Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) began at sunset.

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year” in Hebrew and is the Jewish New Year.

Now we have the confusing part. Rosh Hashanah falls in the month of Tishrei which is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. How is it the New Year?

The Jewish calendar starts with the month of Nissan which is the time of year when the Jews were freed from Egypt. However, it is believed that Tishrei is when God created the world.

Now does it make sense as to why Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year?

It is traditional to eat apples with honey on Rosh Hashanah. In the picture above you see boxes of apples that are for sale in the Golan Heights. I am sure that the both the shops and roadside vendors did a large business in both apples and honey this past week.

Here you see a Druze man selling apples and honey at a scenic overlook along the Syrian border. There are many Druze that live in the Golan Heights area and they are known for the apples that they grow. Of course honey production goes along with orchards.

Visit my post, Looking into Syria, to find out more about the Druze.

I also wrote a post about honey in Israel. Click on: Flowing with Honey

Apples and honey are eaten on Rosh Hashanah to express the desire for a sweet new year. The apples are cut into slices and then dipped into honey.

Other foods eaten for Rosh Hashanah include round loaves of challa bread, honey cakes, fish and pomegranates.

Happy New Year to all my Jewish friends!

Steven