The festival of Rosh Hashanah (the name means "Head of the Year") is observed on Tishrei 1 and 2, on the first and second days of the Jewish year. The Jewish people celebrate two New Years: This particular New Year counts the anniversary of the forming of the first man and woman (which took place on the sixth day of creation). That means that G-d formed light on the 25th day of Elul (although it wouldn't be called that until after the first year was almost completed.)

If this confuses you, think of it this way: The purpose of a calendar is so that man may reckon himself in relationship to time. Prior to G-d creating man, there was no need for any other aspect of His creation to measure days, months or years. That means that the anniversary of man's arrival was Tishrei 1 (month one, day one), even though 5 days had already elapsed. Since we have a cyclical calendar, it will be almost a year by the time we get around to the anniversary for the creation of light. Had there been a calendar on the first day of creation, it would have been the 25th of Elul.

The second New Year which we celebrate commemorates our spiritual birthday, the first of the month at the time when G-d called us as a collection of Jacob's sons out of Egypt and transformed us into a new creation. This means that Nisan (in the month of aviv, or springime) is our other New Year. One birthday was not enough. The physical one only let us exist. The spiritual one would give us true Life.

The Bible describes the holiday of Rosh Hashanah as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the Day of Remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the Day of the Awakening Shofar-Blasts). The instruction to observe this holiday is found in Leviticus 23:24-25.

The Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the course of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. It emphasizes G‑d's special relationship with humanity: We depend upon G‑d as our creator and sustainer, and G‑d depends upon us to make His presence known and felt in the world. On Rosh Hashanah, we acknowledge G-d as King of the whole world, and we 'crown' Him over ourselves with our praises and obedience.

No work or creative activity (with the exception of food preparation) is permitted on Rosh Hashanah as this is a High Sabbath (Leviticus 23:24-25, Numbers 29:1). Much of the day is spent in the synagogue praying alongside of everyone in your community.

It's traditional during this two day holiday to eat apples dipped in honey, among other sweet foods, which represent our wish for a sweet new year.

Shofar - The Awakening Blast

One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar (ram's horn) in the synagogue. The cry of the shofar is a call to teshuvah (repentance), since Rosh Hashanah is also the anniversary of man's first sin and the first of the "Ten Days of Awe", which culminate in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). A total of 100 notes are sounded over the course of the holiday service.

The first shofar blast which we make on Rosh Hashanah is a long sustained note called tekiah (penetrating, piercing). It awakens us from our spiritual slumber and directs our hearts toward G-d above. The second blast which we make is a series of broken staccato notes called teruah (disrupting, breaking up). In addition to sounding like a sobbing penitent, it summons us to break loose from our settled ways and habits, and to ready ourselves to follow G-d wherever He leads.

Tashlich - Remembering G-d's Promise

Another observance of the holiday is Tashlich ('casting off'). It begins with the assembling of the local synagogue at a body of water (a lake, river or stream, usually which contains fish). There is a short collective prayer service next to the water.

We then fill our pockets with small pieces of bread or small stones to cast into the water.

Next we move away from each other along the shore, standing alone with G-d, and have a time of silent introspection and prayer, before empty our pockets into the flowing water, whose symbolism reminds us that G-d grants us forgiveness and casts off our sins when we repent.

This practice is a long-standing custom based upon the verse, "And You shall cast their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19)

At this time of year, it's traditional to greet one another with the words "L'shanah tovah" (for a good year), which is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev ve'tey'chatem" (May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year).