The month of Tishrei (around September and/or October) is the busiest time of the year for Jewish holidays. In the month of Tishrei, there are a total of 12 days of Yom Tov, 7 of them Yomim Tovim on which Melacha (work) is not permitted.

These Yomim Tovim include the days known as the "Yomim Noraim," (High Holy days), the most important holidays of the Jewish year: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.  Four days after Yom Kippur comes the Yom Tov of Sukkot.

SELICHOT

In preparation for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we recite special Selichot prayers. Selichot means forgivness. The Selichot prayers emphasize and arouse G-d's trait of mercy, benevolence and forgivness. At the same time, the prayers encourage us to reflect on our deeds and resolve to improve them.

The Sephardic custom is to say Selichot throughout the entire month of Elul until Yom Kippur, to commemorate the 40 days that Moshe spent on Har (Mount) Sinai to receive the second Luchot (Tablets of the Law).

Ashkenazic communities begin reciting Selichot before Rosh Hashana. According to Rabbi Eliezer (Talmud, Tractate Rosh Hashana 8a), Adam and Eve were created on Friday, the sixth day of Creation, which was Rosh Hashana. That means that Creation began on Sunday, the 25th day of Elul. Therefore, the Jews of Barcelona adopted the custom of beginning the recitation of Selichot on that day.

The Rabbis also wanted to allow at least four days of Selichot before Rosh Hashana, alluding to the four days that an animal must be checked for blemishes before it is used as an offering. The concept is that we should analyze ourselves before we "present" ourselves before Hashem on Rosh Hashana. Consequently, when Rosh Hashana falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the recital of Selichot must begin sooner - and it is moved up a week, to the previous Motzei Shabbat.

According to Ashkenazic custom, this year, (2024), Selichot will begin September 28, Motzei Shabbat at midnight.

ROSH
HASHANA

Rosh Hashana, is observed on the first and second day of the month of Tishrei. This year (2024), Rosh Hashana will begin sundown Wednesday, October 2, ushering in the New Year 5785. Rosh Hashana is Thursday and Friday, October 3 and 4.

Rosh Hashana means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year (5785). There is, however, very little similarity between Rosh Hashana, one of the holiest days of the year, and the secular December 31st midnight drinking bash and daytime football game.

The only similarity between the Jewish New Year and the secular one is: Many people use the New Year as a time to make "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to be made in the new year.

The Torah refers to Rosh Hashana as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (a day of shofar blowing). The name "Rosh Hashana" is not found in the Torah's discussion of this Yom Tov.

Rosh Hashana is celebrated for two days, not only in Chutz La-Aretz (outside of Israel), but also in Eretz Yisroel. The celebration of this Yom Tov is marked with solemnity, as it is on Rosh Hashana the whole world is judged for the coming year.

Rosh Hashana begins a 10 day period, known as Aseret Ymay Tshuva, (Ten Days of Repentance) or Yomim Nora'im (High Holy days). These ten days that end with Yom Kippur, are a time for Tshuva (repentance), Tefilla (prayer) and Tzedaka (charity). Jews have these 10 days to consider the sins of the last year and repent and ask Hashem and our fellow man for forgiveness before Yom Kippur. More about this later.

A great deal of time is spent in the synagogue on Yomim Nora'im, praying to Hashem that our sins be forgiven and that we be inscribed in the "Book" of Life.

For an inspiring story about one of the most stirring prayers of the entire Yomim Noraim, - The Unesaneh Tokef  CLICK HERE.

MELACHA
(WORK)
ON ROSH
HASHANA

NOTE: THIS APPLIES TO THIS YEAR - ROSH HASHANA 2024:

When Rosh Hashana falls on Thursday and Friday, in order to be able to cook on Friday for Shabbat, an Eruv Tavshilin is made.
It is usually forbidden to prepare food on Yom Tov for another day, even f3or the Shabbat. However, if someone began preparing food for Shabbat before Yom Tov, (on Wednesday), it is permitted to continue on Friday (even though it is Yom Tov). This is known as 'Eruv Tavshilin,' literally, 'mingling of cooked foods,' since these foods become part of the Shabbat food, whose preparation has already begun BEFORE the Yom Tov started, and may therefore be continued on Friday.

