Rosh Hashanah (head of the year) is the New Year in Judaism. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah  "day of shouting/blasting." It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days that occur in the late summer/early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere. Rosh Hashanah begins ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, as well as beginning the cycle of autumnal religious festivals running through Sukkot which end on Shemini Atzeret in Israel and Simchat Torah everywhere else.

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day observance and celebration that begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the Jewish year. It is the traditional anniversary of the creation.

Rosh Hashanah customs include sounding the shofar (a hollowed-out ram's horn), as prescribed in the Torah, following the prescription of the Hebrew Bible to "raise a noise" on Yom Teruah. Its rabbinical customs include attending synagogue services and reciting special liturgy about teshuva, as well as enjoying festive meals. Eating symbolic foods, such as apples dipped in honey, hoping to evoke a sweet new year, is a popular tradition.

Yom Kippur concludes the ten-day period of repentance and is known as the Sabbath of Sabbaths. On this day, Jews fast and spend the day in prayer, practicing forgiving the sins of others and repenting for their own sins.

In 2024, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of October 2 and concludes on the evening of October 4. Yom Kippur goes from the evening of October 11 to the evening of October 12.

Thanks to Rabbi Susan Abramson of Temple Shalom Emeth for helping with this background!

Learn More About Passover

This list of resources will grow as community members contribute. Send recommendations to hello@burlington.buzz.

Recommended Watching and Reading

• For Jews wishing to strengthen their spiritual practice, My Jewish Learning recommends these nine books to make the High Holy Days even more meaningful.
• For children wishing to learn more about the holidays and their meaning, this list of picture books might help.
• These books can help Jews and non-Jews to better understand the Jewish holidays.
• This list of films offers a unique view of how Jewish values can be woven into everyday lives and stories.

In-person and online resources

• My Jewish Learning is a fantastic resource for learning more about all Jewish traditions; here's their Rosh Hashanah 101.
• JewBelong also has an edgy, modern cheat sheet with a downloadable booklet.

Where to Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Burlington

Below are just a few events happening nearby to celebrate the High Holy Days in Burlington and nearby in 2024. Let us know if you have one you’d like to add!

• Many Jewish members of the community observe the High Holy Days with their families and congregations. However, Jewish Boston features several online and in-person events in and around Boston where Jews of all ages can celebrate the High Holidays.

How do you observe the High Holy Days? What resources would help your neighbors and their children and grandchildren learn more about this holiday? Share your stories with us by emailing hello@burlington.buzz, and your story could be added to this feature!

What are you celebrating or observing? Let us know at hello@burlington.buzz!, and your story could be featured in Community Celebrations.