Rosh Hashanah Glossary for Beginners

Rosh Hashanah is the start of the High Holy Days. It is the start of repentance. The Jewish people use the High Holy Days as a time to ask God for forgiveness and to try to make their lives better. According to the Jewish tradition, God decides who is going to live or die in the coming year. To sum it all up, Jews use this as a time to make peace with everyone they come in contact with. As Jews, we believe that God is willing to forgive people for their sins if they strive to make things better for themselves and others around them.

This glossary of Rosh Hashanah terms is meant to help people understand more about the holiday. These words come directly from the Siddur (see below for definition) that my mother uses to say the prayers during the holidays. Once a person knows the meaning behind these words, they will have the general understanding of one of the most important holidays in the Jewish religion. I hope everyone has a happy and healthy year to come!

Rosh Hashanah Terms:

1. Akedah- this is the biblical passage recited on Rosh Hashanah that speaks of the story of how God tested Abraham's faith when he was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.

2. Abraham- The son of Terah and also the father of the Jewish people. He was the first one to believe in One God.

3. Days of Awe- these days are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

4. Book of Genesis- It is the first book of the five books of Moses. It comes from the origins of Israel, Genesis means "in the beginning."

5. High Holy Days- referring to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

6. Siddur- This is a prayer book and it contains prayers for daily and Sabbath worship. It also contains some of the prayers for holidays such as Passover and Yom Kippur.

7. Synagogue- A Greek Work that means assembly or congregation.

8. Ten Days of Penitence- The days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. These days are devoted to repentance. Also known as Days of Awe.

9. Challa- Traditional egg bread for the Jewish Sabbath. It has round braids for Rosh Hashanah and is the symbol for the cycle of a year.

10. Shofar- This is a ram's horn and it was used in ancient times to get everyone together. Someone blows into the Shofar when it is Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. It reminds people that it is the New Year. Also, it is a divine summons to repentance and improvement.

11. Teshuvah- the ways of repentance.

12. L 'Shanah Tovah- means "For a Good Year."

Source:

Rabbi Ralph De Koven, "A Prayer Book With Explanatory Notes." KTAV Publishing House Inc.