Rosh Hashanah To Do List

Light Candles
On the evening of Rosh Hashanah, September 16, 2012, all girls (and women) light the holiday candles (see this link for the exact days and times) and recite the following blessings:

1) 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 Day of Remembrance.

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 Hazikaron.

2) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh

On September 17, 2012, light candles after dark from an existing flame and recite:

1) Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to light the candle of the Day of Rememberance.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom Hazikaron.

2) Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

New Year's Greetings
It is customary to greet one another with blessings of Leshana Tova Tekatev v'etachetem - May you be inscribed for a sweet and good year!

Eat Sweets
On Rosh Hashanah we eat some special foods, which symbolize blessing, such as the head of the fish, a pomegranate and lots of sweet food so that our year should be as sweet as honey.

We also eat an apple dipped in honey and recite the following blessing:

Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

And then:
May it be Your will that you bestow on us a sweet and good new year.

Hear The Shofar
On both days of Rosh Hashanah, September 17th and 18th, 2012, make sure to go to the synagogue closest to you to hear the shofar blown.

Click here to find a synagogue closest to you.

Throw your sins away
On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, September 17, 2012, go to a pond, spring or river, where there are fish and recite the special Tashlich prayers.

Tashlich means to cast away, we cast away our sins into the water and start the new year from fresh, with a clean record.

NOTE: If you weren't able to go to Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah, not to worry, you have till the last day of Sukkot, October 7, 2012, to do the service. (That's the day when the sealed judgment is actually rendered).

Click here to find a tashlich service closest to you.