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I: BEFORE ROSH HASHANA A: Preparations - On the physical side, it is customary to prepare physically for Rosh Hashana by buying a new suit or outfit for the holiday (especially among women) and taking a shave and a haircut. Many men get their tallitot (prayer shawls) cleaned at this time and have the custom of wearing a kittel, a special white robe, on this holiday. Wearing white shows our hope and confidence that our sins will be ‘whitened’ back to innocence again. On the spiritual categories: Teshuva (Repentance) We think back over the errors, transgressions and rebellions we committed this year and repent for them. Formal repentance involves articulating our sins (making a list can be helpful), regretting them and affirming verbally that we will not repeat them. For sins that had an impact upon other people, asking their forgiveness is required first. Tefilla (prayer) Even if you do not ordinarily pray that often during the year, this is a time when it is worthwhile to spend more time praying to Hashem, whether in synagogue (for daily prayers or for selichot, see below) or even in private. Tzedaka (charity) Giving tzedaka is encouraged at this time of year as an act of redemption. This is why many synagogues have Rosh Hashana, Kol Nidrei or Yom Kippur appeals. These three kinds of actions are said to “nullify the harshdecree,” or to be the most effective ways of asking Hashem for a good year. B: Selichot (penitential prayers) - Selichot are recited once each day (usually late at night or early in the morning) the week before Rosh Hashana. They involve the invocation of G-d’s 13 Attributes of Mercy. Selichot usually begin the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. Please see Jewishexperience.org for more details of our Selichot soulful singing program. Rosh Hashana: a Deeper Look Everything You Need to Know About the Jewish New Year! This brief digest of Rosh Hashana laws and customs is not meant to be complete, but will hopefully help you prepare for and enjoy this High Holiday season. For detailed or personal questions beyond the scope of this article, please contact one of the MJE Rabbis or educators.

Rosh Hashana: a Deeper Look - Manhattan Jewish … · I: BEFORE ROSH HASHANA A: Preparations - On the physical side, it is customary to prepare physically for Rosh Hashana by buying

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I:BEFOREROSHHASHANAA:Preparations-Onthephysicalside, it iscustomary to prepare physically for RoshHashana by buying a new suit or outfit forthe holiday (especially among women) andtakingashaveandahaircut.Manymengettheir tallitot (prayershawls)cleanedat thistimeandhavethecustomofwearingakittel,a special white robe, on this holiday.Wearing white shows our hope andconfidence that our sins will be ‘whitened’back to innocence again. On the spiritualcategories:Teshuva (Repentance) We think back over the errors, transgressions and rebellions we committed this year and repent for them. Formal repentance involves articulating our sins (making a list can be helpful), regretting them and affirming verbally that we will not repeat them. For sins that had an impact upon other people, asking their forgiveness is required first. Tefilla (prayer) Even if you do not ordinarily pray that often during the year, this is a time when it is worthwhile to spend more time praying to Hashem, whether in synagogue (for daily prayers or for selichot, see below) or even in private. Tzedaka (charity) Giving tzedaka is encouraged at this time of year as an act of redemption. This is why many

synagogues have Rosh Hashana, Kol Nidrei or Yom Kippur appeals. These three kinds of actions are said to “nullify the harshdecree,” or to be the most effective ways of asking Hashem for a good year. B:Selichot(penitentialprayers)-Selichotare recited once each day (usually late atnight or early in the morning) the weekbefore Rosh Hashana. They involve theinvocation of G-d’s 13 Attributes of Mercy.Selichot usually begin the Saturday nightbefore Rosh Hashanah. Please seeJewishexperience.orgformoredetailsofourSelichotsoulfulsingingprogram.

Rosh Hashana: a Deeper Look Everything You Need to Know About the Jewish New Year!

This brief digest of Rosh Hashana laws and customs is not meant to be complete, but will hopefully help you prepare for and enjoy this High Holiday season. For detailed or personal questions beyond the scope

of this article, please contact one of the MJE Rabbis or educators.

