, but is particularly prominent in the United States of America. The holiday is particularly popular among Ashkenazi Jews, who make up the majority of Jews in the United States.

In the United States, the celebration normally takes place at the beginning of September or October, depending on the Hebrew calendar. Jewish temples and synagogues often host large services, and many families host private celebrations in their homes.

In the South and Midwest United States, potatoes may be served as a side dish, a popular traditional menu item. Some families also incorporate a ‘tashlich’ service, a ritual which involves going to a body of running water such as a lake, river or stream.

In the Upper Midwest, particularly in Minnesota and cities with a large Russian Jewish population, such as New York, a ‘niggun’ is often performed at the service. A niggun is a musical piece composed on the spot, often in a meditative, trance-like manner. It is intended to bring joy and clarity to the worshipper.

Modern Day Observations

In modern times, Rosh Hashana is still seen as an occasion of joy and reflection. In the United States, there has also been an increased focus on special programming and initiatives for young people. For example, many synagogues now host inclusive services, such as those for LGBTQ+ members, which bring together different parts of the community in a spirit of celebration and shared understanding.

At the same time, there has also been a growth in contemporary observance of the holiday, such as the rise of holiday movies, podcasts and activities. Many people also embrace the practice of sending Rosh Hashana cards to their friends and family, as a way of expressing their good wishes for the year ahead.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

-Rosh Hashana is seen as a day of judgement for the Jewish faith, with a symbolic ‘book of life’ said to be written on that day.

-The length of the celebration is dictated by the Hebrew calendar. If the holiday falls on Tuesday and Thursday, for instance, it will be celebrated for three days.

-The traditional greeting for Rosh Hashana, “L’Shana Tovah”, means “for a good new year”.

-The blowing of the shofar is believed to symbolize repentance and the triumph of righteousness.

-The holiday meal is believed to represent a sequence of blessings which denote joy and peace for the coming year.

-It has become more common to observe Rosh Hashana through the use of technology and the internet, with musical numbers, animated greeting cards and online services on the rise.

-Rosh Hashana is believed to represent a new start in the Jewish faith, and is seen as an opportunity to forgive and seek forgiveness.

-The number of days of the holiday can vary, depending on the Hebrew calendar.

-Rosh Hashana is celebrated in many countries around the world, including the United States, Israel, Russia, France and the United Kingdom.

-The holiday is closely connected to the Jewish High Holidays, which also mark the beginning of the religious New Year.

Holiday Wishes

1. Wishing you a sweet new year full of happiness and joy.
2. Wishing you a healthy and prosperous new year.
3. May peace and blessings be with you throughout the new year.
4. Wishing you a new year of love and light.
5. May your new year be filled with blessings.

Holiday Messages

1. May this new year bring you many blessings and joy.
2. Warm wishes for the new year and good luck for the coming one.
3. May you be blessed with love, joy, and peace this new year.
4. Here’s to a joyous and prosperous new year.
5. Wishing you and your family a blessed new year.

Holiday Quotes

1. “A new year is like a blank book. The pen is in your hands. It is your chance to write a beautiful story for yourself.” – Unknown
2. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
3. “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
4. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
5. “A good start to a new year is to forget our mistakes of the past.” – Unknown

Other Popular Holiday Info

The High Holidays are an important time in the Jewish calendar, and Rosh Hashana is one of the most widely celebrated of these holidays. Reflection and celebration come hand in hand at this time, with many Jews taking part in the traditional rituals of the holiday.

The festivities are often accompanied by a traditional feast, and many people in the United States also incorporate additional activities such as charity events and gift-giving into their observance. Celebrations in other countries often feature different activities and observances, but all are unified in their reverence of this important holiday.

Rosh Hashana has become a significant holiday in the United States, and is a time for family and friends to come together in well-wishes and hope for a better year. By incorporating modern-day observances, the holiday has been able to remain relevant and meaningful to a new generation of worshippers. Its significance is eternal, and as long as there is hope, its celebration will continue.