Rosh Hashanah 2025: the main traditions and prohibitions of the holiday
21 September 22:12
Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, is one of the most important holidays in Judaism. It is not just the beginning of the new year, but a time of spiritual renewal, reflection on the past, and planning for the future.
When Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in 2025, how to prepare for this holiday, what are the traditions and prohibitions, "Komersant Ukrainian" tells.
When is Rosh Hashanah celebrated in 2025?
Rosh Hashanah falls in the autumn month of Tishrei according to the Jewish calendar. The dates of its celebration change every year. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah will be celebrated from the evening of September 22 to the evening of September 24.
What is the significance of this holiday?
Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” in Hebrew. This is not a loud celebration, but rather a spiritual beginning – a time of prayer, self-reflection, and hope for a better future. For two days, the shofar, a ram’s horn, is blown in synagogues to call people to repentance.
“Rosh Hashanah is one of the main Jewish holidays. It marks the beginning of the New Year and the beginning of the cycle of renewal. Literally, Rosh Hashanah is translated as “The Head of the Year”. From this day, we start counting down to a new meaning of religious and philosophical life. The celebration mainly consists of additional prayers, because Rosh Hashanah begins a 10-day cycle when a Jew must undergo atonement, remember his sins of the past year, and come “purified” and meaningful to another holiday, Yom Kippur, which is called the Day of Judgment. It comes 10 days after Rosh Hashanah,” explained Albert Feldman, director of the Golda Meir Ukrainian-Israeli Institute for Strategic Studies, artist and public figure, doctor of psychology, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
He said that since these days Jews remember their sins of the past year, they are also called the terrible days. They are neither holidays nor mourning days, but during this period a person should think more about his or her actions and pray more.
“These 10 days after Rosh Hashanah are days of atonement and confession to oneself, because Jews do not confess to rabbis or religious authorities. We draw conclusions for ourselves that make us become better, spend the next year more righteously, with more good deeds,” added Albert Feldman.
What should be done on the eve?
The period preceding Rosh Hashanah is called the month of Elul, a time of spiritual preparation.
Repentance (teshuvah). Jews spend time introspecting, rethinking their actions, and repenting for sins committed throughout the year. It is believed that it is on Rosh Hashanah that God judges all people.
Forgiveness. On the eve of the holiday, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from those whom you may have offended. Without sincere reconciliation with people, reconciliation with God is impossible.
Preparing for the holiday. People clean, cook traditional dishes, decorate their homes, and prepare for the holiday prayer in the synagogue.
The main traditions of the holiday
This year, Rosh Hashanah will come on September 22 at about 8 pm. At this point, the first prayer for the holiday will end. It is read in all synagogues around the world almost simultaneously. It is followed by a festive meal with symbolic foods that are visual symbols of the New Year.
Listening to the shofar. This is the main ritual of the holiday. The shofar is a special ritual instrument made of ram’s horn. Its sound calls believers to spiritual awakening and repentance. The shofar opens the holiday and closes it on the 10th day, when the Day of Judgment is celebrated. But on Rosh Hashanah itself, the horn is not blown.
A festive meal. The table must contain symbolic dishes that represent wishes for the coming year.
Apples with honey. They are eaten to make the year “sweet”.
A round hala. It symbolizes the cyclical nature of the year.
Pomegranate. Pomegranate seeds symbolize good deeds. It is believed to have as many seeds as the commandments in the Torah (613).
the “head” of the fish. It is eaten to be “at the head” and not in the “tail”.
Tashlich. On the first day of the holiday, people go to a pond to symbolically “throw” their sins into the water. They read prayers and shake their clothes over the water to start the new year with a clean soul.
“There should be a pomegranate on the festive table – it is both a symbol of the New Year and a symbol of the 613 commandments. It is also a symbol of wealth and all the best that people want to wish each other in the New Year. There should also be apples. Their rounded shape represents the completeness and fullness of the year. Another important symbol is that there should be a fish head or a ram’s head on the table. These are the symbols of beginning, leadership, and a new start,” said Albert Feldman.
He added that two candles are lit during dinner and the idea of a minor key during a meal is a mistake.
There is a widespread misconception about the minor candle during a meal, but it can be lit only in a temple (a synagogue is not considered a temple, Jews recognize only the Jerusalem Temple: it was first destroyed in the sixth century B.C., and again in 69 A.D.). According to Jewish doctrine, the third time the temple will rise after the coming of the Messiah – Ed.) On the holiday, we greet each other with the words “Shana Tuva” – have a good year!” said the director of the research institute.
According to Feldman, most Jews go to synagogues to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, but they can also celebrate at home. The main condition is that there should be 10 adult men (over 13 years old) at the table.
“Because a collective prayer is considered valid when 10 men are present after the rite of passage. This is not a strict requirement, but ideally it should be so,” the expert emphasized.
Bans on Rosh Hashanah
Like other important Jewish holidays, there are a number of prohibitions on Rosh Hashanah.
- Prohibition on labor. It is forbidden to perform any work during the holiday.
- Prohibition on the use of fire. It is only permitted to use a fire transferred from another source that was lit on the eve of the holiday.
- A ban on the use of transportation. It is customary to leave transportation and spend the holiday at home or in a synagogue.
Peculiarities of Rosh Hashanah celebrations in Ukraine
In general, all Jewish communities live by the same rules. Of course, some aspects are not available in Ukraine, but the celebration of Rosh Hashanah is the same as in Israel.
According to Feldman, in Ukraine, during the holiday, another separate prayer is recited for Ukraine’s victory and peace.
“And the diaspora has long had a tradition of celebrating all holidays for two days. Back in the day, there was no precise technology and there was a chance to make a mistake with the date, so it was better to take one more day so as not to miss the holiday. In Israel, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days when it falls on a Saturday, because it is the most important day for Jews,” explained the director of the research institute.
