What Is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah, literally “Head of the Year” in Hebrew, is the beginning of the Civil year. It is also the first of the High Holidays or “Days of Awe,” ending ten days later with Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashanah begins with the sounding of the shofar, an instrument made of a ram’s horn, proclaiming God as King of both the heavens and the earth, just as a trumpet would be sounded at a king’s coronation. In the Torah it is described as Yom Teru’ah, a day of sounding or blowing (the Shofar). The blowing of the trumpet is also done when announcing the coming of the bridegroom to fetch his betrothed. Notice that this is taking place under the sign of the virgin or betulah. The sound of the shofar is also a call to repentance—to wake up and re-examine our commitment to God and to correct our ways. Thus begins the “Ten Days of Repentance,” which ends with Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement.” Followed by a time of celebration in our temporary dwelling places, tabernacles or  a sukkah.  The plural form is sukkot.