Rosh Hashanah literally translates to head of the year. Just like the head being part of the whole body, Rosh Hashanah celebrates the whole year — not just the beginning.
“In the Jewish calendar, it’s one of the most important holidays,” said Shmulik Greenberg, rabbi of the Chabad Jewish Center in Clark County.
When people attend synagogue for the holiday, they pray for the entire year. Traditional services also include blowing the shofar, a ram’s horn.
Rosh Hashanah began Wednesday evening and goes through Friday evening. It precedes Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, that starts on the evening of Sept. 29. Together, they’re known as the High Holidays.
“Every year, we celebrate the day when God created Adam and Eve,” Greenberg said.
Rosh Hashanah, he said, basically celebrates human beings coming into existence and making the world a better place.
Challah, an egg-y, braided type of bread loaf, is typically made during Jewish holidays. For Rosh Hashanah, round challah is made to represent the yearly cycle and the continuity of things that truly matter.
The cinnamon and sugar rolled into the bread represents hopes for a year filled with all things sweet.
“It’s the circle of life. It’s the circle of the year,” said Greenberg, who made challah with his wife, Tzivie, in their Orchards home on Wednesday.
Being part of a Jewish home doesn’t just mean going to synagogue, he said; it also means living Jewish and eating Jewish foods. Children grow up associating Rosh Hashanah with round challah bread.
“Food in Jewish tradition is very important for that reason,” Greenberg said.
If you know someone celebrating Rosh Hashanah, you might wish them Shanah Tovah, which means in Hebrew “a good year,” or Shanah Tovah U’metukah, which wishes people a good and sweet year.
