Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is this week. Here's what to know about the holiday

Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is set to begin this week, and it comes a little later than last year's holiday.

The holiday, which also can be spelled Rosh Hashanah, marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days and leads up to Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. Jewish people may spend this day fasting, attending synagogue or observing the holiday in other ways.

When is Rosh Hashana 2024?

According to the Farmer's Almanac , this year Rosh Hashana begins on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and ends at sundown on Friday, Oct. 4.

What is Rosh Hashana?

Rosh Hashana represents the beginning of the Jewish New Year, translating from Hebrew to mean the “head” of the year. It’s commemorated in different ways, including special prayers, foods and gatherings.

The celebration of the new year is the only Jewish holiday that is two days long both inside and outside Israel. It’s called yoma arichta, translated as “a long day” because the 48-hour celebration may be thought of as one extended day.

Why is Rosh Hashana celebrated?

Rosh Hashana is often treated as a time to reflect on the previous year and focus on hopes for the coming year, Jordan Rosenblum, the Belzer Professor of Classical Judaism and Max and Frieda Weinstein-Bascom Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison told USA TODAY.

Rosh Hashana is also important for some Jewish people as a celebration of the creation of humanity. It may be referred to as the "birthday of the world," marking the time when God created — or when the breath of life entered — Adam and Eve.

How is Rosh Hashana celebrated?

Many Jewish people will attend services at synagogues and other spaces for worship on Rosh Hashana. Jewish congregations will recite special prayers and songs to mark the new year.

Some Jewish communities will blow a Shofar, a curved ram’s horn. This is also used to observe Yom Kippur to ceremonially conclude the celebration, Danielle Kranjec, associate vice president of Jewish education at Hillel International, told USA TODAY.

During Rosh Hashana, others may also pray near a body of water in a Tashlich ceremony, in addition to tossing pieces of bread or other food into the water to symbolize sending off sins.

Rosh Hashana in Louisville

Here are some Jewish congregations in Louisville with activities or services for Rosh Hashana 2024:

• Temple Shalom , 4615 Lowe Road
• Keneseth Israel Congregation , 2531 Taylorsville Road
• Congregation Adath Jeshurun , 2401 Woodbourne Ave.

What are some traditional Rosh Hashana foods?

• Apples and honey represent the new year.
• Challah, a braided bread, could be eaten in a round loaf to represent a cycle of the year.
• Pomegranate seeds also represent the 613 mitzvot, or commandments, that are cited in the Torah, the Jewish holy book.

What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, is when Jews reflect on sins or wrongdoings from the previous year. Many Jews will attend services at synagogues or other congregations, reciting special prayers and singing special songs.

Do people eat during Yom Kippur?

No. One of the most common Yom Kippur traditions is to fast for 25 hours, not eating or drinking from the night Yom Kippur begins into the night it ends.

Some Jewish people also avoid other actions on Yom Kippur, such as bathing, applying makeup, wearing leather shoes or having sex.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is this week. Here's what to know about the holiday