Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Sunday, September 13, 2026. This is Hebrew Year 5787.
The holiday marks the Jewish New Year — the first and second of Tishrei on the Hebrew lunar calendar — and opens the ten-day High Holiday period known as the Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, which concludes with Yom Kippur on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
In 2026, Rosh Hashanah carries a distinctive halachic feature: the first full day of the holiday falls on Shabbat (Saturday, September 12).
This has direct implications for shofar blowing, Tashlich timing, and candle lighting procedure — details covered in full below.
| Events | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Erev Rosh Hashanah (First Night) | September 11, 2026 | Friday (Sundown) |
| Rosh Hashanah Day 1 | September 12, 2026 | Saturday |
| Rosh Hashanah Day 2 | September 13, 2026 | Sunday |
| End of Holiday | September 13, 2026 | Sunday (Nightfall) |
| Yom Kippur Begins | September 20, 2026 | Sunday (Sundown) |
This guide covers every dimension of Rosh Hashanah 2026: exact dates and times, religious meaning, traditions, symbolic foods, prayers, greetings, school and work closures, and how to celebrate at home.
Table of Contents
When Is Rosh Hashanah 2026? Dates, Times, and Calendar Facts
Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, 2026. The holiday spans two calendar days and ends at nightfall on Sunday, September 13, 2026, covering the 1st and 2nd of Tishrei 5787 on the Hebrew calendar.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 Start and End Time
Jewish holidays begin and end at specific astronomical moments, not at midnight. Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins the moment the sun sets on Friday, September 11, in the observer’s local time zone. It ends when three stars become visible on Sunday night, September 13 — a moment called nightfall or tzet hakochavim.
Candle lighting times on Friday, September 11, vary by city. In New York, candle lighting is approximately 7:06 PM EDT. In Los Angeles, approximately 7:17 PM PDT. In Chicago, approximately 7:18 PM CDT. Exact local times can be confirmed via Hebcal.com or Chabad.org’s candle-lighting calculator.
What Makes Rosh Hashanah 2026 Unique — The Shabbat Overlap
The first full day of Rosh Hashanah 2026 falls on Shabbat, Saturday, September 12. This is not the case every year. When Rosh Hashanah Day 1 coincides with Shabbat, traditional Jewish law (halacha) prohibits blowing the shofar on that day.
The ruling, codified in the Talmud (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 29b) and followed by Orthodox and Conservative communities, restricts the shofar to Day 2 only. In 2026, the shofar is blown exclusively on Sunday, September 13, in most traditional synagogues.
Reform communities and many liberal congregations typically hold their primary shofar service on Day 1 regardless of the Shabbat overlap, though practice varies by congregation. Attendees should confirm with their local synagogue before the holiday.
Tashlich — the ceremony of symbolically casting sins into flowing water — is also typically postponed from Day 1 (Shabbat) to Day 2 or performed during the Ten Days of Repentance when Day 1 falls on Shabbat.
How Long Does Rosh Hashanah Last?
Rosh Hashanah lasts two days in the Diaspora for Orthodox and Conservative communities, and one day in Reform communities and in Israel. The two-day observance in the Diaspora is a rabbinic enactment (Talmud Bavli, Beitzah 4b) predating reliable calendar communication between Israel and Jewish communities abroad. The practice was maintained even after the Hebrew calendar was fixed.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 vs. Yom Kippur 2026
| Rosh Hashanah 2026 | Yom Kippur 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | September 11–13, 2026 | September 20–21, 2026 |
| Hebrew Dates | 1–2 Tishrei 5787 | 10 Tishrei 5787 |
| Duration | 2 days (1 day in Reform/Israel) | 25 hours |
| Character | Joyful; festive meals; shofar | Solemn; full fast; intensive prayer |
| Primary Theme | Judgment, renewal, coronation of God | Atonement, sealing of the Book of Life |
| Food | Festive meals with symbolic foods | No eating or drinking |
| Shofar | Yes (Day 2 in 2026 due to Shabbat) | One blast at the close of Neilah |
The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called Aseret Yemei Teshuvah — the Ten Days of Repentance. The Book of Life is opened on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur.
