Rosh Hashanah 2026: Hebrew New Year 5787 explained

Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Saturday, 12 September 2026 and continues through Monday, 14 September. It's the Jewish New Year — the start of Hebrew year 5787 A.M. (Anno Mundi, "from creation"), marking the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance leading to Yom Kippur.

The name Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) literally means "head of the year." It's the most important holiday in the Jewish calendar after Yom Kippur, and one of the High Holy Days (Yamim Noraim — "Days of Awe").

For broader Hebrew calendar context, see /hebrew-calendar.

Quick reference: Rosh Hashanah 2026

Why does Rosh Hashanah fall on different Gregorian dates?

The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar — months follow the moon, but a leap month is added 7 times every 19 years to keep the calendar aligned with the solar year. As a result, Rosh Hashanah shifts within the September-October window each year:

The earliest possible date is around September 5; the latest is October 5.

What year is 5787?

The Hebrew calendar starts from a calculated date of creation — 3761 BCE. This year is computed from Biblical genealogies in Genesis. So:

• 2026 CE + 3761 BCE = 5787 A.M. (Anno Mundi, "in the year of the world")

This is a religious anchor rather than a scientific claim — Reform and Conservative Judaism teach that the date is symbolic, while Orthodox traditions may treat it as more literal.

The shofar — central ritual

The defining sound of Rosh Hashanah is the shofar — a ritual ram's horn blown at specific points during synagogue services. The blowing follows a precise pattern of:

• Tekiah (תְּקִיעָה) — a single long blast
• Shevarim (שְׁבָרִים) — three medium blasts
• Teruah (תְּרוּעָה) — nine short staccato blasts
• Tekiah Gedolah (תְּקִיעָה גְּדוֹלָה) — a final extra-long blast

These are repeated in sequences throughout the morning service, totaling 100 blasts on each day (rabbinic tradition).

The shofar's purpose, per medieval philosopher Maimonides, is to wake the soul from spiritual sleep — a call to repentance and self-examination.

Two-day holiday — Yom Tov

Unlike most Jewish holidays celebrated for one day in Israel and two in the diaspora, Rosh Hashanah is observed for two days even in Israel. This is because the moon-sighting in ancient times made the exact date uncertain — and the two-day observance became permanent.

The two days are considered "one long day" (yoma arichta) — the same restrictions apply across both:

• No work (Yom Tov restrictions, similar but slightly less strict than Shabbat)
• Festive meals and synagogue attendance
• Cooking permitted (unlike Shabbat) by transferring fire, not lighting new

Apples and honey — sweet new year

The most famous Rosh Hashanah custom is dipping apple slices in honey while reciting:

"May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that You renew for us a good and sweet year."

This dates to the medieval Talmudic commentaries and represents a hope for a sweet (good) new year. Other symbolic foods include:

• Round challah — symbolizing the cyclical nature of the year and crowns
• Pomegranates — said to have 613 seeds, matching the 613 mitzvot (commandments)
• Fish head — "to be at the head, not the tail" of the year
• Carrots / tzimmes — Yiddish word for carrot (mehren) also means "increase"
• Dates — Hebrew word (tamar) sounds like "consume" (yitamu — for enemies)

Tashlich — casting away sins

On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (or second day if first falls on Shabbat), many Jews go to a body of flowing water — river, ocean, stream — for Tashlich (תַּשְׁלִיךְ, "to cast away").

Bread crumbs or pebbles are thrown into the water while reciting Micah 7:19: "And you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." The ritual symbolizes letting go of past wrongs in preparation for the soul-searching of the High Holy Days.

Ten Days of Repentance

Rosh Hashanah opens the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (עֲשֶׂרֶת יְמֵי תְשׁוּבָה — "Ten Days of Repentance"), which culminate in Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, 21 September 2026).

During these ten days:

• People seek forgiveness from those they've wronged
• Daily Selichot (penitential prayers) are added to morning services
• Charity (tzedakah) is increased
• The greeting changes from "Shana Tova" (Good Year) to "Gmar Chatima Tova" (May you be sealed for a good year)

According to tradition, on Rosh Hashanah God opens three books — for the righteous, the wicked, and the in-between. On Yom Kippur the books are sealed.

Rosh Hashanah greetings

The most common greeting:

• "שָׁנָה טוֹבָה" (Shanah Tovah) — "Good year" or "Happy new year"
• "שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה" (Shanah Tovah u'Metukah) — "Good and sweet year"
• "לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תִּכָּתֵב וְתֵחָתֵם" (L'shanah tovah tikatev v'tichatem) — "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year"

After Rosh Hashanah and before Yom Kippur:

• "גְּמַר חֲתִימָה טוֹבָה" (G'mar Chatima Tova) — "May your final sealing be good"

Synagogue services

Rosh Hashanah services are long — typically 4-5 hours both mornings — and feature unique liturgy not used the rest of the year:

• Avinu Malkeinu ("Our Father, our King") — petitionary prayer
• U'Netaneh Tokef — dramatic medieval poem describing God's judgment
• Aleinu with full bowing during repeated phrases
• Shofar blowing in three groups

Conservative and Reform congregations often abbreviate or modify these. Reconstructionist and Renewal congregations may add creative liturgy.

Related references

• Hebrew calendar 5786-5787
• Yom Kippur 2026 holiday detail
• Israel 2026 holidays
• September 2026 calendar
• Hanukkah 2026 (December)
• Passover 2026 (April)

Rosh Hashanah dates here follow Orthodox and Conservative observance. Some Reform congregations observe only one day. Always confirm with your synagogue.