Jewish 101: Rosh Hashanah
What Is Rosh Hashanah?
In the Torah, the first day of the seventh month is called Yom Teruah, the day of blasting, in Leviticus and Numbers. It is a sacred day marked by the sounding of the shofar, or ram's horn, but no specific reason is given.
Over time, this day became known as Rosh Hashanah, the head of the year, and took on themes of judgment, remembrance, and spiritual renewal. By the early rabbinic period, Rosh Hashanah was established as the beginning of the civil year and the start of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of self-examination and repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Observing Rosh Hashanah
Today, Rosh Hashanah is observed with special synagogue prayers, the blowing of the shofar, and festive meals. One well-known custom is dipping apples in honey, expressing hope for a sweet new year. Other symbolic foods, known as simanim, are also served, each with its own traditional meaning.
The Shofar
The shofar is central to the day. It is typically made from a ram's horn, and it must be prepared and checked before proper use. In the Bible, the shofar is sounded at moments of warning, coronation, victory, and sacred gathering.
On Rosh Hashanah, its blasts are meant to stir the heart, calling people to awaken spiritually, reflect on their lives, and return to God. The order of its blasts, tekiah, shevarim, and teruah, follows established patterns meant to fulfill the biblical commandment to hear the sound of the blast. These precise traditions have been preserved for centuries across Jewish communities worldwide.
The Shofar in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the shofar is also echoed. Paul writes of the return of the Lord with the sound of the trumpet of God, and Revelation describes trumpet blasts marking key moments in God's unfolding plan.
Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe serve as a powerful reminder that our calendar, and time itself, is not simply made of repetitive patterns, but is deeply meaningful: a chance each year to pause, return, and begin again.
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Daniel Stern
Netivyah Staff
Daniel serves as our Office Manager. Born into the Messianic movement’s founding generation, he served in the Israel Police before studying Political Science and Sociology at Hebrew University. Daniel is the proud father of four children.
Glossary
Commandment (mitzvah, מצווה) refers to an instruction from God that reveals His will and teaches His people how to live.
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.
A shofar (שופר) is a ram's horn, blown on Rosh Hashanah and other important occasions.
Synagogue (beit knesset בֵּית כְּנֶסֶת) is a Jewish place of prayer, study, and community gathering.
Torah (תּוֹרָה) means “instruction” or “teaching” and often refers especially to the Five Books of Moses. Psalm 119:1 reminds us that those who walk in God's Torah are blessed.
Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר) means “Day of Atonement” and refers to the holiest day of the biblical calendar, focused on repentance, cleansing, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.
Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה) means “Day of Trumpets” and is the biblical name of the festival later known as Rosh Hashanah.
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