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Did you know the Mishnah Rosh Hashanah describes four new years on the Jewish calendar? The First of Nisan is the new year for Kings and the festivals, the First of Elul for tithes of animals, the First of Tishrei for years, and the First of Shevat is the new year for the trees (although Beit Hillel says this is actually on the 15th).

However, you're likely focused on Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish civil year, which we observe on the First of Tishrei and celebrate for two days. In the Torah, Rosh Hashanah is also called Yom Teruah, the day of the shofar blasting. Jews are commanded to hear 100 blasts of the shofar each day of Rosh Hashanah, to remind us that the time has come for teshuvah (repentance). As an ancient prayer says: on Rosh Hashanah, it is written and on Yom Kippur, it is sealed. Images of God writing in the Book of Life are a common theme during the High Holy Day season, but it's also important to remember that we celebrate Rosh Hashanah as the day God created the world.

Rosh Hashanah Services
The easiest way to observe Rosh Hashanah is to attend services. Our ancient sages created a powerful liturgy to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. During the High Holy Days, you will notice different music; we chant the Torah trope in a different style, and there are inspiring prayers recited exclusively during this time of year. We also use a unique prayer book called a machzor, which contains all the special services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. You can access Beth El's full schedule of High Holy Day services by clicking this link.

Rosh Hashanah Customs
There are many different customs and traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah, most importantly listening to the sounds of the shofar blast. As Rosh Hashanah marks a new beginning, some people choose to wear new clothes. Whether your clothes are new or tried-and-true, it is customary to dress in white, the color of purity in Judaism. Some men and women will immerse themselves in the mikveh (ritual bath) to purify themselves for the holiday.

Should you wish to visit the mikveh before the High Holy Days, please contact the Soul Center to set a day and time for your immersion with a trained volunteer mikveh guide. Immersion appointments can be made at any time except Shabbat. All immersions are by appointment only. Information, including how to request an appointment and how to prepare for your visit can be found at www.soulcenterbaltimore.org/mikvah.

The first day of Rosh Hashanah is also when we perform tashlich, the meaningful and ancient ritual in which we symbolically cast away our sins. Our Beth El community congregates at Druid Ridge Cemetery on September 10th at 4:45pm to perform tashlich by throwing pieces of bread into the water, transferring our sins to those breadcrumbs.

Rosh Hashanah Foods
Like all major Jewish holidays, we welcome Rosh , with candles, wine, and challah. But on Rosh Hashanah, we also eat a variety of special foods that are unique to the holiday. For example, the traditional challah for Rosh Hashanah is round as opposed to the regular braided loaf you might enjoy on Shabbat. Also, it is customary to eat carrots (tzimmes is very popular in some communities), and the Talmud (Kereitot 6a) mentions leeks, beets, fenugreek, gourds, and dates as foods associated with Rosh Hashanah. Pomegranates are very popular this time of year, with their many seeds symbolizing the countless Jewish communities spread around the world, as well as the many mitzvot found in the Torah. In very traditional homes, you might see a fish head or even a sheep's head on the table, which symbolizes that we should be like the head (Rosh) and not like the tail. Still, the most recognizable - and perhaps many families' favorite - Rosh Hashanah food is apples and honey. The apple symbolizes the earth and the honey helps to wish us a sweet year.

Rosh Hashanah Greetings
The most common greeting on Rosh Hashanah is "Shanah Tovah," literally "a good year." One might also wish someone "Ktiva V'Chatimah Tovah," hoping for a good inscription in the book of life. All of us here at Beth El wish you all a "Shanah Tovah u'metukah," a very good and sweet year!

We hope you will join us for High Holy Day services. You can access Beth El's full schedule of High Holy Day services by clicking this link. We've included a complete schedule of youth and family services below:

High Holy Day Youth And Family Services
Services Schedule For Rosh Hashanah Day 1 - Monday, September 10 And Yom Kippur - Wednesday, September 19
10:00 a.m.: Babysitting (Preschool classrooms 12&13)
10:00 a.m.: Early Childhood Family Service* (Myers Auditorium)
10:45 a.m.: Preschool Activities (Preschool classrooms 12&13)
10:00 a.m.: Family Service (2nd graders and above) Option #1* (Gorn Chapel)
11:00 a.m.: Teen Service (Rooms 213-214)
11:30 a.m.: Family Service (2nd graders and above) Option #2* (Gorn Chapel)

For children of parents who attend adult services:
10:00 a.m.: Before Care (Schapiro Auditorium)
11:00 a.m.: 1st-3rd Grade Service (Kolker Room); 4th-6th Grade Service (Schapiro Auditorium)
12:00 p.m.: After Care (Schapiro Auditorium)

Services Schedule For Rosh Hashanah Day 2 - Tuesday, September 11
10:00 a.m.: Special program with Becky Gordon in Babysitting (Preschool classrooms 12&13)
10:00 a.m.: Family Service (Gorn Chapel)

Downtown Services: Salem Lutheran Church @ 1530 Battery Ave
Rosh Hashanah Family Service - Led by Cantor Melanie Blatt
Monday, September 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Yom Kippur Family Service - Led by Cantor Melanie Blatt
Wednesday, September 19 at 4:00 p.m.

*Reservations required for all family services due to limited seating. For questions, contact Fran Davis at 410-484-4543.