This year Rosh Hashana Begins Monday night September 6, 2021 (7:05 pm Philadelphia time) – ends Wednesday September 8, 2021 AFTER nightfall (8:01 pm Philadelphia time)
Important to note: There is a Mitzvah to listen to the blowing of the Shofar during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is the Birthday of the World and we Coronate the King.
1.
Lighting of the Candles
Women (or if there isn’t a woman in the house, the head of the household), light candles. Light a 24 hour candle before the holiday begins and light second night, September 7th from the existing candle.
Blessings for the evenings September 6 (7:05 pm Philadelphia Time) and
September 7, (after 8::02 pm 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.]
NOTE: Chabad costume is to say: “le-hadlik ner shel Yom hazikaron” instead of “le-hadlik ner al Yom Tov”
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.
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:
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’olamborei 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 avoteinush’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.
FAST OF GEDALIAH – Thursday September 9, 2021
Fast begins at 5:07AM and ends at 7:46 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 Hashana and Yom Kippur are called the Ten Days of Repentanace. 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.
Mystical Observances to Bring More Joy to a New Year
By Rebbitzin Yamima Mizrachi
• It’s vital not to get angry on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Don’t get stuck in worry, anger and definitely not in sadness. The way the year begins, is the way it will flow the coming year. Don’t allow yourself to speak badly.
• Before sitting down at the table look at everyone’s eyes and bless them each individually, feel forgiveness for everyone around you. Allow love and peace to enter your heart. Everyone should say a ‘L’Chaim’ out loud and bless each other with complete joy.
• The Rosh Hashanah the table should be filled with an abundance of colors, different types of foods.
• Apples & Honey: Use red apples, it is for an omen to find one’s soul mate/and for peace between spouses and for getting pregnant. It is an special holy time, before eating the apple, smell the apple and ask for whatever you want. It was at this time that Yakov received the blessing from his father Yitzchak. When he smelled Yakov he smelled the fragrance of Garden of Eden, of the apple, and even though he was undeserving of the blessing, due to the fact that it was supposed to go to his evil brother Esav, he still received it. Ask for anything you wish.
• Pomegranate: Ask G-d to bring out your potential. We all have never ending potential, do we use it all? Ask Almighty for help. Just like it’s hard to take apart the seeds, please G-d help us realize our potential and be who we are meant to be.
• Leeks, Beets, Dates: Ask G-d to take away any feelings of resentment, anger, bitterness towards anyone. Ask Hashem to help us throw these feelings away from ourselves and remove them from our heart. Ask to enable you to be able to rebuild your feelings and relationship with these people.
• Fish Head: Ask G-d that you should lead your household and not anyone else (like our children who tend to control us…) when looking at the fish, ask Hashem to protect you from the evil eye.
• Get up early on Rosh Hashanah; this blesses the coming year with ease. A year that your wishes will be fulfilled quickly. Try to postpone your afternoon rest until after 1:00 PM.
• Very important to dress festively, even wear white and be HAPPY‼️
• Before hearing the shofar accept upon yourselfLove your neighbor as you love yourself. If you hold a grudge towards someone, the shofar will not be able to ascend and sweeten the judgments.
• Very important to shed a tear during the shofar and to wipe the tear over your forehead (to wipe away transgressions). This serves as a shield for the entire year against any bad things i.e. illness. Whoever is able to shed a tear then can be rest assured that she is being judged at that moment!
• Don’t eat anything sour or spicy on Rosh Hashanah, only sweet foods. Everything that you do makes an impact on the entire year. Don’t use walnuts or black grapes.
1) Prepare table early in the afternoon, it is an omen that no troubles will come upon you the entire year. 2) Try not to speak idle talk, the morning of Rosh Hashanah. This way 1/3 of your transgressions will be wiped away. 3) Candles for Rosh Hashanah: before lighting give 18 of ‘something (coins, bills) to charity box: 18 cents, 18 dollars, etc. This serves as an atonement. Ask Hashem that if something bad is supposed to happen, let this charity stand as a protector against it. 4) Buy a new knife and use it on Rosh Hashanah eve to cut open the Challah and apple. It is an omen for a long life and for financial success. 5) Prayer after Meal: Say it with enthusiasm and joy, it is a good luck for financial abundance
6) Recite the Tehilim (Psalms of David) specifically Psalms 1-4 before sleeping on both nights to prevent bad dreams. 7) Buy a new dress/clothing for Rosh Hashanah.