ראש השנה
rosh hashanah
rosh hashanah is the Hebrew name for the Jewish New Year.
ראש השנה refers to the Jewish New Year, which marks the beginning of the High Holy Days.
Meaning: Jewish holiday (name)
How do you pronounce it?
rosh hashanah
When do people say it?
As the Jewish New Year, ראש השנה marks the start of the High Holy Days. In formal settings, it is common to use the phrase כתיבה וחתימה טובה, which means 'May you be written and sealed for a good year.'
Did you know?
- In Hebrew, the word שנה (shanah) for 'year' is also the root for the verb 'to repeat' or 'to do again', mirroring the cyclical nature of the holiday itself.
- In Israel, the custom of sounding the shofar, a ram's horn, is an essential physical accompaniment to the verbal celebrations of rosh hashanah.
- The traditional food eaten during rosh hashanah includes apples dipped in honey to symbolize a 'sweet' new year.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their holiday plans.
- רוטם Rotemאתה כבר מוכן לראש השנה?Atah kvar muchan le-Rosh Hashanah?Are you already ready for Rosh Hashanah?
- נועם Noamעוד לא, אני צריך לקנות תפוחים.Od lo, ani tsarich liknot tapuchim.Not yet, I need to buy apples.
- רוטם Rotemאני מקווה שיהיה ראש השנה שקט.Ani mekava she-yihiye Rosh Hashanah shaket.I hope it will be a quiet Rosh Hashanah.
- נועם Noamאני גם מקווה כך, רוטם.Ani gam mekave kach, Rotem.I hope so too, Rotem.