What Is Rosh Hashanah? Meaning, Theology, and Biblical Origins
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, a two-day biblical holiday marking the anniversary of the creation of humanity and the annual Day of Divine Judgment. It falls on the 1st and 2nd of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew religious calendar and the first month of the civil year.
What Does Rosh Hashanah Mean in Hebrew?
Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) translates literally as “Head of the Year.” Rosh means head; hashanah means the year. The name does not appear in the Torah itself. In the Torah, the holiday is called Yom Teruah (יום תרועה) — the Day of Blasting or Sounding — referencing the shofar. The name Rosh Hashanah first appears in the Mishnah (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 1:1), compiled approximately 200 CE.
The holiday marks the Hebrew year 5787 in 2026 — a count traditionally reckoned from the creation of Adam and Eve, which classical rabbinic sources place on the 1st of Tishrei.
Theological Themes: Judgment, Coronation, and the Book of Life
Rosh Hashanah operates around three interlocking theological concepts: Malchuyot (Sovereignty), Zichronot (Remembrance), and Shofarot (the Shofar). These form the structural core of the Musaf Amidah prayer service on both days of the holiday.
Yom HaDin — the Day of Judgment: On Rosh Hashanah, every human being is said to pass before God in divine judgment, as described in the Unetanneh Tokef prayer.
The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 16a) states that three books are opened on this day: one for the completely righteous, one for the completely wicked, and one for the majority who are in between. The fate of this middle group remains open until Yom Kippur.
Coronation of God: Rosh Hashanah is described in rabbinic literature as the day God is crowned as King of the universe. The shofar blasts serve as the ceremonial trumpets of this coronation.
Teshuvah, T’filah, Tzedakah: The Unetanneh Tokef prayer identifies three acts that can alter a difficult divine decree: repentance (teshuvah), prayer (t’filah), and charity (tzedakah). These form the ethical framework of the entire High Holiday period.
Is Rosh Hashanah in the Bible?
Yes. Rosh Hashanah has explicit biblical origins, though under a different name. The holiday is commanded in two Torah passages:
- Leviticus 23:23–25: “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a sacred occasion of complete rest, a memorial of the blast of horns…”
- Numbers 29:1–6: “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month… it shall be a day of blasting of the horn for you…”
The Torah designates it as Yom Teruah — a day of the shofar blast — with a cessation of labor and specific sacrificial offerings. The theological elaborations around judgment and the Book of Life developed in the Mishnah and Talmud.
Rosh Hashanah Is Not the Only Jewish New Year
The Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 1:1) identifies four distinct new years in the Jewish calendar. The 1st of Tishrei is the new year for years, for kings, and for sabbatical and Jubilee cycles. The 1st of Nisan is the religious new year for counting months and the festivals. The 15th of Shevat (Tu BiShvat) is the new year for trees. The 1st of Elul is the new year for animal tithes. Rosh Hashanah refers specifically to the 1st of Tishrei new year.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 Traditions and Customs
Rosh Hashanah observance centers on five primary practices: blowing the shofar, attending synagogue services, festive meals with symbolic foods, candle lighting, and Tashlich. Several additional customs — hatarat nedarim, mikveh immersion, and wearing white — vary by community and denomination.
Blowing the Shofar
The shofar is a ram’s horn blown during synagogue services to fulfill the biblical commandment of Yom Teruah. The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 26a–b) specifies that a ram’s horn is the preferred instrument, connecting the shofar to the Binding of Isaac (Akedah) narrative in Genesis 22, in which a ram was sacrificed in place of Isaac.
