How to wish someone a happy Jewish New Year in Hebrew and Yiddish

We are about to enter into a period of celebration for those of the Jewish faith known as Rosh Hashanah.

Literally meaning “head of year”, it marks the start of Jewish New Year and brings in a period of self reflection.

As well as marking the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah is also the start of the Ten Days Of Repentance which end on Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement.

This is a time for family, and when people try to do good and charitable deeds, ask for forgiveness, and set the tone for the year ahead.

How to wish someone a happy Rosh Hashanah

Wishing someone a happy Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a thoughtful gesture to show your respect for Jewish traditions.

Here are some ways you can wish someone a happy Rosh Hashanah:

• Shanah Tovah! – This is a traditional Hebrew greeting for Rosh Hashanah, which means Happy New Year.”Pronounced as shah-NAH toe-VAH.
• L’shanah tovah u’metukah! – This Hebrew phrase means “For a good and sweet year.”
• A gut yohr (אַ גוט יאָר), which means “A good year” or “Happy New Year.” This is a common way to wish someone a happy Rosh Hashanah in Yiddish.
• Gut yontif (גוט יום־טוב) – This is a more general greeting used for Jewish holidays, including Rosh Hashanah. It means “Good holiday” in Yiddish.
• Zolst hobn a gezunt yohr (זאָלסט האָבן אַ געזונט יאָר) – This Yiddish phrase wishes for a healthy year.

Being a time for introspection and renewal, your warm wishes will be appreciated.

How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

In biblical terms, Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom Teruah, which means “day of blasting or shouting”.

One of the traditions associated with the day is using an instrument made out of a ram’s horn, known as a “shofar”, to “raise a noise,” according to Hebrew teachings.

Food is an important part of the celebrations, particularly sweet food such as apples dipped in honey, which symbolise a sweet new year.

Other food eaten during the celebrations include round challah loaves dipped into honey, pomegranate, and fish, while drinks of choice include wine or grape juice.

Candles are lit in the evenings and people may also attend special services at Synagogues to say prayers and ask God for forgiveness.

Rosh Hashanah is also thought of as a time to cast away people’s sins, with one tradition seeing people going to a body of a water to say a prayer, in a ceremony known as Tashlich.