Rosh Hashanah for the Christian

What is Rosh Hashanah?

The Hebrew word for Rosh means ‘head’ or ‘beginning.’ Hashanah means ‘the year.’ Therefore, you would assume it to mean ‘beginning of the year,’ right? Yes. But then why is it celebrated in September and not January 1st? Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the ‘spiritual’ new year.

The Jews believed that the counting of years started with creation in 3761 B.C. Theirs is a lunisolar calendar meaning that months are based on lunar months ie a new month begins with the appearance of a new moon but years are still based on solar years – as our standard calendars today use.

In the Talmud, a compilation of ancient teachings regarded as sacred and normative by Jews from the time it was compiled until modern times and still so regarded by traditional religious Jews, Nissan is named for the month that the world was created. So it seems only natural that the year would begin with the month of Nissan, aka the Month of Spring. Yet, Tishrei – the month of Rosh Hashanah – is the first month. Again, we find ourselves asking if Rosh Hashanah means ‘beginning of the year’ why isn’t it the first month?

The reason is that the time of autumn was very important for the ancient agricultural society. Tishrei is mentioned on various occasions in the Bible mentioning special days and times for religious rites, as well as for agricultural events. Actually, in the Bible, there are several times that are named the start of the year and it appears that quite early on, the autumn month of Tishrei marked the beginning of the agricultural year.

Also, Tishrei is the seventh month. In the Bible, the number seven is symbolic of completeness or wholeness. There are three major Jewish holidays celebrated in the month of Tishrei: Rosh Hashanah (celebrating God’s creation and recognizing our sins), Yom Kippur (receiving His atonement for our sins) and Sukkot (a celebration of new harvest as they remember God’s provision in their wandering in the wilderness for 40 years).

These three holy festivals provide a complete picture of God’s story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Rosh Hashanah kicks off the High Holy Days by looking back and remembering what God created and recognizing the sin in our lives that destroys His creation. That realization draws us to our need for a Savior…someone to atone for those sins and make us right with God again. And lastly the harvest celebration in Sukkot, where we spend time in temporary dwellings reminding ourselves that we are not of this world. We are merely passing through and while we’re on the way to the Promise Land aka Heaven we can trust the Lord to provide for all of our needs as He did for the Israelites in the desert those 40 years.

Hence, the seventh month is Holy just as the seventh day has always been honored. And that is why Rosh Hashanah – the spiritual new year – is celebrated at the beginning of Tishri the seventh month.

The month before Tishri is the month of Elul. Elul is designated as a month of introspection and repentance in preparation for the Jewish New Year. If you count the days from the beginning of Elul (the 6th month) until Yom Kippur they will number forty. Like with the number 7, the number 40 also contains a ton of symbolism in Scripture. God flooded the earth for 40 days and nights. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Moses fasted for 40 days, and Jesus wandered the wilderness for, yes, 40 days. Overall, it’s a number associated with testing and the hardships one must endure to become more spiritually aware.

This is the ultimate goal of the High Holy Days…to prepare your heart for the New Year. Unlike the typical ‘secular’ New Year’s resolutions we make every year that require us to do better, try harder, the Jewish New Year is a great gospel reminder to reflect on what God has already done and walk in that truth. That is grace. That is the gospel. That is how we as Christians can use these Jewish holidays to point us to Jesus.

Symbols of Rosh Hashanah

Shofar

On Rosh Hashanah, Jews blow a shofar, a ram’s horn, to announce the new year. The bend in the shofar represents the human heart in true repentance bowing before the Lord.

The origin of the shofar came from the story of Isaac’s sacrifice and reminds us that the Lord Will Provide. He provided the ram as a substitute for Issac and provided Jesus as a substitute for us.

Rosh Hashanah Dinner

Whole Salmon (fish)

It is customary to serve a fish cooked with its head. Given that Rosh Hashanah translates to “head of the year,” a head has to make an appearance somewhere on the menu. This is placed in front of the head of the household to symbolize they will lead the family in serving the Lord in the coming year.

Challah Bread

You will usually find braided challah on the table every Saturday night for Shabbat dinner. This bread traditionally has 6 strands symbolizing the 6 days of the week all culminating in the seventh day of rest known as the Sabbath. But for Rosh Hashanah, traditionally, Jews bake their challahs in a round shape to represent the circularity of the calendar. They are studded with raisins for a sweet new year.

We like to make ours using 3 braids to symbolize the significance of the celebration as a day to honor the kingship of God and His authority over creation even in judgment. The challah’s circular shape also represents a crown. Secondly, as a day of remembrance or a time to reflect on our part in God’s story. We reflect on the past as we look towards the future. And the last strand represents the revelation of God that we’re expecting. A time for spiritual awakening and renewal before heading into another year.

Carrots

The Hebrew word for carrots also means ‘to increase.’ Carrots are also a root vegetable. So if we are rooted in Him He will increase our blessings in the New Year.

Apples and Honey

Jews also dip apples in honey on Rosh Hashanah in order to wish for a sweet New Year. Honey was the traditional sweetener in Biblical times and apples were believed to have been selected because in ancient times they became a symbol of the Jewish people in relationship to God. In Song of Songs, we read, “As the apple is rare and unique among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved [Israel] amongst the maidens [nations] of the world.”

Pomegranate

There is a custom of eating a new fruit (or, at least, a fruit one has not tasted in a long time) and traditionally that fruit is a pomegranate. Jewish tradition claims the fruit to have 613 seeds representing the 613 commandments in Scripture. While the number of seeds actually varies quite a bit, nonetheless, the pomegranate has become a symbol of Rosh Hashanah representing prosperity and a desire to perform many mitzvahs (commandments) in the coming year.

