Rosh Hashanah marks the “Jewish New Year,” a holiday that stretches over two days in the month of September and sometimes October. This year the new year spans between the evening of Mon, Sept. 22 to Wed, Sept. 24.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) recognizes the initial day of Rosh Hashanah as a Religious Observance Day, which gives students the day off. This allows those who celebrate the holiday time to participate in its traditions and festivities with family. For those who are not celebrating the holiday, it offers students the opportunity to educate themselves about the Jewish culture and religious traditions. Additionally, it gives time to students to catch up on any missing work and better their grades.
It is regarded as a new year because it marks the start of the Jewish High Holy Days. This holiday has been around for over 1000 years, and has been celebrated dating all the way back to 200 C.E., as reported in first written history of Jewish oral tradition, the “Mishnah.” This suggests that the celebration of the holiday could have existed long before it was documented in writing.
Rosh Hashanah translates to “Head of the Year.” It gives people time to consider how they have fallen short of their duties and how to improve themselves as a person. The reflection aspect of the holiday is best represented by its iconic tradition of Taschlich [casting off in Hebrew] which is the process of people symbolically ridding themselves of their sins by throwing small chunks of bread into a running body of wat
er.
Aside from the major events of the religious day people also enjoy some sweet treats with the coming of the holiday as well! A common sweet are apples dipped in honey which symbolizes the hope for a sweet year to come, as well as Challah bread that is baked in a round loaf that can be dipped in the honey too! As for the most recognizable part of the religious day, those attending synagogue to watch the blowing of the shofar. A shofar is the horn of a goat, and is blown as a call of repentance. During the holiday, it is blown both days in the morning to signal a
time to reflect.
Rosh Hashanah also marks the beginning of the “Ten Days of Awe,” a period of reflection leading up to Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement.” Within these ten days, people are encouraged to seek forgiveness for sins, mend fences, and plan for the year ahead. Families often sit down together for festive meals with foods that hold symbolic meanings. Pomegranates with many seeds represent the desire for abundance and blessings, and round cuts of carrots as a prosperity sign.
In the end, Rosh Hashanah is less of a calendar date; it is a great reminder to pause and reflect on what one has done, and an opportunity to look forward in hope. It’s an amazing time to reconnect with faith, with family and those who value that shape a meaningful life- forgiveness, personal growth and gratitude. For those people who celebrate, it provides a positive beginning to the new year, and one that FCPS respects.
