ראש השנה
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time of spiritual renewal and reflection. It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance leading to Yom Kippur. The holiday celebrates the creation of the world and is a time for introspection, prayer, and connecting with God.
When is Rosh Hashanah 2026?
Begins at sunset
Friday, September 11, 2026
Ends at nightfall
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Rosh Hashanah is observed on the 1st and 2nd of Tishrei, typically falling in September or early October. Services begin the evening before and continue through both days, with the shofar blown during morning services.
Significance
Rosh Hashanah is considered the Day of Judgment when God inscribes the fate of all people for the coming year in the Book of Life. The central mitzvah is hearing the shofar, the ram's horn, which calls Jews to repentance and spiritual awakening.
Rosh Hashanah Prayers
View the complete collection of prayers and blessings for Rosh Hashanah in Hebrew and English.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rosh Hashanah
The main prayers for Rosh Hashanah include the Machzor (High Holiday prayer book), Unetaneh Tokef, Avinu Malkeinu, the Shofar service with its blessings, and the Musaf Amidah with Malchuyot (Sovereignty), Zichronot (Remembrance), and Shofarot sections. The Tashlich prayer is also recited near water.
Traditionally, the shofar is blown 100 times on each day of Rosh Hashanah (30 during the Torah service and 70 during Musaf), though customs vary by community. The shofar is not blown when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat.
Tashlich is a ceremony where Jews symbolically cast their sins into a body of water by reciting prayers and shaking out their pockets near a river, lake, or ocean. It is traditionally performed on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, or later during the Ten Days of Repentance if the first day falls on Shabbat.
Traditional Rosh Hashanah foods include apples dipped in honey (for a sweet new year), round challah (symbolizing the cycle of the year), pomegranates (symbolizing abundance), and the head of a fish or ram (to be 'like a head, not a tail'). Each food is accompanied by a special blessing for the new year.
About Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) is one of the important holidays in the Jewish calendar. This page provides the dates for Rosh Hashanah 2026 and information about its meaning and observance.
Looking for prayers? Am Hazak provides the complete text for Rosh Hashanah prayers in Hebrew with English translations. Visit our Rosh Hashanah prayers page for blessings and liturgy.