Erev Rosh Hashanah: The Eve of the Jewish New Year

Erev Rosh Hashanah, the evening before Rosh Hashanah, marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is a time of preparation, reflection, and spiritual readiness as we enter the Ten Days of Awe — a sacred season of introspection and renewal.

Key Practices and Customs

Candle Lighting
Women and families light candles to usher in the holiday, symbolising holiness, peace, and unity.

Festive Meal
Families gather for a special meal, rich with symbolic foods:Apples dipped in honey: expressing the hope for a sweet new year.Pomegranates: representing abundance and the many mitzvot (commandments).Round challah: reminding us of continuity and the cyclical nature of life.

Personal Reflection
The evening is also a time to pause and look inward — considering the past year’s growth, relationships, and spiritual direction.

Spiritual Meaning

Transition: Erev Rosh Hashanah marks the move from ordinary time into sacred time, opening the door to reflection and accountability.

Preparation: It sets the tone for the Ten Days of Awe, encouraging repentance, ethical living, and renewed purpose.

Family and Community: Gathering together affirms unity, gratitude, and a shared vision for the year ahead.

Erev Rosh Hashanah is more than the eve of a holiday. It is the threshold to a new year — a sacred evening of reflection, preparation, and hope. As the candles are lit and sweet foods shared, we step into a time of renewal with open hearts and lifted spirits.

Greg Bouwer