Rosh hashanah traditions: the six ways to ring in the jewish new year


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TORAH READINGS Observers read the Torah on both mornings of Rosh Hashanah. On the first day, they read about Isaac's birth and banishment of Hagar and Ishmael, followed by a reading of


Samuel the Prophet. The prayers revolve around the occasion in scripture as well as both births took place on Rosh Hashanah. GREETINGS On the second morning, observers read about


Abraham's symbolic sacrifice of his son, Isaac. Blowing the Shofar evokes the ram, which features in the story. People also greet one another with set phrases during Rosh Hashanah,


saying “Leshana tovah tikatev v’tichatem,” for men, and “Leshana tovah tikatevee v’tichatemee” for women. The first phrase translates to "may you be inscribed and sealed for a good


year”, and afterwards people wish others a “G’mar chatimah tovah”, which means “a good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life]”.