How to Have a Rosh Hashanah Seder at Home
Introduction
Traditionally, besides being the new year, Rosh Hashanah is also the day on which God’s judgment is set for the coming year. Besides the seriousness, it is customary to celebrate with a festive meal, alongside many blessings, all the while rejoicing and hoping that the coming year will be even better!
Netivyah is pleased to provide you with the blessings for the “Seder Rosh Hashanah” meal, so everyone can celebrate at home. We have added a few of our own blessings that our congregation has added over the years. Blessings for a happy, good, and blessed new year!
1. Candle lighting
Nearly every Jewish holiday begins with lighting candles before sunset. We usually light two candles, and then move our hands in three wide circles from the flames toward ourselves. This symbolizes drawing God's light inward, inviting it into our home and into our lives. Then we cover our eyes and say:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו (עַל־יְדֵי יֵשׁוּעַ מְשִׁיחֵנוּ) וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל (שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל) יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav (al yedei Yeshua Meshichenu) v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner (shel Shabbat ve) yom tov.
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments (Some add: “…and through Messiah Yeshua”), and commanded us to light (Shabbat and) festival candles.”
2. Kiddush
This year Rosh Hashanah starts on a Friday, therefore we start the meal with the “Kiddush,” as is traditional for each Friday evening. The root of the word Kiddush is “kadosh” (holy). With the Kiddush we sanctify the Shabbat, as,
“God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” – Genesis 1:31
If Rosh Hashanah falls on a Friday evening, add the following to the start of Kiddush (skip this part if Rosh Hashanah falls on a weekday):
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” – Genesis 1:31-2:4
Kiddush on a weekday (not Friday evening), begins here. If it’s a Friday evening, continue here:
(Raise a wine glass with wine or grape juice)
“Attention, Gentlemen!”
“Blessed are you God, our Lord, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”
(Answer: “Amen!”)
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and desired us. You gave us in love and goodwill this (holy Shabbat and this) Day of Remembrance, a sacred assembly with the sounding of the shofar, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt, for You chose us and made us holy, and Your word is true and endures forever.”
“Blessed are You God, who sanctifies (the Shabbat,) Israel and the Day of Remembrance.”
(Answer: “Amen!”)
3. “Shehecheyanu” blessing
The Shehecheyanu blessing thanks our Heavenly Father for sustaining us and giving us the life and strength to reach this special day. Shehecheyanu is a blessing we say on momentous occasions; so how much more suitable to recite it on Rosh Hashanah, as we look back on the whole year.
We made it! Through bitter and sweet moments, through loss and celebration and day-to-day life. We look back and thank our Creator for having reached this moment, and for being able to share it with our dear ones around this festive table.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’kiyemanu v’higi’anu lazman ha-zeh
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has given us life, and Who has allowed us to reach this day.”
4. Challah bread
Challah is the traditional, braided bread we serve on Friday evenings and many traditional holidays. We cover it in remembrance of the dew that laid on the manna bread that God provided us with while Israel wandered the desert for 40 years.
On Rosh Hashanah, the challah is round to symbolize the circle of life. It reminds us that each end entails a new beginning, emphasizing the fullness of life.
Some people eat raisin challah at Rosh Hashanah for added sweetness. However, as we usually sprinkle salt on our challah on a regular Shabbat meal, at Rosh Hashanah we dip it in honey to symbolize our wish for a sweet new year.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ ה ָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth the bread of the earth.”
5. “Simanim” blessings for a sweet year
On Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to eat certain fruits and vegetables that express our hopes and prayers for the new year. These foods and their blessings are merely symbols and reminders; they are not obligatory, and there is no requirement to eat every dish or recite a blessing over each one.
Over the years, our congregation has added dishes that symbolize our faith. For example, turnip, “kohlrabi” in Hebrew, literally means “every rabbi”, and we bless, “may every rabbi come to faith.”
Be sure to explore our post on the Rosh Hashanah Simanim below, and download the PDF with the blessings to use in your own Rosh HaShanah Seder at home!
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Yehuda Bachana
Netivyah Staff
Yehuda is the director of Netivyah and leader of ‘Roeh Israel.’ An IDF reservist and certified tour guide born into the original homegroup in 1979, he has served since 2002, teaching globally with deep scriptural passion. Lydia and Yehuda have three children.
Glossary
Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) means “Lord” and is commonly used in Jewish reading and prayer as a reverent way to refer to God.
Amen (אָמֵן) means “truly” or “let it be so” and is said as an affirmation of faith, agreement, and trust in God.
Challah (חַלָּה) is the braided bread traditionally eaten on Shabbat and festivals.
Kiddush (קִדּוּשׁ) means “sanctification” and refers to the blessing recited over wine or grape juice that sets apart Shabbat and biblical festivals as holy times before the Lord. Yeshua followed this tradition, when He lifted the cup before and after the Last Supper.
Manna (מָן) refers to the miraculous bread-like food God provided for Israel in the wilderness, teaching His people to depend on His daily provision.
Rabbi (רַבִּי) means “my teacher” and refers to a Jewish teacher or spiritual leader.
Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה) means “head of the year” and refers to the Jewish New Year, traditionally connected with the biblical Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, יוֹם תְּרוּעָה) and a season of repentance before God.
Seder (סֵדֶר) means “order” and most often refers to the structured Passover meal that retells Israel’s redemption from Egypt. Families may also do a seder of special foods and blessings for Rosh Hashanah.
Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) refers to the seventh day, the Sabbath, set apart by God as a holy day of rest, worship, and delight (see Genesis 2:1-3).
Shehecheyanu (שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ) means “Who has kept us alive” and refers to a traditional Jewish blessing thanking God for allowing us to reach a special moment, season, or celebration.
A shofar (שופר) is a ram's horn, blown on Rosh Hashanah and other important occasions.
Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning "salvation"
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