The traditional service includes 100 shofar blasts across the Musaf service. The blasts follow four distinct patterns:
| Blast Name | Pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tekiah | One long, unbroken blast | A call to attention |
| Shevarim | Three medium, broken blasts | Sighing; a broken heart |
| Teruah | Nine rapid staccato blasts | Alarm; urgency |
| Tekiah Gedolah | One prolonged final blast | The great tekiah; held as long as possible |
In 2026, the shofar is blown only on Sunday, September 13 (Day 2) in traditional communities. This is because Day 1 falls on Shabbat, and the rabbis of the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 29b) prohibited shofar blowing on Shabbat to prevent the risk of carrying the instrument in a public domain, which violates Shabbat law. This ruling applies universally in Orthodox and Conservative communities.
Tashlich — The Ceremony of Casting Sins
Tashlich (תשליך) is a ceremony in which participants walk to a body of naturally flowing water — a river, stream, lake, or ocean — and recite prayers while symbolically casting breadcrumbs or turning out their pockets into the water. The name derives from Micah 7:19: “And You shall cast (tashlich) all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
Tashlich is traditionally performed on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah Day 1. In 2026, since Day 1 is Shabbat, many traditional communities will perform Tashlich on Sunday, September 13 (Day 2), or on any day during the Ten Days of Repentance before Yom Kippur. Some Ashkenazic authorities permit Tashlich to be performed through Hoshana Rabbah (the 21st of Tishrei) if it was missed during Rosh Hashanah.
The water used should ideally contain fish, according to several kabbalistic authorities, because fish are symbolic of vigilance (they do not have eyelids) and of divine providence. Still water (a pond without an outlet) is considered less ideal than flowing water, though accepted by most authorities in practice.
Synagogue Services
Rosh Hashanah synagogue services are the longest of the year, typically running three to four hours per day. A special prayer book called the machzor (מחזור) is used, distinct from the standard siddur used on other days. The machzor includes piyyutim (liturgical poems), many composed in the medieval period, alongside the standard prayer structure.
The liturgical structure on each day of Rosh Hashanah includes:
- Ma’ariv (Evening): The first night service on Friday evening, September 11, following candle lighting.
- Shacharit (Morning): The morning service, including Torah reading (Genesis 21 on Day 1; Genesis 22 — the Akedah — on Day 2).
- Musaf (Additional): The additional service, containing the three central themes of Malchuyot, Zichronot, and Shofarot, each followed by shofar blasts (on Day 2 in 2026).
Many synagogues require advance ticket purchase for High Holiday services, particularly large congregations in metropolitan areas. Standby and community seating options are typically available through Chabad centers, which historically offer open High Holiday services without charge.
Candle Lighting for Rosh Hashanah 2026
Candles are lit before the holiday begins on Friday, September 11, 2026, before sundown. This year, candle lighting has two phases:
- Day 1 candles: Lit before sundown on Friday, September 11 (before Shabbat begins), using the standard flame from a match or lighter.
- Day 2 candles: Lit on Saturday night, September 12, after Shabbat has ended (after nightfall, when three stars are visible). Halacha requires that second-day Rosh Hashanah candles be lit from a pre-existing flame — not a new flame. A candle lit before Shabbat can serve as the source flame.
The blessing recited is: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Yom Tov. On the first night, the Shehecheyanu blessing is also recited.
Hatarat Nedarim — Annulment of Vows
Hatarat nedarim is a formal halachic procedure in which a person appears before a three-person rabbinical panel to annul unfulfilled vows made during the previous year. It is traditionally performed on Erev Rosh Hashanah — in 2026, on the morning of Friday, September 11.
The procedure is not a confession of sin but a technical legal release from obligations that were not fulfilled. It does not annul vows made between one person and another, only those made to God.
Rosh Hashanah Foods — Symbolic Foods, Traditional Menu, and Recipes
Rosh Hashanah food traditions are built around simanim (סִימָנִים) — symbolic foods eaten as omens for a sweet, prosperous new year. The word siman means sign or symbol. The custom of eating symbolic foods on Rosh Hashanah is codified in the Talmud (Keritot 6a) and elaborated in later codes, including the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 583).
Why Apples and Honey?
