JCC Fall Program Guide - Flipbook - Page 19
JCC Greater Boston High Holiday Quick Guide
Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashanah ( )ראש השנהis the Jewish New Year, and it literally means “the head of the year.”
Jewish tradition also recognizes Rosh Hashanah as the anniversary of creation, the world’s birthday!
It is a time for reflection, rejoicing, and new beginnings. A few of the most recognizable Rosh Hashanah customs are eating symbolic foods – including apples dipped in honey and round challah made
with sweet raisins – that represent our wishes for the new year, and listening to the shofar, which is
used to call our community together and encourage us to reflect on the past year to improve in the
next.
Some people also eat a “new” food (either one that they have never tried or one that they have not
eaten all year) on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, as a way of extending the excitement for and
celebration of the new year.
Celebrating Rosh Hashanah at home:
*Scan here
for the recipe:
Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a solemn day dedicated to prayer, fasting,
and reflection. Yom Kippur marks the culmination of “The Ten Days of Returning (Teshuvah),” a time of
reflection and repentance that begins with Rosh Hashanah. It is a day to seek forgiveness for our past
mistakes and to commit to being better in the year ahead.
Observing Yom Kippur at home:
1. Go on a family hike or nature walk and practice asking forgiveness from one another for actions or words that were harmful
during the past year. Take it one step further and use the following prompts to have conversations about how to be our best
selves in the new year:
• How have we disrespected or hurt each other this past year? Now is the time to apologize for those acts and to offer eachother forgiveness.
• What’s the best way to keep these things from happening again?
• What are some ideas for making family time more special in the new year?
• What can I do this new year that I’ll be proud of?
• What can I do this new year to help someone in need?
2. Wear white for the day. Some people wear white shirts or dresses for the holiday to symbolize making a fresh start.
