Rosh Hashanah literally translates to "head of the year" which is why our Hebrew calendar year changes on the holiday and the holiday is the Jewish New Year.
Rosh Hashanah is one of the seven holiday feasts, known as the "appointed times" - moedim” מועדים. They are all days of rest, Sabbaths, beginning with Passover. They are times to remember and reflect on when God revealed Himself. They can also evoke feelings from sadness to joy and a sense of obligation, of awe and even fear. Collectively they represent the story of the Jewish people that has been told repeatedly for thousands of years.
Here is a list of all seven appointed times.
Spring Moedim:
- Passover – Pesach - 1 Nisan
- Feast of Unleavened Bread – Hag HaMatzot
- First Fruits – Yom Habikkurim
- Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) – Shavuot
Fall Moedim:
- Feast of Trumpets – Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah) - 1-2 Tishrei
- Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur - 10 Tishrei
- Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot 15-21 Tishrei 7+1 Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Another name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom Teruah. Yom is Hebrew for "day." The word Teruah תְּרוּעָה comes from the root Ruah ר.ו.ע meaning is to shout in alarm or joy. TERUAH is one of the "blasts" of the shofar composed of a series of nine staccato blasts that is called out to be blown on the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.
Volumes have been written about the reasons for and meaning of Rosh Hashanah. There are beliefs, traditions and customs associated to each of the holidays. In this blog post I focus on the basis for the Jewish holiday in the Tenach.
On Rosh Hashanah, we Jews read (hear) the verses in Genesis 21 and 22 concerning the binding of Isaac. Chapter 21 is read on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and Genesis 22 is read on the second day. Below are some verses from these two chapters in Genesis:
Genesis 21:5-7 TLV
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac his son was born to him. So Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me! Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham, ‘Sarah has nursed children’? For I have given birth to a son in his old age!”
No one could have imagined that Sarah could give birth to a son. Isaac means "one who laughs." As the old Yiddish expression says, "Der mentsh trakht un got lakht." (Man plans and God laughs.).
God provided a son to Abraham thus fulfilling one of God's promise to Abraham.
Genesis 21:18
ק֚וּמִי שְׂאִ֣י אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר וְהַֽחֲזִ֥יקִי אֶת־יָדֵ֖ךְ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ
"Rise, pick up the lad and grasp your hand upon him, for I shall make him into a great nation."
God kept his promise to Abraham! From his seed, Isaac, came Jacob, who would become Israel.
Genesis 22.13
וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ וְהִנֵּה־אַ֔יִל אַחַ֕ר נֶֽאֱחַ֥ז בַּסְּבַ֖ךְ בְּקַרְנָ֑יו וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אַבְרָהָם֙ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־הָאַ֔יִל וַיַּֽעֲלֵ֥הוּ לְעֹלָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת בְּנֽוֹ
"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw, and lo! there was a ram, [and] after [that] it was caught in a tree by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son."
You could say that Abraham's son Isaac was saved by a ram rather than the lamb that Abraham told Isaac God would provide. Nonetheless, God provided a ram!
Genesis 22:14
דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ
"And Abraham named that place, The Lord will see (provide), as it is said to this day: On the mountain, the Lord will be seen."
IT IS SAID, ADONAI YIREH -- God will provide!
Isaac was spared by a ram and shofarot are made from ram's horns. Though there is nothing specifically about blowing a shofar and celebrating the New Year in those verses, we see the connection in later verses of the Torah.
Leviticus 23.24
דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ:
"Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first of the month, it shall be a Sabbath for you, a remembrance of the shofar blast a holy occasion."
We are remembering the events described in Genesis when God sent a 🐏 ram to spare Isaac. Take note of the authority of God -- the Head, the Resh! Also, notice the parallel to the "Head of the year" - Rosh Hashanah.
Numbers 29.1
וּבַחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ מִקְרָא־קֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ י֥וֹם תְּרוּעָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם:
"And in the seventh month, on the first day, there shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall not perform any mundane work. It shall be a day of shofar sounding for you."
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| Ancient Hebrew letter Resh and number 200. |
Ancient Israel would announce the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) and call people together with the blast of ram's horn, the shofar.
On Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah, the shofar is sounded, Tekiah, the call to wake up - be alert for God is about to judge the world. After the Shofar call of Tekiah to wake up, is the call of Shevarim, which sounds like a loud cry. Shevarim literally means “breaks” or “fractures." We are all broken. We all need repentance.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated at the start of the 7th month as the Jewish New Year from a civic (government) standpoint, to number our years, this being that start of the year 5784. On the other hand, the first calendar month is Nisan when we celebrate Pesach (Passover) and the birth of the Jewish Nation. The Torah calls it chodesh ha-aviv—the month of spring, as it marks the beginning of the spring months.
Exodus 12:1-2
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר: הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה
The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year.
Counting 7 months from Nisan brings us to the month of TISHREI -- THE HEAD (RESH) OF THE YEAR.
In other words, the Jewish people start the year in the 7th month which is a different month than when we start the first month on our calendar. But that is how we get to the month of Tishrei as the "seventh month" and the "head of the year."
READINGS FROM THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
Over the course of the 2 day holiday of Rosh Hashanah, in addition to remembering the binding of Isaac and fulfilling the command to blast the shofar we read certain words of the Hebrew Prophet's.
DAY 1: On The first day we read from the Book of 1 Samuel: 1.1-2.10. Below are some verses from this section:
"It came to pass, as she prayed long before ADONAI, that Eli was watching her mouth. Now Hannah was praying in her heart—only her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!” But in response Hannah said, “No, my lord, I am a woman with an oppressed spirit! I haven’t been drinking wine or beer. Instead I’ve been pouring out my soul before ADONAI. Don’t consider your handmaid a wicked woman. For out of my great anguish and grief I’ve been praying until now.” Then Eli responded, “Go in shalom, and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you asked of Him.” “May your maidservant find favor in your eyes,” she said. So the woman went her way; she ate, and her countenance was no longer dejected."
DAY 2: On the second day of Rosh Hashanah we read from the book of Jeremiah, specifically chapter 31.2-20. Below are some verses from this section:
Jeremiah 31:1-6 TLV
“At that time,” declares ADONAI, “I will be God to all families of Israel, and they will be My people.” Thus says ADONAI: “The people surviving the sword found grace in the wilderness— where I gave Israel rest.” From afar ADONAI appeared to me. “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Again I will build you, so you will be rebuilt, virgin Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines as ornaments, and go out to dances of merrymakers. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria— planters will plant and use them. For there will be a day when watchmen will call out in the hill country of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to ADONAI our God.’”
The prophets words were fulfilled. Jerusalem and Israel were rebuilt.
HOW WE BLOW THE SHOFAR ON YOM TERUAH
If I am not mistaken, there is nothing specific in the Torah on how to blow the Shofar for Rosh Hashanah, however, the rabbis do offer an explanation of the ritual as I have experienced it.
There are four distinct Shofar sounds called out during the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah. Tekiah is the first Shofar call on Rosh Hashanah. It is a "wake up call." The second call Shevarim means "broken." It reminds us we are all broken. The next call, Teruah would create fear of death in the hearts of ancient Israelites. It was a call to battle. One better be ready to face death. It is a reminder of the need for repentance. The last Shofar call is Tekiah Gedolah (big/great/awesome) - It is the last Great Wake Up Call.
TEKIAH, WAKE UP BEFORE THE FINAL GEDOLAH WAKE UP CALL.
It is interesting that this holiday is named after the third blast we call, Yom Teruah. The call for battle. It is a reminder that in any day or year we could face death. We need to make our selves ready through repentance. To be washed.
In conclusion, I hope this information is edifying for you. I also wish my family, friends and readers a טוֹבָה שָׁנָה Shaná Tová, literally “good year” - a sweet year. Dip your apple in the honey because "every wrong can be made right."
It has always been popular to listen to songs around most of the holidays, Jewish and otherwise. Pop songs get us in the mood and teach us the meaning and spirit of holiday in a fun and memorable way. Here are two songs for Rosh Hashanah from a popular Jewish acapella group.
Below is another song by The Fountainheads.
In this song, "Can't Hold Us" there is the verse "No matter what kind of Jew you are we say Shana Tova!"
In this song the band of Jewish brothers is depicting the ceremony of Tashlich, the casting off of sins which is performed after Rosh Hashanah and before Yom Kippur. On a personal note, a number of years ago, while I was the president of my temple, during my own performance of Tashlich, I cast off fear and started to use my Hebrew middle name Jonah.
The song says "start thinking over" about repentance as we head to "The Day of Atonement." It is important to always be reading and hearing the Word.
Sin "can't hold us." So cast off our sins and dip our 🍎 in the 🍯. Shana Tova!
