Rosh HaShanah

Rosh HaShanah is also known as Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets), Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance), and Yom HaDin (The Day of Judgement). Scholars say that the name Rosh HaShanah (New Year) was applied to this day sometime during the second century before the Common (Christian) Era (B.C.). They believe it came from the Babylonian influence on the captive Jews, since the Babylonians observed their "new year" around the same time.  

Concerning the Fall Feasts of Rosh HaShanah it is written in the Torah: "Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by the blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord’" Leviticus 23:23-25.

What is called the Jewish New Year is not a holiday, in Biblical terms it is a holy day. It is one of the Lord’s appointed times. The official name of this feast day is Rosh HaShanah. Ironically the Bible only alludes to this feast in a few places and only once is it called Rosh HaShanah. In Ezekiel 40:1 the prophet declares, "In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year . . ." "At the beginning of the year," this is the translation for Rosh HaShanah. It is the beginning of the year for the Jewish people. This is the beginning of the civil year.

An intrigal part of this feast is the shofar, or ram’s horn, it is an essential part of the Feast of Rosh HaShana. Hence the name Yom Teruah. The shofar’s sound is quite distinctive as it is blown to call Israel to return with all their heart to the Lord. Israel was to put away labors and all disobedience at this time of the year.

In Israel’s past on the day of Rosh HaShanah, at the sounding trumpets, the following words were spoken: "Awake you that are sleepy and ponder your deeds; remember your Creator and go to Him for forgiveness. Do not be like those who miss reality in their hunt after shadows, and waste your years in seeking after vain things which can neither profit nor deliver. Look well to your souls and consider your deeds and let each one of you forsake his evil ways and thoughts, and return to the Lord, so that He may have mercy on you" (Maimonides Laws of Repentance 3:4).