Israel Prepares for Rosh Hashanah 2024: Dates, Customs, and Travel
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, will commence on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, and conclude on Friday, October 4, 2024. Observances will begin in Jerusalem at 6:10 PM and end at 7:20 PM, while in Tel Aviv, the holiday starts at 6:27 PM and ends at 7:22 PM. In Haifa, it begins at 6:19 PM and ends at 7:22 PM.
The holiday is marked by the sounding of the shofar, a ritual performed after the morning Torah reading and during the Musaf service. This commandment, rooted in ancient tradition, symbolizes God's coronation as King of the Universe and recalls the revelation at Mount Sinai. Different shofar blasts, including Tekiah, Shevarim, and Teruah, are employed, with a final 'great Tekiah' common in Ashkenazi traditions. While most communities use a ram's horn, Yemenite Jews historically used the 'Kudu' shofar, made from an antelope horn.
Schools will close early on Wednesday, October 2, with students returning on Sunday, October 6. Public transportation will operate on a Friday schedule on October 2 and will not run on October 3 and 4, resuming on Saturday evening, October 5.
Traditional Rosh Hashanah customs include the Seder meal, featuring symbolic foods like apple dipped in honey, pomegranate, and leeks, each accompanied by specific blessings. For instance, eating apples and honey signifies a wish for a sweet new year, while blessings associated with leeks and beets express hopes for the downfall of enemies. Other symbolic foods include the head of a sheep or fish (to be at the head, not the tail) and dates (to end enemies).
The article also includes the blessings for lighting holiday candles and the Kiddush prayer, along with lyrics to traditional Rosh Hashanah songs like "Shana Tova" and "Bashana Haba'ah."