Dipping apple slices in honey is the most widely practiced Rosh Hashanah food custom. The apple is eaten as a symbol of a sweet new year; the honey reinforces the wish for sweetness. Before eating, a short prayer is recited: Yehi ratzon milfanecha… she’tichadesh aleinu shanah tovah umetukah — “May it be Your will… that You renew for us a good and sweet year.”
The combination of apples and honey also reflects a verse from the Song of Songs (2:3): “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved.” Some commentators associate the apple with the fragrance of the Garden of Eden.
Simanim — Symbolic Foods and Their Meanings
The full simanim tradition includes multiple foods, each associated with a Hebrew or Aramaic pun or allusion. The blessing formula follows the pattern: “May it be Your will that our [fill in symbolic meaning] should [fill in positive outcome].”
| Food | Hebrew/Aramaic Wordplay | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Apples and honey | — | A sweet new year |
| Round challah (with raisins) | — | Cycle of the year; hope for sweetness |
| Pomegranate | “May our merits be as numerous as its seeds” | 613 seeds traditionally cited, corresponding to the 613 commandments |
| Fish head or ram’s head | Rosh (head) | “May we be the head and not the tail” |
| Dates (tamar) | Tam = consumed | “May our enemies be consumed” |
| Leeks (karti/karat) | Karat = cut off | “May our enemies be cut off” |
| Carrots (gezer) | Gezer = decree; Yiddish: meren = increase | “May our merits increase” |
| Black-eyed peas (rubia) | Yirbu = increase | “May our merits increase” |
| Beets (silka) | Siluk = removal | “May our adversaries be removed” |
Sephardic communities observe the simanim with particular ceremonial detail, often arranging them on a formal seder plate at the holiday table. Ashkenazic communities typically eat apples and honey and the round challah as the primary simanim, with other items varying by family custom.
Round Challah
Round challah, often baked with raisins, replaces the standard braided loaf on Rosh Hashanah. The circular shape symbolizes the cycle of the year, with no beginning and no end. Some communities also shape challah in the form of a crown (referencing the coronation of God) or a ladder (referencing the Unetanneh Tokef prayer’s imagery of souls ascending and descending).
Traditional Rosh Hashanah Dinner Menu
A standard traditional Rosh Hashanah dinner menu follows this structure:
Appetizers: Gefilte fish with horseradish; matzo ball soup (chicken broth with kneidlach); sliced apples with honey; round challah with honey.
Main Courses: Brisket (braised beef, often with carrots and onions); honey-glazed chicken; tzimmes (a sweet carrot and dried fruit stew, sometimes with sweet potato or prunes).
Side Dishes: Kugel (noodle or potato casserole); roasted root vegetables; sweet potato.
Desserts: Honey cake (lekach); apple cake; teiglach (dough pieces cooked in honey syrup, traditional in Ashkenazic communities); sponge cake.
The meal begins after Kiddush (the blessing over wine or grape juice) and the Hamotzi (blessing over bread — the round challah dipped in honey instead of salt, which is the standard practice the rest of the year).
Honey Cake (Lekach)
Lekach is a traditional Ashkenazic honey cake baked for Rosh Hashanah. Key ingredients include honey, oil, eggs, strong brewed coffee or tea (which deepens the color and balances sweetness), flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices including cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. The coffee content distinguishes lekach from a generic honey cake. A standard recipe yields one 9×13-inch pan or two loaf pans, sufficient for 12 to 16 servings.
Vegan and Gluten-Free Rosh Hashanah Options
Vegan adaptations of traditional dishes substitute eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water per egg) and honey with maple syrup or date syrup. Gluten-free Rosh Hashanah menus can substitute almond flour or a certified gluten-free flour blend in baked goods. Tzimmes, the simanim, roasted vegetables, and most braised meat dishes are naturally gluten-free without modification.
