Tuesday, Elul 7, 5777 / August 29, 2017

Rosh Hashana is in three weeks. Rosh Hashana begins, Wednesday night, September 20, ushering in the New Year, 5778.

Although Rosh Hashana may vary from year to year on the secular calendar, it is always on the same day in the Hebrew calendar - on the first day of the Hebrew month, Tishrei.

Each holiday has a historical event attached to it. It celebrates a very important occasion which lasts to this very day. Rosh Hashana, as the name implies, is the “head of the year.” On Rosh Hashana begins the New Year.

Q.What is the historical significance of Rosh Hashana to be the day in which the New Year begins?

A. Rosh Hashana is celebrated on the sixth day of creation – the day in which Adam and Eve were created.

Q.  Why was the sixth day of creation, when Adam and Eve were created, chosen as Rosh Hashana, not the first day of creation?

A.  G-d created the universe so that mankind should "tend to it and keep it" (Gen. 2:15). Thus, the New Year - Rosh Hashana, begins on the day when mankind (Adam and Eve) were created, for the upkeep and continuity of the universe depends on us and is our responsibility.

Q.Why is Rosh Hashana considered the Day of Judgment?

A.On the same day in which they were created, Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit of the "tree of knowledge" and were judged by G-d. It was the day of judgment for Adam and Eve.  Our sages in the Midrash explain that G-d said to Adam, "Just as you stood in judgment before me on this day, so will your descendants (the entire world) be judged on this day each year."

Q.  What is the meaning of "Rosh Hashana?"

A.The literal translation of "Rosh Hashana" is "Head of the year." Our sages explain: just as the head controls the entire body of the person, so too, on Rosh Hashana, the head of the year, G-d determines what will happen the entire coming year. Everything that will happen during the coming year is decreed on Rosh Hashana. Indeed, “Shana” which means year in Hebrew, has the numerical value of 355.  The average Hebrew year is comprised of approximately 355 days.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

& MAY WE ALL BE INSCRIBED AND SEALED FOR A SHANA TOVA

A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESFUL NEW YEAR