C: Shofar - During the month precedingRoshHashana(themonthofElul),theshofaris blown each weekdaymorning to remindus that the holiday is approaching. It is notblown on the day before Rosh Hashana inorder toseparatebetweentheshofarblastsonRoshHashanaandthoseofElul.D:HataratNedarim(ReleaseofVows)(p.762inArtscrollsiddur)-Itiscustomarytoconvenea Jewishcourt (betdin)on thedaybefore RoshHashana usually aftermorningservices or late in the afternoon) to releaseusfromanyunfulfilledvowswemighthavemade this year. This helps us go before theDivineCourtwith a “clean slate.” The courtcanbemadeupofany3Jewishmen,whosit,whilethepetitionerstandsbeforethemandasks for a pardon for any eligible offenses(owingmoney,forinstance,isnoteligible.)Ahusband, upon request, can ask for releasefor his wife’s vows. If it is not done beforeRoshHashana,onecanstilldo itduring the10DaysofRepentance.E:Mikva -It is customary formen to go tothemikva (a ritual pool) on the day beforeRosh Hashana and the day before YomKippur. This is done so that one can enterRoshHashanainahigherstateofpurityandisusuallydoneintheearlyafternoon.Thereareseveralmikvaot inManhattanthatopenespeciallyforthispurpose.Oneshouldbringhis own towel and should shower beforeentering the mikva. Customs includecompletely immersing once, three times orseventimes.AvailablemikvasinManhattaninclude:TheWestSideMikva236West74thStreet,NewYork,NY10023 |Tel:212-579-2011,VorhandMikvaon91ststreetbetweenWest End and Riverside, Chabad Mikva oneastside419East77thStreetNewYork,NY10075-8818- (212) 359-2020. Please callaheadtocheckhours.

II: ON ROSH HASHANA - LAWS ANDCUSTOMSA:RoshHashanaGreetings(CAM:p.90-91,ATM:p.141)Following the evening services on the firstnight of Rosh Hashana, it is customary togreet each individual person with thefollowingspecialformula:Formen:“l’shanatovatikateivv’teichateim”underlineshowsaccentFor women: “l’shana tova tikateiviv’teichateimi”underlineshowsaccentIt means: For a good year, may you bewrittenandinscribedOther greetings often heard during thisholidayseasonare:a)ketivavachatimatova(sometimessaidas:kesivavachasimatova)b) may you have a good “gebencht yor”(Yiddish)c) shana tova u’metuka – a good and sweetyear

Wheneverpagenumbersareprovidedthroughoutthisguide,theyreferto:CompleteArtscrollMachzor

(CAM)ArtscrollTransliteratedMachzor(ATM)–weusethisatMJE

andtheNCSYbencher–weusethisatMJE

B:RoshHashanaCandle-lighting(CAM:pp.18-19,ATM:pp.57-59)AndKiddush(CAM:pp.94-97,ATM:pp.146-149)The Rosh Hashana candle-lighting is thesame as the regular festival candle-lighting.It can be found on pp. 2-3 of the NCSYbencher. Unlike Shabbat, one should firstrecite the blessing, then light the candles.Singlemenwhoare financially independentanddonotliveathomeshouldlightcandlesas well. Women should recite the Sheh-hechiyanublessingatthistime.[Menreciteitduring kiddush; women respond amen atthattime.]

TheRoshHashanaKiddush issimilar to thefestivalKiddush. It canbe foundonpp. 18-21oftheNCSYbencher.(Thetopofp.20forSaturday nights is not said this year). Menrecite the Sheh’hechiyanu blessing at thistime.Itisalsocustomaryatthistimetoblessone’schildren(p.11inNCSYbencher)NOTE:Onemaycarryonyomtov(ifanitemisneeded for thatday)withoutaneruv.This isdifferentthanShabbat.NOTE: The laws of food preparation onfestival days are complex and differ fromShabbat in several ways. Under certainconditions, onemay transfer flame and cookfood on a festival day. Contact a rabbi forspecificguidance.

