Rosh Hashanah Check List
Prepare for Rosh Hashanah 5785 - 2024

Prior to Rosh Hashanah

Purchase:

  • Sweet apples
  • Honey
  • New Fruit
  • Head of fish
  • Pomegranates
  • Gift for family
  • Other foods connected with abundance and sweetness i.e. carrots
  • Enough candles for 2 days of Rosh Hashanah 
  • Long burning candles (at least 48 hours)
  • Round, sweet, raisin Challah

General Cooking Tips

  • Cook without vinegar, and in general avoid sharp, sour foods
  • We also do not eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah

Beginning of Rosh Hashanah, Wednesday night

  • Before sundown, light a long burning candle (Yohrtzeit candle)
  • Light Holiday candles. Candle lighting time is 7:10 p.m. (say Shabbat and Holiday Blessing, as well as she’he’chiyanu.
  • After Arvit, evening prayer, wish all to be inscribed and sealed for a good year, see machzor for exact wording for men and women.
  • Kiddush- special for Rosh Hashana
  • Wash your hands ritually for Challah
  • Say the regular bracha, cut and dip into honey and eat
  • Cut another piece and dip into salt
  • Cut up apple and dip into honey
  • Make bracha … borei pri ha’etz DON’T EAT YET
  • Say special Yehi Ratzon found in the Machzor
  • NOW eat your apple dipped in honey
  • Eat part of the head of a fish
  • During this meal eat other foods that are connected with abundance and sweetness etc. i.e. carrots (tzimmes), pomegranates

Thursday Night | Second Night of Rosh Hashanah

  • Begin preparation for meal AFTER night fall, 8:09 p.m.
  • Place new fruit on table before lighting candles
  • Light Holiday candles from a pre existing flame, making blessing for Holiday and She’he’chiyanu. When saying she’he’chiyanu, have in mind the new fruit you will eat at the meal.
  • Before washing for Challah, all should partake of the new fruit, eat enough to make an after bracha.
  • Make an after bracha for the fruit
  • Wash for the Challah, and like yesterday, dip into honey first, then dip into salt.
  • Enjoy the rest of your meal like on a regular Holiday, no need to add the ‘symbolic foods’ as in the first night. We still do not eat sharp, sour foods or nuts.

SHANA TOVAH UMETUKA!

THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM!