Light Candles

On the evening of Rosh Hashanah, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, all girls (and women) light the holiday candles (see this link for the exact days and times). On the following night, Sept. 26, 2022, light candles after dark from an existing flame. After lighting, the following blessings are said:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-shehr ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nayr shehl yohm hah-zee-kah-rohn./br >Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-kee-mah-noo ve-hig-ee-yah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh.

Blessed are you, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Day of Remembrance.
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.

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 first 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 Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 26 and 27, 2022, 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 (the second day, since the first is Shabbat), 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, Oct. 16, 2022, 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.