Rosh Hashanah Greetings — What to Say, How to Say It, and When
The standard Rosh Hashanah greeting is Shanah Tovah (שנה טובה), meaning “A Good Year.” It is appropriate to say to anyone observing the holiday, and it is welcomed by non-Jewish friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
Rosh Hashanah Greetings in Hebrew, Transliteration, and Meaning
| Greeting | Hebrew | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanah Tovah | שנה טובה | A Good Year | Throughout the holiday season |
| Shanah Tovah Umetukah | שנה טובה ומתוקה | A Good and Sweet Year | Rosh Hashanah specifically |
| L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu | לשנה טובה תכתבו | May you be inscribed for a good year | Before Yom Kippur |
| Ketivah VaChatimah Tovah | כתיבה וחתימה טובה | A good inscription and sealing | Ten Days of Repentance |
| Gmar Chatimah Tovah | גמר חתימה טובה | A good final sealing | Yom Kippur |
The greeting shifts as the High Holiday period progresses. “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu” is used from Rosh Hashanah through the Ten Days of Repentance. After Yom Kippur, “Gmar Chatimah Tovah” is no longer appropriate, and “Chag Sameach” (Happy Holiday) is used for Sukkot.
Is It Appropriate to Say “Happy Rosh Hashanah”?
Yes. “Happy Rosh Hashanah” is an appropriate and welcome greeting from anyone — Jewish or not. Non-Jewish friends, coworkers, and neighbors who wish to acknowledge the holiday can use “Happy Rosh Hashanah,” “Shanah Tovah,” or “Happy Jewish New Year” interchangeably. No prior knowledge of Jewish practice is required to use these greetings appropriately.
Rosh Hashanah is not a solemn holiday in the way that Yom Kippur is. It is a joyful celebration — synagogue-goers typically wear new or formal clothing, festive meals are held, and the general tone is one of hopeful renewal.
Rosh Hashanah Messages for Cards and Workplace Communication
For formal workplace contexts, the phrasing “Wishing you a sweet and healthy new year” or “Shanah Tovah” in writing is appropriate. For personal cards, “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu V’Tichatemu” (“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”) is traditional and meaningful.
Rosh Hashanah Prayers and Synagogue Services 2026
Rosh Hashanah synagogue services follow a distinctive liturgical structure centered on the themes of divine sovereignty, memory, and the shofar, using a specialized prayer book called the machzor.
Key Rosh Hashanah Prayers
Unetanneh Tokef
Unetanneh Tokef (אונתנה תוקף) is the most theologically significant prayer of the High Holiday liturgy. It is recited during the Musaf Amidah and describes God’s judgment of all living beings. The prayer states that on Rosh Hashanah the divine decree is written and on Yom Kippur it is sealed — determining who shall live and who shall die, and under what circumstances. The prayer concludes that teshuvah, t’filah, and tzedakah can avert the harsh decree.
The prayer’s authorship is traditionally attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz (approximately 11th century CE), though some scholars date the text earlier, to the Land of Israel.
Avinu Malkeinu
Avinu Malkeinu (אבינו מלכנו) — “Our Father, Our King” — is a responsive litany of approximately 44 petitions recited throughout the High Holiday period. It is typically chanted by the cantor and congregation together. In 2026, because Rosh Hashanah Day 1 falls on Shabbat, Avinu Malkeinu is not recited on Day 1 (it is omitted on Shabbat per Ashkenazic custom) but is recited on Day 2 and throughout the Ten Days of Repentance.
The Three Sections of the Musaf Shofar Service
The Musaf Amidah of Rosh Hashanah contains three unique blessings, each followed (in 2026, on Day 2) by shofar blasts:
- Malchuyot (מלכויות): Ten biblical verses proclaiming God’s sovereignty. Followed by a tekiah–shevarim-teruah–tekiah sequence.
- Zichronot (זכרונות): Ten verses of divine remembrance — God’s recall of the covenant with Israel. Followed by a tekiah–shevarim–tekiah sequence.
- Shofarot (שופרות): Ten verses connecting the shofar to revelation at Sinai and the future redemption. Followed by a tekiah–teruah–tekiah sequence.
