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Hey friends, my name is Aaron, and this is my family. Here is my dad, my mom, and my sister. Tomorrow, my family and I are celebrating an important Jewish festival. This festival is called Rosh Hashanah. 

Would you like to join my family and take a journey into our celebration today? Awesome, come on and follow me.

Before I tell you about my family traditions, Let’s ask my family what Rosh Hashanah means. 

"Hey, mom can you explain to my friends what Rosh Hashanah means?"

"Of course Aaron, Rosh Hashanah is a 2-day celebration of the Jewish New Year, that happens around September to early October."

Now let’s go find my dad and ask him why we celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

“Hey dad, why do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah?” 

“Rosh Hashanah is the day of prayer to ask God for a happy and safe new year. Rosh Hashanah was the day when God created the world and Adam and Eve. Do you remember when we read the Torah and it said, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Now that we understand what and why we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, let’s ask my sister what special symbols we use to celebrate. 

“Hey big sister, can you explain what symbols we use to celebrate Rosh Hashanah?"

“Sure Aaron, there are 5 main symbols for Rosh Hashanah: Shofar, Apples and Honey, Round bread with Raisins, Pomegranates, and the color white."

“So why do we use these symbols?”

“Well, the Shofar is a ram’s horn that is blown to announce the New Year. The Apples and Honey and Round bread with raisins symbolize the hope for a fruitful and sweet year. Pomegranates seeds symbolize a good life and to perform many mitzvahs (commandments). The Color white symbolizes cleanness and wanting to be close to God."

Now that we understand this amazing festival, let’s get into the celebration of my family and me and how we celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Come on and follow me! 

The day before Rosh Hashanah, my family gathers and remembers our past and thinks about our future 

My mom lights the candles and says a small candle-lighting blessing. This prayer goes something like this:

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with His commandments and command us to kindle the lights of Yom Zikkaron." 

Later, my family and I go to the mikvah, this is a ritual bath on the eve of Rosh Hashanah to be spiritually ready for the celebration tomorrow.  

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, my family and I go to the synagogue for service and to hear the Shofar announce the New Year. The prayer for listening to the Shofar is: 

"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with His commandments and commands us to hear the shofar." 

Later in the afternoon, we go to a river, and we have a Tashlich ceremony. We throw bread crumbs to get rid of our sins.