Rosh Hashanah: A New Year for the Soul

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, marks more than just a date change—it’s considered the “birthday of the world,” a time to reflect on creation, purpose, and personal growth. In 2025, it begins at sunset on Monday, September 22 and lasts through Wednesday, September 24. While it’s celebrated with festive meals and symbolic foods (like apples dipped in honey for a sweet year), it’s also a deeply introspective holiday.

According to Jewish tradition, this is the day when all people pass before G‑d, who reviews their lives and sets the tone for the year ahead. That might sound intense, but for many, it’s an invitation to pause, reset, and think about who they are and who they want to become.

The central ritual is hearing the shofar, a ram’s horn blown in synagogue. Its raw, emotional sound is meant to wake us up spiritually and inspire us to take the upcoming year seriously.

Other customs include Tashlich, where people symbolically cast away their mistakes into a body of water, and round challah dipped in honey to symbolize the cycle of life and our hopes for sweetness ahead.

Even if you're not religious, Rosh Hashanah is a meaningful time to reflect, reconnect with community, and step into the new year with intention.