Three Great Tips for Celebrating the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah

With the Jewish High Holiday of Rosh Hashanah rapidly approaching, many people are preparing themselves for the New Year's celebration of repentance and reflection. But unlike many non-Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah is not over after the first day. Here, we'll briefly list some great tips for celebrating the second day of Rosh Hashanah, and talk about its importance.

The second day of Rosh Hashanah is usually only celebrated by Orthodox and Conservative Jews, but it is very important not to downplay its importance for several reasons. First off, during the first day, the focus is on the casting off of one's past sins for the previous year. The second day, if you are found to be unfit for forgiveness and to have your name written by God into the Book of Life, it commences the process of continual repentance until the day of atonement, or Yom Kippur. So you see that this second day takes on a very important and separate meaning of its own, which is why it is celebrated in a different method. With that being said, let's look at some tips on how to celebrate the second day of Rosh Hashanah.

Tips for Celebrating the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah #1: Light Candles

This may seem similar to the first day, but the difference here lies in the time that you light them. The candles lit for this day are to be lit only when it is completely dark, rather than being lit prior to sundown on the first day.

Tips for Celebrating the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah #2: Eat a New Fruit

On the second day, it is often customary for you to eat a fruit that you did not eat on the first day, as a symbol to
the start of the New Year. Among the Jewish community, pomegranates are a popular choice for this fruit because it's widely grown in Israel. It also has a symbolic meaning as well, with the 613 seeds being symbols of the 613 Mitzvoth. The seeds are also representative of good fortunes that loved ones wish to bestow upon each other throughout the New Year.

Tips for Celebrating the Second Day of Rosh Hashanah #3: Visit the Cemetery

On this second day, many people choose to visit the cemetery. As a matter of fact, many Synagogues host special public ceremonies to carry on this tradition from ancient Israeli times. It is believed that God will closer listen to the repentance of the participants because of the departed spirits that inhabit the cemetery.