A Rosh Hashanah Guide for the Perplexed — 2024

The evening of October 2, 2024, will launch the Jewish New Year of 5784. Rosh Hashanah underscores the fallibility of human beings, and the potential of universal self-enhancement through the commemoration of critical precepts of Judaism:

1. Self-examination. Rosh Hashanah initiates a wake-up call of 10 days of self-examination and repentance, which are concluded on Yom Kippur (the Day of Repentance). The holiday teaches us that we should never underestimate the capabilities to enhance our fortunes, when guided by morality-driven tenacity, determination, humility, and faith.

The root of the Hebrew word Shanah (שנה) is both “repeat” and “change.”

Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) constitutes an annual reminder of the need to enhance one’s behavior through systematic self-examination, re-studying moral values, and avoiding past errors.

The New Jewish Year is the only Jewish holiday that is celebrated upon the (monthly) appearance of a new moon — signaling our emergence out of the darkness.

2. Genesis. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the sixth day of Creation, when the first human-being, Adam, was created.

Adam is the Hebrew word for a human-being (אדמ), which is the root of the Hebrew word for “soil” (אדמה) — a metaphor for humility. The Hebrew word for Adam is, also, an acronym of Abraham, David, and Moses, who were role models of humility.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishrei — “the month of the Strong Ones” (Book of Kings A, 8:2) — when the three Jewish Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and the Prophet Samuel were born.

Tishrei means beginning/”genesis” in ancient Acadian.

The Hebrew letters of Tishrei (תשרי) are included in the spelling of Genesis (בראשית). Furthermore, the Hebrew spelling of Genesis (בראשית) includes the first two letters in the Hebrew alphabet (אב), a middle letter (י) and the last three letters (רשת) — representing the totality of the Creation.

3. Responsibility. The late Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, the iconic Talmudic scholar, compared the calendar year to a human body, consisting of the head/brain (the epicenter of the thought process), the heart (the intersection of blood supply), and the liver (the crux of the digestion process).

Thus, on Rosh Hashanah (the head/brain of the year), one contemplates the vision, strategy, tactics, and norms/values of the coming year. The rest of the year facilitates the implementation of this vision.

4. The Shofar. Rosh Hashanah is announced and celebrated by the blowing of the (bent, thus humble) shofar, the horn of the humble and determined non-predator ram. The roots of blowing the Shofar are in the book of Leviticus 23:23-25 and the book of Numbers 29:1-6: “a day of blowing the shofar” and “the day of commemorating the blowing of the shofar.”

The Hebrew spelling for Shofar שופר)) is a derivative of the verb to enhance and improve שפר)), enticing people to persist in the eternal voyage of improved behavior.

The sound of the Shofar was used to alert people to physical challenges (e.g., facing military challenges). On Rosh Hashanah, the Shofar alarms people to spiritual challenges and enhancement. It serves as a wake-up call for the necessity of cleansing one’s behavior.

5. Commemoration. The 100 blows of the Shofar commemorate:

The creation of Adam, the first human-being; The almost-sacrifice of Isaac, which was prevented by a ram and an angel; The receipt of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai; The tumbling of the walls of Jericho upon re-entering the Land of Israel, which was facilitated by the blowing of the Shofar; Judge Gideon’s war against the Midianites featured the blowing of the Shofar; The reaffirmation of faith in God, the Creator (“In God We Trust”); and The path of our despondency (the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem and the resulting exiles) to fulfilled optimism (the ingathering to the Land of Israel);

The 100 blows of the Shofar are divided into three series, honoring the three Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), the three parts of the Old Testament (the Torah, Prophets, Writings) and the three types of human beings (pious, mediocre, and evil).

6. Pomegranate. On Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to eat seeds of a pomegranate, which is one of the seven Biblical species of the Land of Israel (wheat, barley, grapes, dates, figs, olives, pomegranates).

This fruit representing health, righteousness, fruitfulness, fertility, learning, and wisdom.

7. Honey. Rosh Hashanah meals include honey, for sweetening the coming year. The bee is the only insect that produces this essential food. It is a community-oriented, constructive, and diligent creature.

The Hebrew spelling of bee (דבורה) is identical to “the word of God” (דבור-ה’), and Deborah דבורה)) who was one of the seven Jewish prophetesses, as well as a military leader.

May this be a year of victory and liberation of the Gaza hostages.

The author is a commentator and former Israeli ambassador.