Honey Cakes

Honey cakes are symbolic of the desire for a sweet, positive upcoming year. Since Rosh Hashanah celebrates the ‘creation of the world’ we put birthday candles on the cake and let it be a birthday party for the world! The kids love it!

Tashlich Service

On the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, it is tradition to go down to a body of water with fish that is flowing like a river or creek for a special observance called Tashlich. This Hebrew word means ‘you shall cast into the seas.’ The family dresses in clothes that have pockets and goes to the banks of the river. Everyone looks for pebbles and rocks alongside the water and puts them in their pockets. Parents begin by reciting Scripture and explaining that the ceremony is about getting rid of sin in your life and ‘casting it into the sea’ or in this case river.

There are so many great discipleship moments found in this sweet ceremony. The book Celebrating Biblical Feasts in your Home or Church has a fabulous script to help guide this discussion. You can check out the condensed version here.

Step-by-Step Guide to Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

Morning of Rosh Hashanah

Blow the Shofar
Say these words:
- “Awake, you that are sleepy, and ponder your deeds; remember your Creator and go to Him for forgiveness. Don’t be like those who miss reality in their hunt after shadows, and waster your years seeking after vain things which can neither profit nor deliver. Look well to your souls and consider your deeds; let each one of you forsake his evil ways and thoughts, and return unto the Lord, so that He may have mercy on you.” (From Mishneh Torah, by Moses Maimonides)
Read one of the 10 reasons for blowing the shofar (a different one every day). The leading Jewish sage in the tenth century C.E., Saddia Gaon, listed ten major ones, each with a scriptural basis. Rabbi Sa’adia explained that the sound of the shofar should call to mind:
- 1) the creation of the world (Ps. 98:6)
- 2) the beginning of the new year
- 3) the Mt. Sinai experience (Ex. 24:7)
- 4) the inspiring words of the prophets (Ezek 33:4-5)
- 5) the destruction of the Holy Temple (Jer. 4:19)
- 6) the Binding of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-14)
- It should also arouse and increase in us:
- 7) fear and awe of God Almighty (Amos 3:6)
- 8) fear and awe for the Day of Judgment (Zeph. 1:14-16)
- 9) belief in the future ingathering of the exiles (Isa. 27:13)
- 10) belief in the future Resurrection of the Dead (Isa. 18:3)

Late Morning/Afternoon of Rosh Hashanah

Decorations:
- Set your table with your best. Whatever that means for you. Fancy tablecloth, special dishes, etc. anything to emphasize the importance of the festival and that it is a time set apart unlike every other night at your dinner table.
- Create your centerpiece. Grab a bundle of sticks/weeds and place it in the center of your table with a shofar horn on top to symbolize God’s provision in providing the ram for sacrifice instead of Isaac (later Jesus instead of us). You can get a reasonable shofar horn here.
- Two candles. You will need two candle holders with two white candles to symbolize both ‘creation and redemption’ and ‘remember and observe.’
- Bread and Wine. Set a place for the bread and wine. If you’ve started doing our Sabbath feast – use the same basket and wine glass you’ve used for that weekly ceremony. If you have not, find a nice basket/decorative bowl for the challah. And a nice wine glass for the wine ‘chalice’ to be passed around.

Dinner:

Evening of Rosh Hashanah

Blow the Shofar horn to gather the family for dinner
Everyone takes their seat at the table
Mother lights 2 candles and says a prayer of blessing:
- “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth light out of darkness. Jesus said, ” I am the light of the world.” As we receive His light may our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.”
Pass the plate of apples and honey around and everyone takes an apple and dips it in honey while Father says:
- “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the tree. If anyone is in Christ He is a new creature. Therefore let us walk in this newness of life. May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year.”
Pass the plate of pomegranate seeds around for everyone to take and eat while the mother says:
- “Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe who has written your law on our hearts. May we listen to your word and obey it.”
Pass around the round challah bread and father says:
- “Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe who brings forth bread from the earth. The bread reminds us of Christ’s body broken for us at the cross.”
Pour wine into a center glass and pass around for everyone to have a sip while mother says:
- “Bless are you Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth fruit from the vine. The wine reminds us of Christ’s blood poured out for us at the cross.”
The ceremony ends with Father blessing the meal:
- “We praise You, Lord God, King of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us and for enabling us to reach this season.”
Enjoy the meal explaining the symbolism of the other foods on the table as you eat.
Finish with singing ‘Happy Birthday to the world’ over your Honey Cake dessert.

Day after Rosh Hashanah

Repeat the 3 Rosh Hashanah morning steps (unless it is the Sabbath).
Prepare for the Tashlich Service
- Make sure everyone is dressed in clothes that have pockets
- Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy by the river
Tashlich Service
- Set up a picnic blanket on the banks of the river
- Walk alongside the riverbank pick up stones and pebbles and put them in your pockets
- Everyone sits and enjoys lunch while the parents explain the meaning of the service
- Everyone (older kids and parents) take turns reading a piece of Scripture
- Allow for a few minutes of silent prayer and reflection over the sins that the rocks represent
- Everyone throws their rocks in the river symbolizing ‘their sins being washed away’

Days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (known as 10 High Holy Days)

Repeat the 3 Rosh Hashanah morning steps (unless it is the Sabbath).
Read our blog post and use our step-by-step guide for Yom Kippur.