A First-Timer’s Guide to Rosh Hashanah Services
First-time attendees at Rosh Hashanah services do not need prior knowledge of Hebrew or Jewish liturgy to participate meaningfully. The following guidance applies to most traditional synagogues:
What to wear: Modest, formal attire. Many congregants wear white or light colors as a symbol of purity and renewal. A kippah (head covering) is typically available at the entrance for men. Women typically cover their shoulders in Orthodox synagogues.
What to bring: Nothing is required. The machzor is provided by the synagogue. Do not carry a bag if attending an Orthodox service on Shabbat Day 1 (carrying in a public domain is restricted).
Arrival: Arrive before the service begins, particularly for Shacharit. Services often begin at 8:30 or 9:00 AM. The shofar service occurs within Musaf, which typically begins mid-morning.
Following along: Many machzor editions (including Artscroll, Koren, and Mishkan HaNefesh for Reform communities) include full English translation and transliteration. Page numbers are typically announced aloud or displayed on a board.
Tickets: Most synagogues require High Holiday tickets purchased in advance. Chabad centers typically do not require tickets and are open to all.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 School and Work Closures
Because Rosh Hashanah 2026 falls on a Saturday–Sunday, the number of weekday school closures is significantly lower than in years when the holiday falls mid-week. The primary closure date, where applicable, is Friday, September 11, 2026 — Erev Rosh Hashanah.
Confirmed School District Closures — Rosh Hashanah 2026
| State | School District | Status — Friday, September 11, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) | No School for Students (Professional Development Day) |
| Virginia | Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) | Closed (Student Holiday) |
| Florida | Miami-Dade County Public Schools | Regular School Day |
| Florida | Broward County Public Schools | Regular School Day |
| Florida | Palm Beach County Schools | Regular School Day |
| New Jersey | Livingston Public Schools | Regular School Day |
| New Jersey | Millburn Township Public Schools | Regular School Day |
| New York | Scarsdale Public Schools | Regular School Day |
| New York | Syosset Central School District | Regular School Day |
Confirmed College and University Closures — Rosh Hashanah 2026
| Institution | Location | Status — Friday, September 11, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University | Waltham, MA | No University Exercises (Erev Rosh Hashanah) |
| City University of New York (CUNY) | New York, NY | No Classes Scheduled (September 11–13) |
| Yeshiva University | New York, NY | Closed |
Is Rosh Hashanah a Federal Holiday in the United States?
No. Rosh Hashanah is not a United States federal holiday. Federal employees are not automatically entitled to a day off. However, under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines implementing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are required to provide reasonable religious accommodations to employees who request time off for religious observance, unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the employer.
Many employers in metropolitan areas with large Jewish populations — particularly in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Florida — voluntarily include Rosh Hashanah as a floating holiday or optional personal day.
How to Write a Rosh Hashanah Out-of-Office Message
The following is a factually complete out-of-office message template for Rosh Hashanah 2026:
“I will be observing Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, from sundown on Friday, September 11, 2026, through nightfall on Sunday, September 13, 2026. I will respond to your message beginning Monday, September 14, 2026. Thank you for your understanding.”
How to Celebrate Rosh Hashanah 2026 at Home
Rosh Hashanah can be observed at home without synagogue attendance, and non-Jewish partners and family members are welcomed as guests at Rosh Hashanah dinners. A home observance centers on the festive meals, candle lighting, simanim, and personal reflection.
Setting the Rosh Hashanah Table
A traditional Rosh Hashanah table includes: a white tablecloth (symbolizing purity), two round challahs covered with a challah cloth, a dish of apple slices and honey, a simanim plate with the symbolic foods, candles, wine or grape juice for Kiddush, and wine glasses. Pomegranates as centerpiece decorations are common in both Ashkenazic and Sephardic households.
