This feast also is known as “Zikhron Teruah” (memorial of blowing trumpets), “Yom T’ruah” (day of blowing trumpets), and Rosh Hashanah - literally meaning “Head of the Year”. This feast is recorded in Leviticus 23:23–25. The one word that will connect to this feast is "Ingathering". Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah points to the future day when the Messiah returns to rescue the righteous and judge the wicked.

The fall feasts calls us to regather to a pure faith in God. Rosh Hashanah has come to represent the day of repentance. It is the day when the people of Israel took stock in their spiritual condition, and made the necessary changes to ensure that the upcoming new year would be pleasing to God.

The most notable custom is with the “shofar,” the trumpet that is mentioned in Scripture. On this day the shofar is sounded in the synagogue with four different notes: tekia (blast), shevarim (broken notes), Teruah (alarm) and that Tekia Gedolah (the great blast). Because the shofar was used in the ancient world to hail a King, so on Rosh Hashanah, all Israel is said to appear before the King of Kings in anticipation of personal judgment, the shofar is our "wake-up call" calling as to our appointed time.

This feast will be fulfilled when the Messiah comes back in Matthew 24:31

Rosh HaShanah Yom Teruah

By: Jose Perez

After the summer months, the first Biblical Festival appearing on the Jewish Biblical calendar is Yom Teruah also known as Rosh HaShanah. The name Rosh HaShanah was coined during Talmudic times. In mainstream Judaism, Rosh HaShanah is celebrated as the Jewish New Year’s day. The feast is celebrated in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. In addition, Rosh HaShanah commemorates the beginning of creation. It is tradition to greet one another with the expression L’Shanah Tova Tikateivu (May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year).

In Leviticus 23:23-24 it reads: “The L-rd said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of Sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.” With the blast of the shofar we are awaken from our slumber and we can focus on the fact that the L-rd is our king. The sound of the shofar also stirs our hearts to fear the L-rd and to inspire us to undergo teshuvah (repentance). There are four types of the shofar blast, these are:

  • Tekiah- a long single blast (signifies the King’s coronation)
  • Shevarim- three short wail-like blasts (signifies repentance)
  • Teruah- nine staccato blast of alarm (signifies to awaken the soul)
  • Tekiah ha Gadol- a great long blast

We prepare for Rosh HaShanah within a tridimensional perspective. First of all, we seek G-d and turn to Him in Teshuvah (Repentance). Secondly, we seek forgiveness from those that we have done wrong or offended. We strive to heal a broken relationship. Thirdly, we seek to help those in need and offer tzedakah.

The messianic significance of Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShanah is two-fold in the sense that it aides us in commemorating the world created created by Adonai and when the sound of the heavenly shofar announces the anticipated End of Days. On Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShanah the Talmud states that the dead will be raised (Rosh HaShanah 16b). The Talmud’s statement aligns with 1stCorinthians 15:52: “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”As believers in Messiah we rejoice in the fact that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Sefer HaChayim). In addition, Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShannah allows us to anticipate the prophetic fulfillment of the L-RD’s covenant faithfulness to Israel.

Some customs (Minhagim) for Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShanah that are observed and may serve as some beautiful family traditions are:

  • Candle Lighting and Kiddush
  • Dipping Apples and or Challah in Honey
  • Baking Round Challah Loaves with Raisins
  • Tashlich Services

The purpose of the sound of the Shofar is to awaken our souls to an encounter with HaShem, Amos 4:12 “…Israel, prepare to meet your G-d.” The sound of the Shofar stirs our inner being with joy and expectations “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound (Teruah), O L-RD; they walk in the light of your presence.”(Psalm 89)

Tashlich Service

By: Sharon Stitely

The "Tashlich" service is a gathering of people or individuals that gather near a body of water . They will say a prayer that is symbolic of casting away of our sins. Bread or rocks are cast into the water, symbolizing casting away our sins.  The idea is to have deep introspection and commitment to change. It symbolizes one's casting away their previous year's sins. In Talmudic literature, Torah is represented as water. Just as fish can't live without water, so we can't live without Torah.

If "Tashlich" was not said on Rosh Hashanah, it may be said anytime during the Ten Days of Teshuva.

This is the text of "Tashlich:" Micah 7:18-19

Who is like You, God, who removes iniquity and overlooks transgression of the remainder of His inheritance. He doesn't remain angry forever because He desires kindness. He will return and He will be merciful to us, and He will conquer our iniquities, and He will cast them into the depths of the seas.

Many people also read Psalms 33 and 130.

Apples & Honey and Challah & Greetings 

By:Sandra Parsad

Round Challah

During the High Holidays, we make round challah.  This is made to symbolize a crown that reflects our coronating God as the King of the world, it also symbolizes fullness and completion. After making the "Hamotzi" blessing, it is customary to dip the bread into honey – symbolizing our prayer for a sweet New Year.

Apples

It is customary to eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize a wish for a good and sweet year. After the bread has been eaten, we take an apple and dip it in honey. There is a blessing on the apple (the "Hamotzi"  blessing was for the bread ) and eat a little bit of the apple, also dipped in honey.

Then say, "May it be Your will, God, to renew us for a good and sweet New Year.

Greeting for Holy Days 

It is customary to greet others by saying L'shanah Tovah meaning "for a good year". This is a shorter version of "L'shana Tova – Ketivah vi-chatima Tova." which means "May you be inscribed and sealed (in the Book of Life) for a good year." Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is a Holy Convocation in which we do not work. “Chag Sameach” Happy Holiday (Feast)  is another greeting.