Rosh Hashanah
More commonly known as Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first and second day of Tishri and signifies the creation of Adam and Eve. The Biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah or the day of the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is a ram’s horn which, when blown, sounds like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of the holiday is the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue, in which 100 notes are sounded each day. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah, as the synagogue is where the majority of the day is spent.
There are two popular customs which mark the holiday. The first, eating apples dipped in honey. This is a symbol of one’s wish for a sweet new year. The second custom takes place in the afternoon of the first day when individuals walk to flowing water, for example a creek or river. Here, they will empty their pockets , which are commonly filled with small pieces of bread, into the river. This symbolizes the casting off of sins.
