What is Rosh Hashanah?

The sound of the shofar…

Following Shavuot, we have a long summer before the next holiday arrives in the fall…kicking off what we call the Fall Feasts. On the first day of Tishri (the seventh month in the Jewish calendar), we observe the Feast of Trumpets, which is also known as “Yom Teruah”— the Day of Blowing, or the Day of Trumpet Blasts. However, you might know it by its more common name, “Rosh Hashanah”, meaning “head of the year”…

In Leviticus 23:24, our Lord established this sacred feast: “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a memorial of blowing (shofarot), a holy convocation.” This wasn’t merely a suggestion—it was a divine appointment, a commanded assembly, one of His moedim, marked by the distinctive sound of trumpets.

Rosh Hashanah also connects to the agricultural rhythm of Israel. This connection represents both physical and spiritual harvest—a time to gather what we’ve sown in our lives and prepare for what lies ahead.

“Also you are to observe the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors that you sow in the field, as well as the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your crops from the field.”

Exodus 23:16 TLV

Above all, Rosh Hashanah is a day of acknowledging God’s sovereignty over creation as well as our lives. As Psalm 47:6-7 declares: “God is gone up amidst shouting, Adonai amidst the sound of the shofar. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” It is a special time when we can celebrate the One who spoke the universe into existence.

The Traditions of Rosh Hashanah

The heart of Rosh Hashanah beats with the rhythm of the shofar. This ancient ram’s horn serves as our spiritual alarm clock, piercing through the ordinary rhythm of life and summoning us to attention to our mission as believers. 
Tradition calls for one hundred blasts throughout the day, each carrying deep spiritual significance. The shofar blowing contains three distinct types of calls: tekiah, a long, clear blast; shevarim, a series of three broken, sob-like wails; and teruah, at least nine piercing staccato bursts. Numbers 29:1 reminds us:

“On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a sacred assembly. You are to do no laborious work. It is for you a day for sounding the shofar.”

The celebration doesn’t end with the blowing of the shofar though, it extends to the festive meals we share which are filled with symbolic foods that speak of our hopes for the new year. We dip apples in honey, praying for sweetness in the year ahead. We bake challah in round shapes, representing the endless cycle of God’s faithfulness. We enjoy pomegranates and other exotic fruits that are new to us, symbolizing the fresh opportunities and blessings that await.

As Nehemiah 8:10 encourages us: “So he said to them, ‘Go! Eat choice food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have nothing ready. For today is kadosh to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of Adonai is your strength.” Even in our feasting, we remember those in need and celebrate God’s provision by sharing what we have with those who are in need so that they too can rejoice and celebrate this beautiful holiday!

And finally…casting away the old…One of the most beautiful traditions is Tashlich, where we gather near flowing water to symbolically cast away our sins by throwing breadcrumbs while reciting prayers of repentance. This powerful visual reminds us of Micah 7:19: “He will again have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities, and You will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea.” It’s a tangible way to release the past and embrace the forgiveness God offers to all of His children.

Days of Awe & Messianic Significance

This holiday not only launches the beginning of the Fall Feasts, it also launches the “Days of Awe,” a profound ten-day period of preparation leading up to Yom Kippur which is on the 10th of Tishri. Far from being a simple calendar change, this season serves as an extended invitation to spiritual transformation.

Rosh Hashanah calls us to deep introspection, repentance, and personal examination. Traditionally, this is when people seek to have their names written in the Book of Life for the coming year. As believers in Yeshua, we understand that our eternal destiny is secure:

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been written in the heavens.”

Luke 10:20 TLV

But while we know our names are inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life, this security doesn’t diminish the impact of intentional self-examination in the life of a disciple. These holy days invite us to align our hearts more closely with our Messiah and strive to live lives that would please Him.

The shofar blasts themselves also carry profound meaning for us—a prophetic one. They remind us of the “last trumpet” that will sound at Messiah’s return, as 1 Thessalonians 4:16 describes: “For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s shofar, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first.”

Every shofar blast whispers the same urgent message to us: be ready, be prepared, for our Messiah could return at any moment. This isn’t meant to be a source of anxiety but of joyful anticipation because we serve a faithful God whose promises never fail.

Awakening Together

The holiday of Rosh Hashanah calls us to awaken from any spiritual slumber that may have settled over our hearts during the long summer months. It’s God’s alarm clock for His people, inviting us to shake off complacency and prepare our hearts for the sacred season ahead. The urgency of this season echoes Paul’s words in Romans 13:11…Each day brings us closer to our ultimate hope, the return of our Messiah and the fulfillment of all God’s promises.

As we gather together, we greet one another with “Shanah Tovah”—wishing each other a good year filled with God’s abundant blessings. This isn’t merely social politeness, it’s a recognition that we’re called to encourage one another in faith.

“And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another–and all the more so as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:25 TLV

The Feast of Trumpets teaches us to live with hearts full of expectant hope. We celebrate God’s faithfulness in the past while looking forward with anticipation to what He will do in the future. As Yeshua Himself warned us in Mark 13:31-33: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, except the Father. ‘Keep on the lookout! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time is.'”

Rosh Hashanah at B’rit Hadasha

With this fast-approaching holiday, we warmly invite you to join us here at B’rit Hadasha for both our Erev Rosh Hashanah (Monday, September 22nd, 2025 at 6PM) and Rosh Hashanah (Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 at 10:30AM) services. Whether you’re new to Messianic faith, exploring your Jewish roots, or a long-time member of our community, these services offer a meaningful way for us to enter the new year together as a community!

What You Can Expect: Our services blend tradition with our faith in Messiah Yeshua. You’ll hear the call of the shofar (maybe even join in with your own shofar), participate in traditional prayers and songs, and experience the joy of celebrating God’s appointed times in community. Come as you are—we’ll provide guidance for any unfamiliar traditions, and our hearts are open to welcoming both newcomers and returning friends.

As we dip apples in honey, eat our honey cake, and share in the sweetness of God’s goodness at the post-service oneg, we’ll be reminded that our hope isn’t just in a good year, but in the good God who holds all of our years in His hands. The shofar calls us not to fear, but to faith—not to anxiety about judgment, but to joy in our salvation.

Shanah Tovah! May this Rosh Hashanah be the beginning of a year filled with God’s blessings, deeper faith, stronger community, and growing anticipation for the day when the final trumpet will sound and our Messiah will return.
For service times and more information about our Rosh Hashanah celebrations, please connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. We can’t wait to worship alongside you as we welcome the new year together!