The Jewish New Year: Rosh Hashanah, Feasting, Fasting and Religious Traditions

The Jewish New Year: Rosh Hashanah, Feasting, Fasting and Religious Traditions

The Jewish New Year for people, animals, and legal contracts, Rosh Hashanah will begin at sunset on September 12th and ends at sunset at September 14th and a Rosh Hashanah Party will be held at that time. In today's world, it can be a struggle for modern Jewish families, which often includes blended families, to combine more modern traditions with religious rituals and inherent to the Jewish faith and long established celebrations rooted in the faith.

Many families, especially blended families have started traditions of their own by maintaining the traditions inherent to their faith while blending in elements of other traditions. For example, since Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, some families are blending elements of secular New Year's celebrations with religious tradition and rites, to create new, enduring traditions. Consider combining the two by celebrating with a traditional dinner on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, and invite guests to celebrate the second day with party activities and a blend of traditional and non-traditional food and activities.

It is traditional to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, but with children and those who might not be as familiar with Jewish custom and tradition, that can be difficult, so an effective substitute could be to give everyone noise makers, and separate into groups of four or five. Each person starts blowing at the whistle, and it is easy to judge the winner, because the noise makers roll back up when the blowing stops. The winners get a prize.

Young and old alike can enjoy activities such as crown decorating. Purchase simple paper crowns, and allow everyone to embellish their own with glue, 'jewels' glitter pens, etc. Finally, everyone gets pen and paper and writes their wish for the coming year. The wish can be simple or complex. The wishes are put in envelopes, their names are written on the outside, they are sealed and put away to be read the next year. It can be so interesting to remember from year to year what was and is important to you. With a simple blending of tradition and modern, your Rosh Hashanah Party will combine the best of both worlds while allowing you to maintain the important customs of your faith.