Hosting a Rosh Hashanah Dinner
Rosh Hashanah dinner begins after nightfall on Friday, September 11, or on Saturday, September 12, following synagogue services. Guests are not expected to be Jewish; the holiday is family- and community-oriented and welcoming to all. Appropriate host gifts include honey, wine, honey cake (lekach), a fruit basket with pomegranates or apples, and flowers. Guests may bring round challah from a kosher bakery if available locally.
Rosh Hashanah Activities for Kids and Families
Rosh Hashanah Crafts for Children
Age-appropriate craft activities include: apple stamping with cut apples dipped in paint, shofar construction from paper towel rolls and construction paper, pomegranate seed counting as a math activity, and honey jar decorating. These are standard activities in Jewish preschool and day school curricula.
Rosh Hashanah for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Sensory bins filled with dried pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks, and small apples introduce the holiday through tactile play. Simple honey-tasting activities engage toddlers. The PJ Library, a nonprofit Jewish children’s book organization, provides free age-appropriate Rosh Hashanah books for children ages newborn through 8.
Virtual and Livestream Rosh Hashanah Services 2026
Multiple organizations provide free or low-cost livestream High Holiday services. Chabad.org, ReformJudaism.org (Union for Reform Judaism), and the Conservative movement’s United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism all stream services. Individual synagogues in major cities typically broadcast on their YouTube channels or websites. Searching the synagogue name plus “High Holidays 2026 livestream” will surface current broadcast information as September approaches.
The High Holidays 2026 — Full Calendar and Timeline
The High Holiday season 2026 begins with the month of Elul (starting Friday, August 7, 2026) and concludes with Hoshana Rabbah on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The Month of Elul — Preparation for Rosh Hashanah
Elul (אלול) is the final month of the Hebrew year, running from Friday, August 7, through Wednesday, September 9, 2026. It is a traditional period of introspection, repentance, and preparation for the High Holidays.
In Ashkenazic communities, the shofar is blown every weekday morning throughout Elul. Selichot (penitential prayers) begin in Ashkenazic communities on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah — in 2026, on Saturday night, September 5.
The Hebrew word Elul (אלול) is traditionally read as an acronym for Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li (“I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine,” Song of Songs 6:3), interpreted as an expression of closeness between God and the Jewish people during this period.
High Holidays 2026 Full Timeline
| Event | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Elul (Start of Preparation Month) | Friday, August 7, 2026 |
| Selichot Begin (Ashkenazic) | Saturday Night, September 5, 2026 |
| Erev Rosh Hashanah | Friday, September 11, 2026 (Sundown) |
| Rosh Hashanah Day 1 (Shabbat) | Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
| Rosh Hashanah Day 2 / Shofar Blowing | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Fast of Gedaliah | Monday, September 14, 2026 |
| Shabbat Shuva | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Erev Yom Kippur / Kol Nidre | Sunday, September 20, 2026 (Sundown) |
| Yom Kippur | Monday, September 21, 2026 |
| Erev Sukkot | Friday, September 25, 2026 (Sundown) |
| Sukkot Begins | Saturday, September 26, 2026 |
| Hoshana Rabbah | Saturday, October 3, 2026 |
| Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah | Sunday–Monday, October 4–5, 2026 |
What Are the Ten Days of Repentance?
The Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah) are the ten days from Rosh Hashanah (1 Tishrei) through Yom Kippur (10 Tishrei). In 2026, these run from Friday, September 11, through Monday, September 21.
Rabbinic tradition (Talmud Rosh Hashanah 18a) describes this as a period when God is uniquely accessible and when divine decrees remain open to amendment through teshuvah, t’filah, and tzedakah.
The Shabbat that falls within this period — September 19, 2026 — is called Shabbat Shuva (the Shabbat of Return), named after the haftarah reading from Hosea 14:2, which begins “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God.”
Rosh Hashanah Gifts — What to Give and What to Bring
Appropriate Rosh Hashanah gifts center on the holiday’s themes of sweetness and renewal. There is no obligation to give gifts on Rosh Hashanah — unlike Hanukkah or Purim — but bringing a host gift to a dinner is customary.
