A Very Very Simple Guide for Rosh Hashanah Celebration
(This Document contains G-d’s Name, therefore it may NOT be thrown out)
Important to note: There is a Mitzvah to listen to the blowing of the Shofar during the day on Monday and Tuesday. This is the Birthday of the World and we Coronate the King. Its piercing wail serves to awaken slumbering souls that have grown complacent.
1.
Lighting of the Candles
Women (or if there isn’t a woman in the house, the head of the household), light candles.
Blessings for the evenings September 9, 2018 (7:01 pm Philadelphia Time) and
September 10, 2018 (after 7:58 Philadelphia Time):
1) Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam asher ki-deshanu be-mitzvo-tav ve-tzvi-vanu le-hadlik ner shel Yom Tov Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Holiday.
[Note: When reciting the following blessing on the second night of the holiday, one should have in mind the new fruit which one will subsequently be eating after Kiddush.]
2) Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, L-ord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
2.
Evening Kiddush for Rosh Hashanah
Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of kosher wine or grape juice. (Challah should be on the table – covered)
1st prayer:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
borei p’ri hagafen (Amein)
Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
asher bachar banu mikol am v’rom’manu mikol lashon
who has chosen us from among all people, and exalted us above every tongue
v’kid’shanu b’mitz’votav vatiten lanu Adonai Eloheinu, b’ahavah
and sanctified us with His commandments,and you gave us, Lord our God, with love
et yom
with love this day of
hazikaron hazeh yom t’ru’ah
remembrance, a day of shofar blowing
mik’ra kodesh zeikher litzi’at mitz’rayim
a holy convocation, a memorial of the exodus from Egypt
ki vanu vachar’ta v’otanu kidash’ta mikol ha’amim
Indeed, You have chosen us and made us holy from all peoples
ud’var’kha emet v’kayam la’ad
and Your word is true and established for ever
Barukh atah Adonai melekh al kol ha’aretz
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King over all the world,
m’kadeish yisra’eil v’yom hazikaron. (Amein)
Who sanctifies
Israel and the Day of Remembrance. (Amen)
2nd prayer:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Barukh atah Ad-onai, El-oheinu, melekh ha’olamshehecheyanu v’kiyimanu v’higi’anu laz’man hazeh.
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season (Amen)
2A
SECOND NIGHT ONLY -New Fruit
On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, a “new fruit,” i.e., a seasonal fruit which we have not yet tasted since its season began, should be present on the table when the holiday candles are kindled and during the kiddush. While reciting the Shehecheyanu blessing after candle-lighting and after the kiddush, one should have the new fruit in mind.
This fruit is eaten following the kiddush, before washing for bread. Before partaking of the fruit we say the following blessing:
Ba-ruch a-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam bore pri ha-etz.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
3
ROUND Challah in Honey
Immediately following the kiddush (and on the second night, the eating of the new fruit), we perform the ritual washing for bread. Fill a large cup with water. Pass the cup to your left hand and pour three times over your right hand. Repeat by pouring on your left hand. As you wipe your hands recite the blessing:
Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who sanctified with His Mitzvahs and commanded us on washing our hands.
When everyone has returned to the table, we raise the two challah loaves and recite the blessing:
Ba-ruch atah A-do-nay, E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-Olam, hamotzie le-chem min ha-are-tz.
[Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.]
Cut the challah, dip it in honey, and have a bite. Pass around pieces and make sure everyone does the same.
4
Apples and Honey
During Rosh Hashanah, it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey, to symbolize our hopes for a “sweet” new year. The apple is dipped in honey, the blessing for eating tree fruits is recited, the apple is tasted, and then the apples and honey prayer is recited.
Barukh atah Ad-onai, El-oheinu, melekh ha’olam borei p’ri ha’eitz.
Blessed are you, L-rd, our G-d, king of the universe who creates the fruit of the tree. (Everyone says Amen)
Take a bite from the apple dipped in honey, then continue with the following:
y’hi ratzon mil’fanekha Adonai el-oheinu vei’-lohei avoteinu sh’t’chadeish aleinu shanah tovah um’tukah
May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and God of our ancestors that you renew for us a good and sweet year.
5
Symbolic Foods
A head of a fish is served. We say “May it be your will Eternal God that we should be at the head and not at the tail”.
A pomegranate is eaten, symbolizing our wish to have a year full of mitzvot and good deeds. We say “May it be your will Eternal God that our year is filled with good deeds as a pomegranate is filled with luscious seeds”.
There is a custom to eat fish on Rosh Hashanah. Fish multiply in great number. They never sleep. They swim in water. We hope the year will be one of plenty, just as fish are extremely fruitful. Just as fish never sleep, we hope to maintain a constant awareness of our mission in life. Since fish are underwater the evil eye cannot penetrate the depths, and we wish to be free of any negative wishes.
We also eat Leeks or Cabbage. These vegetables are known as karsi, related to the word karet, to cut off or destroy. As we eat it we say “May it be your will Eternal God that our enemies will be destroyed.”.
Beets are known as “silka,” related to the word “siluk,” meaning removal. The adversaries referred to in the prayer before eating the beet are the spiritual roadblocks created by the past year’s missteps that must be removed before a sweet New Year is granted. We say “May it be your will Eternal God that our adversaries will be removed.”
Dates are known as “tamri” is related to the word “tamri,” meaning consume or finish. This food is similar to the beets and leeks in that it is eaten with the intent that all enemies will end their detrimental wrath. We say “ May it be your will Eternal God that our enemies will be finished.
Throughout the meal, it is customary to also eat foods whose names in the vernacular allude to blessing and prosperity. For example, many have the custom of eating carrots because in Yiddish the word for carrots, meren, means to multiply.