C: SimaneiMilta (Symbolic Foods) (CAM:pp.96-99,ATM:pp.150-151)It is customary to eat special foods on thefirstnightofRoshHashana:a) After kiddush and hand-washing, manyhavethecustomtousespecialroundchallarolls and to dip them in (or squeeze ontothem)somehoney.b)Afterthechalla,manyhavethecustomofdipping an apple in honey and saying thefollowingblessingbeforeeating:BaruchataAdonai Eloheinu Melech ha-Olam, borei p’riha-etz(ontheapple)After eating the apple and honey, one says:Yehi ratzon milfanecha, Adonai Eloheinuvei’lohei avoteinu, she’te’chadeish aleinushanatovau’metuka.May it be your will, O G-d, the G-d of ourforefathers, thatYou renewuponusagoodandsweetyear.c) Other foods eaten include carrots, leeks,beets dates and pomegranates. A specialstatement accompanies each food. TheHebrewnamesofotherfoodssymbolizethatwe should prevail over our enemies thisyear. Thiswould be akin to eatingbroccolias a symbolic prayer that terrorist groupsthreatening Israel should be broken thisyear, or eating raisins on celery, that weshouldhavearaise insalarythisyear.Also,someeattheheadofasheeporafish,sothatwemaybeat thehead this year andnot atthetail.(Seeattachedsheetforspecifics.)SECONDNIGHT:Itiscustomarytoeatanewfruit–oneyouhavenoteatenforayear–onthe second night of Rosh Hashanah. Theactualpointofthecustomistofindareasonto say the “sheh-hechiyanu”blessing, so anynewitemthatbringsjoytoyourfamily(likethatnewoutfit)willdo.(baruchataadonai,eloheinu melech ha-olam, she-hechiyanu,v’kiyimanu,v’higiyanulaz’manha-zeh)

D:RoshHashanaPrayerInsertionsThe Rosh Hashana prayers are similar toShabbatandholidayprayers,butare longerand include some special insertions. Herearetheveryverybasics,(pagesaregivenforthe Complete Artscroll Machzor (CAM) andArtscroll Transliterated Machzor (ATM),which we use at MJE) and – for prayersrepeatedmorethanonce–onlyonecitationis given, usually for the first occurrence orfirstdayofRoshHashana.i: Four insertions in the Amida – Before thefirst twoandlast twoblessingsofthesilentdevotion (amida), we insert short requeststoberememberedandwrittenforagoodlifethiscomingyear.Thesearerecitedquietlyinthe silent Amida and aloud by thecongregation (followed by the chazzan)during the repetition. Here are the firstappearances: CAM – p.62-63 (ATM: p.107)“Rememberus,”CAMp.64-65(ATM:p.108)“WhoislikeYou,” CAM p.72-73 (ATM: p.120) “And inscribe,” andCAMp.74-75(ATM:p.121),“Inthebookoflife.”

ii:ha-melechha-kadosh - Inaddition to this,theblessing“ha’eilha-kadosh”ischangedto“ha-melech ha-kadosh” from Rosh Hashanathrough YomKippur. See CAM p. 66-67, bottom,ATMp.112.Attheendofthekaddish,“osehHA-shalom” is said instead of Oseh Shalom. SeeCAMp.80atbottom,ATMp.134atbottom.

iii:AvinuMalkeinu–“ourfather,ourking”isfamous for the melody of its closing line.Ninelinesinthemiddle(from“hachazireinubi’teshuva”, top of CAM p.386-387, ATM p.432, 8linesup,until“selichau’mechila”)arerecitedresponsively.ThisprayerisrecitedfollowingtheAmidaineachservice.iv: Shir ha’ma’alot – Psalm 130 (“From thedepths,IcalledouttoYou”)isinsertedintheservice preceding barchu on Rosh Hashanaandallthe10daysofrepentance.SeeCAMp.264-265,ATMp.339

v:TorahReading-TheTorahreadingforthefirstdayisthestoryofSarahgivingbirthtoYitzchak (Isaac) in Genesis 21; Hashemdecided this on RoshHashana, see CAM p.402top, ATM p.450.Thesecondday reading is thebinding of Isaac, CAM p.402 bottom, ATM p.592,which resulted in the sacrifice of a ramtrapped by its very own horn.vi: Rosh Hashana Mussaf – in the mussafprayer,threespecialsectionsareaddedthatdefinetheessenceoftheRoshHashanaday:Ø Malchiyot–recognizing,affirmingG-das

ourking(CAMp.454,ATMp.646)Ø Zichronot-askingHashemtoremember

us thisyear for thegood (CAMp.458,ATMp.654)

