Rosh Hashanah 2026 (5787): Holiday Times and Comprehensive Guide to Customs

Rosh Hashanah 5787 will begin on the evening of Friday, September 11, 2026. The holiday will end at the conclusion of Sunday, September 13, 2026.

Holiday Entry and Exit Times (11/09/2026 – 13/09/2026):

• Jerusalem: entry 18:15, exit 19:25

• Tel Aviv: entry 18:31, exit 19:27

• Haifa: entry 18:25, exit 19:26

• Beersheba: entry 18:24, exit 19:26

Students in the Israeli education system will begin their holiday break on Monday, 29 Elul (September 11, 2026). Studies will resume on Monday, 3 Tishrei (September 14, 2026), providing families with four consecutive days of vacation.

Spiritual Dimensions of Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah carries four central dimensions:

1. Day of Judgment: The Almighty judges all creatures and determines their fate for the coming year.

2. Coronation of the Almighty: The people of Israel re-accept the kingdom of the Creator, expressed through the blowing of the shofar and prayers.

3. Beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance: The holiday opens the Days of Awe, which conclude on Yom Kippur.

4. Remembrance of the Creation of Man: The holiday marks the sixth day of the creation of the world.

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Traditional Symbols for the Holiday Table

The custom of eating symbolic foods, known as 'simana milta' (a good sign), is mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud:

• Pomegranate: A symbol of fertility and the multiplication of commandments.

• Apple with Honey: A symbol of sweetness and goodness.

• Rubia (beans): A symbol of growth and fertility.

• Kartei (leek): A symbol of removing obstacles.

• Fish or Ram's Head: A symbol of leadership.

• Carrot: A symbol of good decrees.

• Beet: A symbol of removing negativity.

• Date: A symbol of the end of sin.

• Pumpkin (kara): A symbol of tearing up evil decrees.

• New Fruit: A symbol of renewal.

Holiday Preparation

The eve of Rosh Hashanah is a day of spiritual preparation, including the recitation of Selichot prayers and the ceremony of Hatarat Nedarim (annulment of vows). It is customary to visit the graves of the righteous, immerse in a mikvah, and give charity. During the holiday, the central commandment is the blowing of the shofar, alongside the Tashlich ceremony performed near a source of flowing water.