6
Rosh Hashanah Cuisine
On Rosh Hashanah it is customary not to eat foods which are sour or tart (the gefilte fish will have to do without the horseradish…). Instead, the focus is on sweet foods, symbolizing our desire to have a sweet year, blessings and abundance. It is also customary not to eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah, as the numerical value of the Hebrew word for nuts (“egoz“) is the same as the Hebrew word for sin (“chet“). There is a custom nот to eat olives or grapes during the holiday.
7
Blessing After Meal
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who, in His goodness, provides sustenance for the entire world with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is everlasting. Through His great goodness to us continuously we do not lack [food], and may we never lack food, for the sake of His great Name. For He, benevolent G-d, provides nourishment and sustenance for all, does good to all, and prepares food for all His creatures whom He has created, as it is said: You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed are You, L-rd, who provides food for all.
We offer thanks to You, L-rd our G-d, for having given as a heritage to our ancestors a precious, good and spacious land; for having brought us out, L-rd our G-d, from the land of Egypt, and redeemed us from the house of bondage; for Your covenant which You have sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah which You have taught us; for Your statutes which You have made known to us; for the life, favor, and kindness which You have graciously bestowed upon us; and for the food we eat with which You constantly nourish and sustain us every day, at all times, and at every hour.
For all this, L-rd our G-d, we give thanks to You and bless You. May Your Name be blessed by the mouth of every living being, constantly and forever, as it is written: When you have eaten and are satiated, you shall bless the L-rd your G-d for the good land which He has given you. Blessed are You, L-rd, for the land and for the sustenance.
Have mercy, L-rd our G-d, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion the abode of Your glory, upon the kingship of the house of David Your anointed, and upon the great and holy House over which Your Name was proclaimed. Our G-d, our Father, our Shepherd, nourish us, sustain us, feed us, and provide us with plenty; and speedily, L-rd our G-d, grant us relief from all our afflictions. L-rd our G-d, please do not make us dependent upon the gifts of mortal men nor upon their loans, but only upon Your full, open, holy, and generous hand, that we may never be shamed or disgraced. As the leader recites aloud the words Remember…for good life in the following paragraph, the others respond Amen as indicated.
Our G-d and G-d of our fathers, may there ascend, come, and reach; be seen, accepted, and heard; recalled and remembered before You the remembrance and recollection of us, the remembrance of our fathers, the remembrance of Mashiach the son of David Your servant, the remembrance of Jerusalem Your holy city, and the remembrance of all Your people the House of Israel, for deliverance, well-being, grace, kindness, mercy, good life, and peace, on this day of the festival of Remembrance. Remember us on this [day], L-rd our G-d, for good (Amen); be mindful of us on this [day] for blessing (Amen); help us on this [day] for good life (Amen). With the promise of deliverance and compassion, spare us and be gracious to us, and have mercy upon us and deliver us, for our eyes are directed to You; for You, G-d, are a gracious and merciful King. And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are You, L-rd, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, benevolent G-d, our Father, our King, our Strength, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, the King who is good and does good to all, each and every day. He has done good for us, He does good for us, and He will do good for us; He has bestowed, He bestows, and He will forever bestow upon us grace, kindness, and mercy; relief, salvation and success; blessing and deliverance; consolation, livelihood and sustenance; compassion, life, peace, and all goodness; and may He never cause us to lack any good. May the Merciful One reign over us forever and ever. May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth. May the Merciful One be praised for all generations, and pride Himself in us forever and to all eternity, and glorify Himself in us forever and ever. May the Merciful One provide our livelihood with honor.
May the Merciful One break the yoke of exile from our neck, and may He lead us upright to our land. May the Merciful One send abundant blessing into this house and upon this table at which we have eaten. May the Merciful One send us Elijah the prophet—may he be remembered for good—and let him bring us good tidings, deliverance, and consolation. May the Merciful One bless my father, my teacher, the master of this house, and my mother, my teacher, the mistress of this house; them, their household, their children, and all that is theirs; us, and all that is ours. Just as He blessed our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, “in all things,” “by all things,” with “all things,” so may He bless all of us together (the children of the Covenant) with a perfect blessing, and let us say, Amen. From heaven, may there be invoked upon him and upon us such merit as will bring enduring peace. May we receive blessing from the L-rd and kindness from G-d our deliverer, and may we find grace and good understanding in the eyes of G-d and man.
May the Merciful One let us inherit that day which is all good. May the Merciful Onegrant us the privilege of reaching the days of the Mashiach and the life of the World to Come. He is a tower of deliverance to His king, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever. He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
Fear the L-rd, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want. Young lions are in need and go hungry, but those who seek the L-rd shall not lack any good. Give thanks to the L-rd for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed is the man who trusts in the L-rd, and the L-rd will be his security.
THE END OF THE OFFICIAL ROSH HASHANAH DINNER. FOLLOW THE SAME STEPS BOTH NIGHTS
FAST OF GEDALIAH – Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Fast begins at 5:21AM and ends at 7:42 PM
This is a public Fast Day on which we commemorate the murder of Gedaliah ben Achikam, the governor appointed by the Babylonian king as ruler of the Jews in Israel.
The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the Ten Days of Repentance. During these ten days, it is appropriate to do as many good deeds as possible. The Zodiac sign of this month of Tishrei is a pair of scales. Every Jew must look at these scales as though they are balanced and attempt to tip them in his favor through acts of loving kindness.
My Russian Video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBPJEVVB3I8
For more information on Rosh Hashanah go to: http://www.partnersintorah.org/uploads/rh6009.pdf
