Jewish New Year

The Jewish people have had a tradition, dating back thousands of years, to eat sweet foods in celebrating the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. (With Rosh Hashanah right around the corner, we hope our partners and supporters have started to receive our special High Holiday Packages from Lev Haolam!) These sweet treats are meant to herald a wonderfully sweet New Year. In addition to eating sweet foods, we also incorporate the following customs: Refraining from various forms of physical labor (similar to the Sabbath).Dressing in formal clothing out of respect and reverence for the day.Sounding/blowing the shofar-horn....

Dive into the rich traditions, historical significance, and spiritual essence of Rosh Hashanah, the holiday that marks the start of the Jewish High Holiday Season. Tracing the Origins and Spiritual Themes of Rosh Hashanah Let’s take a trip back in time, shall we? Rosh Hashanah has its roots deeply embedded in biblical times, making it one of the most ancient and significant festivals in Jewish tradition. It’s first mentioned in the Torah as “Yom Teruah,” which translates to the “Day of the Sounding of the Shofar.” On this sacred day, the Israelites would gather to hear the piercing notes of...

Tradition at the Table As Rosh Hashanah approaches, Jewish homes across Israel and the world fill with the scents and sights of holiday traditions: apples dipped in honey, round challah loaves, and pomegranates shining like jewels at the center of the table. When families gather, the ritual begins. Parents slice open the fruit and pass its seeds to their children with the blessing: Every seed becomes a prayer for good deeds and abundance in the year ahead. The act is simple, yet profound – linking grandparents to grandchildren, faith to tradition, the past to the future. 👉 Tip: If you’ve...