KiteCD - Holidays, Rosh Hashanah

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Rosh Hashanah

A High Holiday
The History
The Shofar
Traditions

Tashlich
Challah
The Wearing of White

Crafts for Rosh Hashanah

An Open Eyed Fish Mobile
Thank You Tokens

Books for Children
Links
Related Subjects

A High Holiday

Rosh Hashanah, along with Yom Kippur, is considered a "high holiday" or very holy day in the Jewish religion. It means head of the year or first of the year, and for the Jewish people it is the celebration of a new religious year. It is also a celebration of the creation of the world, sometimes called Yom Harat Olam meaning The Day the World was Created, and is a time for reflection and self-evaluation.

Rosh Hashanah is considered a time of God’s judgment of each individual for his or her actions over the past year. So this holy day is a time for atonement. It begins with prayers said at sundown on the first day. It also begins the 10 "Days of Repentance" during which time any Jews who are truly sorry for their mistakes can ask God’s forgiveness.

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The History

Rosh Hashanah starts in September or October on the first day of Tishri the 7th Jewish month.

For ancient Hebrews autumn was the beginning of the rainy season after the dry summer. If a drought occurred it would ruin the crops and bring the possibility of starvation. The Hebrews believed that a drought meant they had broken God’s laws, so the new year was a day of judgment.

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The Shofar

During Rosh Hashanah a type of trumpet, called a shofar, is blown. The shofar is a curved hollow ram’s horn and various blasts throughout this holiday have different meanings. The use of a ram’s horn is a remembrance of the ram in the story of Abraham and Isaac and representative of the sacrifice Abraham was willing to make. It is also like the shofar used by Moses to call the Jews together to tell them of the Ten Commandments, and it reminds Jews today of their agreement to obey God’s laws.

Blown on each day of Rosh Hashanah, with the exception of the Sabbath, to many the sound of the Shofar is a call to repentance. It also represents hope for people that God will forgive them. In preparation Jews the world over ask forgiveness of anyone they may have wronged during the past year.

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Traditions

In addition to sending greeting cards wishing the receiver "May a good year be recorded for you." and asking for the forgiveness of God and others, Rosh Hashanah has three main traditions people often observe.

Tashlich

Tashlich is the throwing away of sins. During this observance a prayer is said near a body of water containing fish. The water is a reminder that people can not live without God, as a fish can not live without water. In addition the fish’s always open eyes are a reminder that God always sees each person’s actions, good or bad.

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Challah

Round challah or egg bread is used to symbolize fullness and completion. Challah and apple slices are dipped into honey to ask God for a good and sweet year. Good, because all things are considered divinely planned and therefore good and sweet so that people, as shortsighted humans, may be able to see the good that is happening.

Sometimes the challah is shaped like a ladder. This symbolizes that people make a choice whether to travel up or down in the world and in the year to come.

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The Wearing of White

The wearing of white during Rosh Hashanah shows that the Jewish people trust in the mercy of God on the day of judgment. It symbolizes God’s forgiveness and therefore man’s purity from sin.

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Crafts for Rosh Hashanah

An Open Eyed Fish Mobile

You will need:

one wire coat hanger
one or more pipe cleaners
thread
construction paper
pencil
markers or crayons
scissors
glue
craft wiggle eyes
glitter (optional)
hole punch (optional)

With the pencil draw 4 or more outlines of fish on the construction paper. Cut out each fish. Using the markers or crayons decorate both sides of the fish anyway you choose, but do not add eyes. Glue a wiggle eye to one side of each fish and decorate the same side with glitter if you choose. After the first side is dry, glue an eye to the other side of each fish and decorate the second side with glitter.

While the glue on the second side is drying wrap one or more pipe cleaners along the length of the coat hanger making sure that the hanger stays balanced when suspended. Cut thread of various lengths. Along the length of the coat hanger and at the ends of each pipe cleaner tie a thread.

Have an adult help with this part if necessary. Using a pencil point, scissors point, or a hole punch make a hole in the top of each fish. Tie one fish to the end of each thread.

Now hang the open eyed fish mobile in your room or in a family area to remind you and other family members that your actions are always seen by God whether they are good or bad.

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Thank You Tokens

You will need:

poster board
pencil
one glass or cup
markers or crayons
scissors

Use the pencil to trace around the bottom of the glass or cup several times onto the poster board. Cut out each circle you have traced.

On one side of each circle, or token, draw a picture. It might be a picture of you, a picture of a shofar or other Rosh Hashanah symbol, or of some other object thought up by you. Use the crayons or markers to color in the picture. On the opposite side of each token neatly write the words, ‘Thank you for your forgiveness.’ or simply ‘Thank you.’

Give one token to each person you ask for forgiveness.

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Books for Children

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by Cathy Goldberg Fisman - This is a story of one young girl's view of these Jewish Holidays. Told from a child's perspective the text is comforting for small children. Nice for children ages 2-6. (amazon.com has it)
All About Rosh Hashanah by Madeline Wikler and Judyth Saypol Groner - This book explains many of the traditions surrounding this holiday in an understandable way. It also includes songs and folk tales for the celebration. Appropriate for ages 8 and older. (amazon.com has it)
Sammy Spider's First Rosh Hashanah by Sylvia Rouss - This story about a spider who watches the activities of Rosh Hashanah makes this celebration understandable and fun for young children. Interesting for ages 2-7. (amazon.com has it)
The Uninvited Guest and Other Jewish Holiday Tales by Nina Jaffe - This book of old tales is full of wonderful detail and soft illustrations. In addition to Rosh Hashanah there is a story for Purim, Hanukkah, Yom Kippur and more. Brief descriptions of some traditions and a glossary make this a nice resource. Appropriate for children ages 6 and older. (amazon.com has it)