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Celebrating the High Holy Days

The History and Tradition of Rosh Hashanah

By Cara J. Stevens

ay and throughout the year.

Young children in Orthodox or strongly religious families are exposed to the traditions at a very early age as they accompany their families to worship, not just on the High Holy Days but throughout the year. Even if you do not go to synagogue with your children, you can still celebrate it by creating your own traditions that you can repeat and develop year after year to provide a foundation for them.

In my family for as long as I can remember we have celebrated the holiday in the same way. Dinner on the first evening begins with the blessings over the wine, candles and bread, as well as the Shehechiyanu, the prayer thanking God for enabling us to celebrate special occasions. We then pass around a charity box and all put in coins or small bills to give to a charity after the holiday. My father then goes around the room and puts his hands on each person's head in succession, silently making a wish for each of us for the coming year, then kissing us on the top of our heads to seal it. Before my grandfathers passed on, this was their role, and I have wonderful, strong memories of my grandparents and great aunts and uncles at our holiday dinners that always resurface as we renew these traditions year after year.

This year, for the first time in my life, I won't be returning "home", as my parents moved from their house of close to four decades just a few months ago. I will, however, be getting together with my family for dinner, late-night conversations, good wine and services at a new synagogue. It won't be what I grew up with, but in continuing a lifetime of traditions, wherever we are will feel like home to me.

Want to see more?

• Hanukkah: A History of Tradition
• Celebrate Hanukkah: Activities to Make, Play and Eat With Your Preschooler
• Transferring Traditions: Passing Down Family Traditions to Your Children
• Talk about it!