Some food (a matzah and a cooked food, such as an egg, fish or meat) is prepared on the afternoon before Yom Tov (Wednesday), and set aside to be eaten on Shabbat. When we set this food aside on Wednesday afternoon, we recite the following blessing:

"Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy with His mitzvot, and commanded us about the mitzvah of Eruv."

We now explain why we are making an Eruv, so we say the following paragraph. Someone who does not understand the text should recite it in English:

"With this Eruv, may we be allowed to bake, to cook, to fry, to insulate, to light a flame, to prepare for, and to do anything needed on Yom Tov for the sake of Shabbat [for ourselves and for all the Jews who live in this city]."

THE SHOFAR
(RAM'S HORN)

The shofar (ram's horn), is blown on Rosh Hashana. It sounds something like a trumpet. However, unlike a trumpet, the shofar has no mouthpiece. One of the most important Mitzvot of this Yom Tov is hearing the 100 sounds coming from the shofar in the synagogue each day of Rosh Hashana.

There are three different types of shofar sounds:
(To HEAR each sound, CLICK on the name of the sound).

• Tekiah, a 3 second sustained note;
• Shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone,
• Teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds;

It is very difficult to blow the shofar. A Ba'al tokay-ah, (Shofar blower) may spend many hours practicing before Rosh Hashana.

The Ba'al tokay-ah should be someone who is respected in the community, a person who is well liked and does good deeds. Another person stands next to the Ba'al tokay-ah, and calls out the order of the Tekiyot. You are supposed to stand during the Tekiyot, but more important, it is forbidden to talk from the time of the first Bracha (blessing) of the shofar until after the final shofar blasts at the end of Mussaf.

The Torah gives no specific reason why we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana. According to the great Jewish scholar, Rambam (Maimondies), we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana to say, "Wake up! Wake up, everyone who is asleep! Remember your Creator! Instead of going around doing things that are not important or worthwhile, take some time to think about what you can do to make yourself into a better person. Give up doing bad things!"

Rav Saadia Gaon gave many reasons for blowing the shofar, here are some:

1. Rosh Hashana is the birthday of the world.
2. The shofar reminds us of Akeidat Yitzchak, (the Binding of Isaac) where Abraham sacrificed a ram in the place of his son.
3. At Har (Mount) Sinai, when Hashem gave us the Torah, Bnei Yisroel heard the sound of a shofar. The shofar reminds us that Hashem gave us laws and rules to obey.
4. The shofar is the call of redemption. The shofar reminds us that Hashem will redeem the Jewish people.

The shofar is not blown if Rosh Hashana falls on a Shabbat.

SOME
MINHAGIM
(CUSTOMS)
OF
ROSH
HASHANA


Why Apples?

Before eating dates, we recite:
"May it be your will.....that our foes be consumed."

TASHLICH

Another popular Minhag of Rosh Hashana is Tashlich ("casting off"). It is performed after the Mincha prayers, on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashana, (unless Rosh Hashana falls on a Shabbat, then Tashlich is performed on the second day). We walk to a body of flowing water, preferably one containing live fish, say a special prayer, and symbolically empty our pockets into the river, casting off our sins.

The Tashlich service is a Minhag based on the verse from Micah (7:9) "and cast into the depths of the sea all their sins."

"MAY YOU
BE
INSCRIBED
AND SEALED
IN THE BOOK
OF LIFE
FOR A
GOOD YEAR"

TZOM
(THE FAST
OF) GEDALIA

This year, (2024), because the day after Rosh Hashana is Shabbat, Tzom (the fast of) Gedalia is observed on Sunday, October 6, the 4th day of Tishrei, (instead of the usual 3rd day of Tishrei).

Tzom Gedalia commemorates the assassination of Gedalia ben (son of) Achikam, the Jewish governor of Israel, a critical event after the destruction of the first Bait Hamikdash.

Tzom Gedalia lasts from dawn to nightfall, and one may eat breakfast if one arises before sunrise for the specific purpose of doing so.

SHABBAT SHUVA

It is customary for the Rabbi of the Congregation to give a sermon on this Shabbat which includes the basic laws of Yom Kippur and Sukkot, and devoted to the theme of Tshuva and hopefully awaken and inspire people to correct their ways with Tshuva.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!!