The Laws of Rosh Hashanah
- There are two beginnings to the Jewish calendar year, Nissan and Tishrei - reflecting the dual nature of Jewish calendar - lunar and solar, respectively. Nissan is the month of the Exodus from Egypt and Tishrei is the month of the Creation.
- All the months follow the phases of the moon, and the years are adjusted so that the festivals stay in their appropriate seasons.
- There is a specific harmony and rhythm to the Festivals, which serve to blend the physical and spiritual worlds, and to join nature with the human life-cycle.
- The festival of Rosh Hashanah lasts for two days, even in Israel where all other festivals are only one day.
- Prohibition of Melacha (certain types of work). Exceptions - food preparation, carrying, transferring or increasing fire. (For more information see the Laws of Yom Tov.)
- The obligations to honor and enjoy the Festival are fulfilled by preparations like bathing, haircuts, special (new) clothing and cleaning the house. A husband must buy new clothing or jewelry for his wife. Treats are given to the children.
- The woman of the household lights candles before sunset of the first night and a half hour after sunset on the second night of Rosh Hashanah and recites blessings over the candles.
- The festival is sanctified in words (Kiddush) over wine at the night and also during the day, before the meals.
- Foods representing joy and blessing are eaten at the night meals, and prayers are recited for a good year using puns based on the names and nature of the foods (simanim) - fish head, carrots, pomegranate (lettuce, raisin, celery).
- Two festive meals each day.
- Guests! Maimonides - "One who celebrates but closes his door to the less fortunate is engaged in joy of the stomach and not joy of a mitzvah."
- Special Greeting for the first night of Rosh Hashanah:
- "Be inscribed and sealed for a good year!"
- To a man - "Leshana tova tikateiv v'techateim!"
- To a woman - "Leshana tova tikateivi vetichatemi!"
- The Silent Prayer (Amidah) of Rosh Hashanah has three essential components:
- Kingship (Majesty)
- Memories (Judgment)
- Shofar (Torah / Sinai)
- Laws of Shofar Blowing
- The commandment to hear the shofar blowing requires conscious intent to fulfill the mitzvah.
- The shofar blower recites two blessings; the community must listen to the blessings and respond "Amen" to each one. (One should not say "Baruch hu uvaruch sh'mo" to these blessings.)
- One should stand during the recitation of the blessings and for all of the shofar blasts.
- It is forbidden to speak from the beginning of the first blessing until after the final shofar blast (at the end of Mussaf).
- Havdalah - concluding blessing over wine.