Rosh Hashana 5786

Rosh Hashanah 5786

Dvar Torah
On Rosh Hashanah, we read about two women — Sarah and Hannah — who longed for children and whose heartfelt prayers were answered with the births of Isaac and Samuel. Jewish tradition teaches that their prayers were answered on Rosh Hashanah itself, which is why we read their stories on this day.

The Midrash adds something beautiful: when Sarah’s prayers were answered, many others who were waiting for blessings were answered at the same time. The prayers for the birth of Isaac brought not only joy to his parents, but a wave of joy to the world — a world filled with laughter as once-barren women embraced their newborn children.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, this reminds us that nothing is beyond reach. Like Sarah and Hannah, our prayers — our deepest hopes for what is missing in our lives — can be heard.

But Rosh Hashanah is not only a personal moment; it is a day for the entire Jewish people, in fact the entire world. Like our matriarch Sarah, our prayers carry the potential to uplift, heal, and bring blessing far beyond ourselves. May we all be blessed to enter this new year with open hearts, remembering that our sincere prayers of words and hopes can truly change the world.

Rosh Hashanah Customs
The Talmud (Keritot 6a) teaches that it is customary to eat Simanim—auspicious foods—on Rosh Hashanah to inspire us ahead of the new year. Perhaps the most well-known is the apple dipped in honey, symbolizing a sweet year ahead. Many families also add a creative twist, inventing their own Simanim or playfully adapting the traditional ones (for example, replacing a fish’s head with gummy fish).

Rosh Hashanah in (Monday)/out (Wednesday) times
Yerushalayim 17:55/19:09
Tel-Aviv 18:15/19:11
Sydney 17:33/18:30
Paris 19:30/20:31
London 18:40/19:43
NYC 18:34/19:30
Toronto 18:56/19:53
San Jose (CR) 17:14/18:02

Shanna Tova!

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