Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur

• Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, a special midnight service on the first day of the month of Tishri beginning a 10-day period of reflection and repentance
• The focus of Rosh Hashanah is on individuals' behaviour on earth (keeping commandments)
• Jews believe the righteous gain another year, the wicked do not and others have the chance over Rosh Hashanah to make repentance and secure another year
• Rosh Hashanah customs


  • Orthodox Jews observe it for two days
  • Many Reform Jews observe it for just one day
  • Eating challah bread or apples dipped in honey before the meal
  • Some also eat pomegranates
• Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, a day of confession to cast out sins and make heartfelt resolutions to sin no more
• Yom Kippur events


  1. Kol Nidre service

  2. Day of fasting (25 hours)

  3. Wearing white garments

  4. Blowing the shofar

  5. Tashlich ritual
• On Yom Kippur the book of life closes so they gain another year- they thank God for being loving and merciful for releasing all their sin
• Rosh Hashanah


  Jewish new year
• Rosh Hashanah


  1. 10-day period of reflection and repentance

  2. Individuals' behaviour on earth (keeping commandments) is the focus

  3. Day of creation

  4. Jews believe all people will stand before God to be judged on actions in past year

  5. Righteous gain another year, the wicked do not and others have the chance over Rosh Hashanah to make repentance and secure another year
• Rosh Hashanah


  • Orthodox Jews observe for two days, many Reform Jews for just one
  • Eating challah bread, or apples dipped in honey before the Rosh Hashanah meal, some Jews also eat pomegranates (the seeds reflecting the number of good deeds to be done in the next year)