Exploring the Mitzvot and Minhagim of Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana is so much more than just  “the Jewish New Year.” It’s the first   of the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, when  Hashem inscribes us in the Book of   Life. Everything we do on this holiday is  about setting the tone for the year ahead.   Let’s take a look at how its mitzvot  and minhagim help us do exactly that. The Seudah.  What’s a Jewish holiday without a good meal? On  Rosh Hashana, we cover our table with symbolic   foods that reflect our hopes for what’s to  come. For example, we eat round challahs,   representing the circle of life, and of course,  dip apples in honey for a sweet new year. Blowing the Shofar. If the seudah sets our hopes, the shofar   calls us to action. On each day of Rosh Hashana,  we hear a total of 100 shofar blasts, echoing the   sounds of crying and stirring us to do teshuvah. While the general minhag is to hear all 100   blasts, technically, men are only obligated  to hear 30. While women are not obligated,   they are encouraged to fulfill the mitzvah of  hearing the shofar. If you are unable to make   it to shul, you can have someone blow the shofar  for you at home during any point of the day. Saying Tashlich. On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashana,   we have the custom to walk to a body of water and  recite Tashlich, in which we symbolically “cast   off” our sins. Don’t live near a body of water?  Don’t worry! You have all the way until the end   of Hoshana Raba to perform Tashlich. But wait! What about the bread?  I knew you’d ask that. While many people  believe that we’re supposed to throw bread   into the water as a physical representation  of our sins, the truth is that’s not really   part of Tashlich. In fact, on Rosh Hashana, it’s  actually prohibited because we’re not allowed to   feed wild animals like birds or fish on Yom Tov! From the foods we eat, to the sounds we hear,   everything we do on Rosh Hashana helps  us start the year off strong with a   renewed sense of direction and hope. Shanah Tovah!