Ø Shofarot-askingforHashem’spresenceandrevelationtoberestoredtous.(CAMp.462,ATMp.663)

Theshofarisblownattheconclusionofeachsection.vii: Special poems -- Certain special poeticprayersare inserted into theprayerserviceinhonoroftheday.Theseinclude:Ø U’netaneh Tokef – the stirring call to

repentance written byRabbi Amnon of Mainz onhis deathbed. CAM pp. 480,ATMp.687

Ø V’chol Ma’aminim – a rousing song inwhichwesaythattheJewsare and have always been“ma’aminim”, believers.CAMp.490,ATMp.698

Ø HayomT’amtzeinu – the jubilant finaleof the mussaf service, inwhich we ask Hashem toacceptourprayers.

CAMp.532,ATMp.758viii:BlessingoftheKohanim–ThisissaidintheDiasporabyAshkenazicJewsonlyonthefestivaldays.(CAMp.524,ATMp.747)ix:Psalm27 (L’david,HashemOri) isrecitedin the morning and night or each daythroughout the month of Elul and theholidayseason,includingSukkot.CAMp.86-87,ATMp.135

E:ShofarHearing the shofar is a Biblicalcommandment on the first day of RoshHashana. Themost important shofar blastsare blown immediately preceding mussaf(usually right after theRabbi’s sermon). SeeCAM pp. 432-439, ATM pp. 618-624. Thirtyindividual blasts are blown at this time.During the course of the service, 70 moreblasts are blown (30 during the repetitionand40at theendof the service) tomakeagrand total of 100 sounds.One shouldhearthe100shofarblasts(withoutinterruption)both days of Rosh Hashana. One who isunabletohearall100shouldmakesuretoatleasthearthefirst30.Theshofarmakesthreekindsofsounds:

Tekiah ___________(1)Shevarim _________(3)Teru’ah ---------(9)

Therearethreekindsofshofarseries:version1: ─── ───-------- ───version2: ─── ─── ───version3: ─── --------- ───This totals 10 blasts. When repeated threetimes,itequals30.F:TashlichandnotsleepingontheFirstDayFollowing services, kiddush is recitedandafestivemealiseaten.Somehavethecustomnottosleeponthefirstday,soasnottohaveafarshluffener(sleepy)year.The Tashlich service is performed in theafternoonatalocalbodyofwater.AspecialprivateprayerisrecitedinwhichweaskG-dtocastoursins“intothedepthsof thesea.”Some have the custom of throwing breadinto the water, but others are opposed tothispractice. Ifone isunable todoTashlichon the first day, itmay be done during the

Ten Days of Repentance. See CAM pp. 630-635,ATMpp.915-919.III:AFTERROSHHASHANA;THE10DAYSOFREPENTANCEIncluding Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur,there are ten days in the High Holidayseason. It is customary to be particularlycareful during these days and to be morescrupulousthanusualinkeepingkosherandShabbat, praying, giving tzedaka and beingkind to others. It is customary to askforgivenessfromothersduringthesedays.A:FastofGedalyaTheFast ofGedalya is usually theday afterRosh Hashana (3rd of Tishrei). ItcommemoratestheassassinationofGedalya(the leader of the Jewish community afterthe First Temple was destroyed) whichresulted in the remainderof the Jewsbeingexiled from Jerusalem. The fast goes fromdawnuntilsunset.B:ShabbatShuvaThe Shabbat in betweenRoshHashana andYom Kippur is known as Shabbat Shuva,“The Shabbat of Return.” It is customary inmanycommunitiesforRabbistogivespeciald’rashot (sermons) on these days to exhortpeople to go into Yom Kippur in the rightframeofmind.

PleasecallanyoftheMJErabbisoreducatorswithspecificquestionsor

concernsabouthowtocelebratetheRoshHashanaholiday.