New Year

The New Year Festival is also known as Rosh Hashanah (which means “beginning of the year”). The instructions regarding this day can be found in Numbers 29:1-6.

The New Year falls on the first day of the month Tishrei (September/October). The Israelites were to blow the ram’s horn and bring a number of offerings. It was also forbidden to work on this day.

Nowadays, before and during the New Year Festival, several prayers are uttered, asking for forgiveness of wrongs that have been done in the past year.

In the synagogue, a ram’s horn (shofar) is blown 100 times (or 101 times, depending on local tradition), in groups of one, three and nine blasts.
 
Sweet things are eaten and drunk, such as apple with honey and sweet wine, as a symbol for a good and sweet new year.

If possible, Jewish people will also go to the sea or a river to shake out their pockets and clothes, symbolically shaking off their mistakes.

Ten days after the New Year Festival, Yom Kippur is celebrated. These days are also known as the “Days of Awe” or the “ten days of atonement”. During this time, people have the opportunity to right their wrongs and settle arguments.