Rosh Hashanah Evening Home Ritual

Please note that this page contain the name of God.
If you print it out, please treat it with appropriate respect.

If you do not have experience reading transliteration
please see the Guide to Transliteration.

When the first night of Rosh Hashanah occurs on Shabbat, as it does in 2023 (September 15) and 2026 (September 11), some text is added to some of these traditional blessings in honor of the Sabbath. This text is highlighted in yellow and should only be read on Shabbat. The toggle below can hide the Shabbat text to reduce confusion if your browser supports the toggle feature.

 
Shabbat     Weekdays

Lighting Candles

On the first night, candles should be lit no later than 18 minutes before sundown. On the second night, candles should be lit immediately after nightfall, kindled by an existing flame. For the candle lighting time in your area, consult the list provided by the Orthodox Union or any Jewish calendar.

The words highlighted in yellow should be read only on Shabbat.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו
asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
Who has sanctified us with His commandments
וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר
v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir
and commanded us to light the lights
שֶׁל שַׁבָּת וְשֶׁל
shel shabbat v'shel
of Shabbat and of
יוֹם טוֹב׃ (אָמֵן)
yom tov (Amein)
the holiday (Amen)

Evening Kiddush for Rosh Hashanah

Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of wine or other liquid, no less than 3.3 ounces. If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine).

This kiddush is very similar to the one used on other holidays with slight variations specific to the holiday. The parts that are different for Rosh Hashanah are highlighted in silver to help you see what is special about this kiddush.

On Friday nights (Shabbat), we insert the first paragraph of Shabbat kiddush highlighted in yellow below. There are also a few other bits added for Shabbat, reminding us that it is Shabbat as well as Rosh Hashanah, and reflecting the fact that the shofar is not blown on Shabbat (the sound is known as "teruah"). The Shabbat parts can be turned off with the toggle above if this is supported by your browser.

Do not drink the wine until after completing Shechecheyanu below.

וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר
Vay'hi erev vay'hi voker
And there was evening and there was morning
יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי:
yom hashishi.
a sixth day.
וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ
Vay'khulu hashamayim v'ha'aretz
The heavens and the earth were finished
וְכָל־צְבָאָם:
v'khol tz'va'am.
the whole host of them.
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
vay'khal elohim bayom hash'vi'i
And on the seventh day God completed
מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
m'la'kh'to asher asah.
his work that he had done.
וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
vayish'bot bayom hash'vi'i
and he rested on the seventh day
מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
mikol m'la'kh'to asher asah.
from all his work that he had done.
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת־יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
Vay'varekh Elohim et yom hash'vi'i
And God blessed the seventh day
וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ
vay'kadeish oto
and He sanctified it
כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ
ki vo shavat mikol m'la'kh'to
because in it he had rested from all his work
אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת:
asher bara Elohim la'asot.
that God had created to do.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe

if using wine or grape juice

בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן׃ (אָמֵן)
borei p'ri hagafen (Amein)
Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)

if using other liquids

שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ׃ (אָמֵן)
shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein)
Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל עָם
asher bachar banu mikol am
who has chosen us from among all people
וְרוֹמְמָנוּ מִכָּל לָשׁוֹן
v'rom'manu mikol lashon
and exalted us above every tongue
וְקִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו
v'kid'shanu b'mitz'votav
and sanctified us with His commandments
וַתִּתֶּן לָנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּאַהֲבָה
vatiten lanu Adonai Eloheinu b'ahavah
and you gave us, Lord our God, with love
אֶת
et
this
יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת הַזֶּה וְאֶת
yom hashabat hazeh v'et
day of Sabbath and this
יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן הַזֶּה
et yom hazikaron hazeh
this day of remembrance
יוֹם זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה
yom zikh'ron t'ru'ah
a day of remembering shofar blowing
בְּאַהֲבָה מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ
b'ahavah mik'ra kodesh
with love a holy convocation
זֵכֵר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם
zeikher litzi'at mitz'rayim
a memorial of the exodus from Egypt
כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ
ki vanu vachar'ta
Indeed, You have chosen us
וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים
v'otanu kidash'ta mikol ha'amim
and made us holy from all peoples
וּדְבַרְךָ אֶמֶת וְקַיָּם לָעַד
ud'var'kha emet v'kayam la'ad
and Your word is true and established for ever.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are You, Lord,
מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ
melekh al kol ha'aretz
King over all the world,
מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת וְיִשְׂרָאֵל
m'kadeish hashabat v'yisra'eil
Who sanctifies the sabbath and Israel
וְיוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן׃ (אָמֵן)
v'yom hazikaron. (Amein)
and the Day of Remembrance. (Amen)

Shehecheyanu: Who Has Kept Us Alive

Shehecheyanu is a standard blessing recited on the first night of all holidays, thanking God for allowing us to experience this thing again. Although it is normally only recited on the first night of a holiday, is recited on both nights of Rosh Hashanah. On the second night, it is traditional to make this blessing over a sweet fruit you haven't eaten in a long time (or ever!) to have a traditional reason for the blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ
shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu, v'higi'anu
who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us
לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה׃ (אָמֵן)
laz'man hazeh. (Amein)
to reach this season (Amen)

Apples and Honey

During Rosh Hashanah, it is traditional to eat apples dipped in honey, to symbolize our hopes for a "sweet" new year. The apple is dipped in honey and the blessing for eating tree fruits is recited. Note that the blessing for tree fruits is exactly the same as the blessing for grapes or wine except for one word: ha-eitz (the tree) instead of hagafen (the vine).

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ׃ (אָמֵן)
borei p'ri ha-eitz (Amein)
Who creates the fruit of the tree (Amen)

Take a bite from the apple dipped in honey, then continue with the following:

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ
Y'hi ratzon mil'fanekha
May it be Your will,
יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ
Adonai eloheinu vei'lohei avoteinu
Lord our God and God of our ancestors
שְׁתְּחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ
sh't'chadeish aleinu
that you renew for us
שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה׃
shanah tovah um'tukah
a good and sweet year.


Related Pages

shofar Rosh Hashanah
Learn about the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, a day of the awakening sound of the shofar (ram's horn trumpet) and the sweetness apples dipped in honey.
Common Prayers and Blessings Common Prayers and Blessings
A list of common prayers and blessings that are available on this site for viewing online. Hebrew, transliteration, and English translation are available.
Prayers and Blessings Prayers and Blessings
Learn about the importance of prayer in Judaism and the form and content of prayers and blessings.
prayer book Jewish Liturgy
Learn about the history and structure of the traditional Jewish prayer service.

What's Nu? | Current Calendar | About
Copyright © 5761-5783 (2001-2023), Tracey R Rich