What to Bring to a Rosh Hashanah Dinner
Appropriate host gifts include: a jar of high-quality honey, a bottle of kosher wine or grape juice, honey cake (lekach) from a bakery, a basket of fruit (particularly pomegranates and apples), round challah from a kosher bakery, and flowers. Chocolate is appropriate if the host is not following a dairy-free (pareve) meal, but confirm dietary practice before bringing dairy-containing gifts to a kosher household.
Rosh Hashanah Gift Ideas
Traditional gifts: Honey sets with an apple dish, machzor (High Holiday prayer book), engraved challah board, shofar, Jewish calendar for 5787 (2026–2027).
Contemporary gifts: Personalized honey dish, subscription to a Jewish cookbook or food magazine, donation to a Jewish charity (tzedakah) in the recipient’s name. Organizations such as Mazon (a Jewish response to hunger), the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), and local Jewish federations accept donations in honor of the holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rosh Hashanah 2026
When is Rosh Hashanah 2026?
Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Sunday, September 13, 2026. It spans Hebrew dates 1–2 Tishrei 5787.
What Hebrew year is 2026?
2026 corresponds to the Hebrew Year 5787. The Hebrew year count is a traditional rabbinic reckoning from the creation of Adam and Eve, placed at the 1st of Tishrei, 3761 BCE in the Gregorian calendar. The count of 5787 is derived by adding 3761 to the Gregorian year 2026.
Is the shofar blown on Shabbat during Rosh Hashanah 2026?
No. Because Rosh Hashanah Day 1 falls on Shabbat in 2026, the shofar is blown only on Day 2 — Sunday, September 13, 2026 — in Orthodox and Conservative communities. This is a direct result of a Talmudic ruling (Rosh Hashanah 29b) that prohibits shofar blowing on Shabbat. Reform practice varies; individual congregations should be consulted.
What do you say to someone on Rosh Hashanah?
The most common greeting is “Shanah Tovah” (A Good Year) or “Shanah Tovah Umetukah” (A Good and Sweet New Year). Non-Jewish individuals can use these greetings or “Happy Rosh Hashanah” interchangeably. Before Yom Kippur, “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu” — “May you be inscribed for a good year” — is also standard.
Can non-Jewish people celebrate Rosh Hashanah?
Non-Jewish individuals are welcomed as guests at Rosh Hashanah dinners and are encouraged to wish Jewish friends and colleagues a happy new year. The holiday’s universal themes — reflection, renewal, and hope for the coming year — are accessible to people of any background. Non-Jewish guests at a dinner do not need to observe any ritual requirements.
Is Rosh Hashanah a public holiday in the United States?
Rosh Hashanah is not a US federal holiday. It is not a public holiday in any US state. Federal, state, and municipal offices remain open. However, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 obligates employers to provide reasonable religious accommodation for employees who observe the holiday, subject to undue hardship exceptions. Some school districts, particularly in areas with substantial Jewish populations, schedule closures or professional development days to coincide with the holiday.
How is Rosh Hashanah different from Yom Kippur?
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year — a two-day holiday featuring festive meals, shofar blowing, and the opening of divine judgment. Yom Kippur, ten days later, is the Day of Atonement — a 25-hour fast with intensive prayer and the sealing of the divine decree. Rosh Hashanah is a joyful celebration; Yom Kippur is solemn and penitential. Both are forbidden for work under Jewish law, and both center on the High Holiday themes of judgment, repentance, and renewal.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, September 11. Whether you are observing the full two-day holiday in synagogue, hosting a festive dinner at home, or simply wishing a Jewish friend a good new year, the holiday’s themes — accountability, renewal, and hope — apply across every form of participation.
For Yom Kippur 2026 dates, prayers, and fasting guidelines, see the complete Yom Kippur 2026 guide. For the full Jewish holiday calendar through 5787, see the Jewish Holidays 2026 calendar overview.
Shanah Tovah Umetukah — a good and sweet new year.
